Out of the greatest seasons enjoyed by running backs in NFL history, which Kansas City Chiefs stand among the list?
You see lists all the time that subjectively evaluate a team’s best moments—the best draft picks, players, seasons, etc. It’s fun to sit around with friends and rattle off the list of your team’s best quarterbacks or running backs, and where they rank in the NFL, just to pass the time until football season starts again. That’s where we’re at right now—waiting for football season to start.
Last week I created a formula that determined who the Chiefs’ top 10 draft picks were in the history of the franchise. This week, I’m going to take a step back and evaluate something that involves all 32 teams in the NFL, formulating the top 25 running back seasons of all time. Specifically, I’m curious about where past Chiefs running backs fall on that list?
For this list, I went as far back as 1953. I ultimately chose 81 running back seasons to analyze, based somewhat on the eye test. For instance, If a running back had a great season for his time but rushed for less than 1,000 yards he likely wasn’t evaluated on this list. There are a few exceptions, but not many.
I chose these players based on seven factors. I’ll list each factor and then give a brief explanation of the score it was given.
First, each player was given an era score. This score is meant to help running backs’ scores from past eras compete with running backs of today. Why, you might ask? Because player training, nutrition, recovery, and pretty much every other aspect of player health has been improved throughout the years. I wanted to even the playing field for older era players. If a player played this decade, they received zero points. If they played in the past decade they received 10 points. Each previous decade received 10 more points than the last, ending with 60 points in the 1950s.
Second, each running back receives a point for each yard rushed for in a given year. Third, each running back receives 10 points for a yards per carry average over four, 20 points for a yards per carry average over five, and 30 points for a yards per carry average over six. Fourth, each running back receives six points for every rushing touchdown scored for the year.
Factors five, six and seven are the same factors but for receiving. The only scoring difference is that each running back receives a points equivalent to their yards per reception. I found this to be a less relevant statistic for running backs and thus wanted to slightly diminish its importance in the formula. Running backs, for most of the history of the NFL, are far more rushers than pass catchers.
Finally, each total score will need to be normalized. This is for two reasons. First, the number of games played in a regular season has changed throughout the history of the league. Second, some players on this list missed time for various reasons. Two rectify these two inconsistencies, if needed I will extrapolate each player’s numbers over 16 games by dividing 16 by the number of games they played in the year in question. I will then multiply their initial scores by this new factor to create a normalized season score.
These scores are then ranked in order to come up with the top 25 running back seasons of all time. A picture of the formula is shown below:
What you’ll notice from this list is that the more versatile a running back’s season is, likely the more highly he will be ranked. Yards from scrimmage was generally more impactful than total touchdowns. So, a great rushing season without a solid receiving season may push a running back down the list and vice versa.
Now, as I say with all of these historical research pieces, everyone has a slightly different opinion of what stats, awards, etc. are most valuable and impactful. As such, there are likely a wide range of opinions of who should be in the top 25 all time for this given ranking. These are simply seven arbitrarily chosen variables, normalized over sixteen games, that I feel can help us objectively evaluate who should make this list and where our favorite Chiefs land.
Further, the following 29 seasons were curated from a list that originally comprised 81 seasons dating back to 1953. It’s possible I left someone out that is a personal favorite of yours, ranked your favorite player lower than you think he should be, or that I simply made a small mistake here or there. For that, I apologize, but I’m confident this is an extremely strong list of candidates for the NFL’s top 25 running back seasons of all time.
38. Jamaal Charles, 2013
Jamaal Charles was one of my favorite Chiefs, and athletes, to watch play the game. He had this unique form of speed and grace with which he played. When he’d run, mercilessly juking defenders and making them look silly, it almost looked like he was gliding across the turf.
The stud third round draft pick out of Austin, Texas had a number of great seasons for the Chiefs, but his 2013 season was his best and ranked 38th on this list. In Andy Reid’s first year as head coach, he got the most out of Charles.
Charles was the definition of an all-purpose back that year gaining 1,287 yards on the ground and 693 yards through the air. He added 19 total touchdowns en route to the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro Honors. Unfortunately, Charles might have had a chance to have more seasons on this list but his career was riddled with injury. Even so, fans remember him fondly and 2013 was an incredible season.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2254.83
36. Larry Johnson, 2005
Larry Johnson was somewhat of a flash in the pan for the Kansas City Chiefs. After a mostly below average college career, he had an absolutely incredible season his senior year at Penn State. He ended up rushing for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdowns, and added 349 yards and three touchdowns in receiving. For that season, he won multiple player of the year awards and won the Doak Walker award for the nation’s most outstanding running back.
Johnson was rewarded by being drafted late in the first round by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2003 NFL draft. This was a bit odd, as the team still had a thriving running back who just had one of the most versatile seasons ever in Priest Holmes. This would unfortunately lead to some unrest in the locker room in which Dick Vermeil would make his famous quote in 2004 about Johnson, “It’s time for him to take the diaper off and go play.” Well, take the diaper off he did.
In 2005, while only starting nine games because of all star running back Priest Holmes, Johnson racked up 1,750 rushing yards, 343 receiving yards, and one touchdown. If he had the opportunity to start the whole season, it’s likely this season would be much higher on the list.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2259.39
30. Priest Holmes, 2003
Priest Holmes is an all-time fan favorite in Kansas City. It’s easy to see why. Holmes was an undrafted free agent, mostly because he played next to Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams at the University of Texas. Because he had to share the limelight with one of the best running backs in college that year, he wasn’t as productive statistically as he otherwise could have been.
Ultimately, the Baltimore Ravens gave him a shot at the professional level and he never looked back. After spending a few years with the Ravens, he eventually made his way to the Kansas City Chiefs where he had several spectacular seasons.
The season in question at No. 30 is the 2003 season. In 2003, Holmes had 1,420 rushing yards, 690 receiving yards, and at that time an NFL record 27 touchdowns. Holmes would only hold this record for a few years, but it’s still an amazing accomplishment and one of the greatest seasons a running back has ever had. Understandably, some fans may argue this was Holmes’ best season, but there’s actually one better.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2301.32
27. Larry Johnson, 2006
Larry Johnson would have multiple great seasons, but his best season and the one that technically checks in at No. 27 on this list is his 2006 campaign. During that year, Johnson had 1,789 rushing yards, 17 rushing touchdowns, 410 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns. He averaged 112 rushing yards per game in one of the most dominant seasons for a running back in recent memory.
Johnson, like many Chiefs players during the era of 2007-2012, is a story of what could have been. The speed and size he possessed, if only given a consistently strong team early in his career, would likely have propelled his career much higher than it reached.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2343.00
As you’ll see, there are a couple Chiefs’ players that actually made the cut for top 25 running back seasons of all time. One in particular scored very highly on this list.
25. Ricky Williams, 2002
Ricky Williams is arguably a player who had a solid, if not great NFL career, but never quite lived up to his potential. The expectations for Williams were sky high because of his incredibly dominant career at the University of Texas. He nearly broke 1,000 yards every year, rushed for an incredible 2,124 yards his senior season, and had 6,279 rushing yards and 72 touchdowns for his career. Add to that nearly 1,000 yards receiving and three touchdowns and he was exactly the kind of back GMs believed would have a long and successful career in the NFL.
The year that checks in 25th on our list of greatest running back seasons is 2002. Playing for the Miami Dolphins, Williams’ second team, he had 1,863 rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, 343 receiving yards, and one receiving touchdown. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, named First Team All-Pro and was considered to be one of the best running backs in football.
Unfortunately, Ricky Williams career would be an up and down one. He suffered from social anxiety and understandably found it difficult to balance that with the scrutiny of playing in America’s favorite league. Even so, he was a great player and his 2002 campaign is one to be remembered.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2345.72
24. DeMarco Murray, 2014
Demarco Murray had a good, but inconsistent career in the NFL. He was the definition of an all-purpose back during his time at Oklahoma. He rushed for 3,685 yards and 50 touchdowns and added 1,571 yards receiving and 13 receiving touchdowns. He was eventually a third round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2011 NFL Draft.
Murray’s 2014 season checks in at 24th on this list. During that season he had 1,845 rushing yards, 13 rushing touchdowns, and added 416 yards receiving. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, named First Team All-Pro, and was voted as high as No. 4 in the NFL Top 100 for the upcoming 2015 season.
Unfortunately, Murray struggled to find consistency throughout his career. He only played seven years, and only three more after this monster season, only breaking 1,000 yards three times for his career. Regardless, he was a great college running back and followed that up with a solid career and one spectacular season.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2356.30
23. Arian Foster, 2010
Arian Foster was one of the more unheralded running backs on this list coming out of college. While he had a solid career while at Tennessee, it wasn’t anything particularly eye-opening. Consequently, Foster wasn’t drafted in the 2009 NFL Draft and ended up signing as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans.
After an unremarkable rookie season, Foster exploded onto the NFL scene. His second year in the NFL ranks 23rd on this list and for good reason. He played in 16 games, rushed for 1,616 yards, scored 16 rushing touchdowns and added 604 yards and two touchdowns in receiving. This puts him 20th all time in yards per scrimmage in a season. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, voted First Team All-Pro, and voted by his peers as the 25th best player in the league.
Foster would play eight years total for the Houston Texans, breaking 1,000 yards four times and was named to the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. In retirement, he has enjoyed a successful acting career making guest appearances on several television shows as well as producing his own television documentary.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2357.15
22. Jim Brown, 1965
Jim Brown is considered to be one of the greatest football players of all time. In only nine years in the NFL, from 1957 to 1965, he posted seven 1,000 yard rushing seasons. For his career, he rushed for an incredible 12,312 yards and 106 touchdowns.
He’s the only player in NFL history to rush for over 100 yards per game for his entire career. He’s currently 11th all time in career rushing yards and 5th in total rushing touchdowns. He was also a solid receiving threat, posting 2,499 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns for his career.
Brown made the Pro Bowl every single year he played, was named to the rough equivalent of First Team All-Pro every year but one, was voted the NFL’s most valuable player three times, and won the NFL Championship as a member of the Cleveland Browns in 1964.
Brown’s first season on this list is his 1965 campaign. During this season, Brown played in 14 games and had1,544 rushing yards, 328 receiving yards and 21 total touchdowns. Impressively, what was a fantastic season is actually Brown’s third best as you’ll see later on.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2374.45
21. Eric Dickerson, 1983
Eric Dickerson had one of the most prolific careers for a running back in the history of football. As part of the “Pony Express,” a duo of star running backs for the Mustangs that included Craig James, Dickerson ran for a combined 3,045 yards and 36 rushing touchdowns his junior and senior seasons in college.
The Mustangs would be honored as the national champion in 1981 according to the National Champion Foundation, national champion in 1982 according to the Helms Athletic Foundation, and Dickerson himself would individually finish third in the Heisman voting in 1982 behind only Herschel Walker and John Elway.
Following his spectacular college career, Dickerson was chosen second overall by the Los Angeles Rams. He has two entries on this list, and the first was his rookie season of 1983. Dickerson burst onto the scene with 1,808 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, 404 receiving yards, and two receiving touchdowns in 16 games. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, voted First Team All-Pro, and voted the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. His rookie season only underscored the spectacular years that would follow.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2379.92
20. Todd Gurley, 2017
Todd Gurley is a star, there is no doubt about it. His rare blend of speed, athleticism, elusiveness, and strength make him an expert at getting to the outside and a nightmare to bring down in the open field. Gurley was an early star for the Georgia Bulldogs, rushing for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns in his freshman season. He would finish his career early, forgoing his senior season for the NFL Draft, and be selected 10th overall by the current Los Angeles Rams.
Gurley has done nothing but dominate since he entered the league. In his four years he has averaged over 1,000 yards rushing, 450 yards receiving, and 14 total touchdowns. His most impressive year, and the one that checks in as 20th on this list, is his 2017 season.
During 2017, Gurley played in 15 games, ran for 1,305 yards and 13 touchdowns and added 788 yards and six touchdowns through the air. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, voted First Team All-Pro, and voted the AP Offensive Player of the Year. All he did since was follow that up with a monster year in 2018. Simply put, Gurley is only beginning to scratch the surface.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2382.20
19. Eric Dickerson, 1984
Dickerson’s second entry on this list was his second season as a professional. He would follow his rookie year with one of the most dominant single seasons any player at any position had had up to that point in NFL history. His rushing yards from the 1984 season still stand as the single season record all this time later.
Dickerson followed up his special rookie season by gaining 2,105 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, and adding 139 yards through the air. If this list was only evaluating a running backs rushing prowess, both Dickerson’s seasons would be top 10 and his 1984 season would likely be in the top 5 all time.
Dickerson would play for four teams throughout his career of 11 years and rush for 13,259 yards and 85 touchdowns, adding 2,137 yards and six touchdowns through the air. Only six running backs before him surpassed 10,000 yards for their careers and he was the fastest to do so. He’s currently ranked ninth all time in career rushing yards and 13th all time in rushing touchdowns.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2384.62
18. Jamal Lewis, 2003
Jamal Lewis was a quality college running back, but is most known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens. As the fifth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, Lewis was expected to be a starter immediately. He had an incredibly impactful rookie year rushing for 1,364 yards and six touchdowns, being named to the All Rookie Team, and helping the Ravens to the franchise’s first Super Bowl.
Lewis will primarily be remembered for one year in particular, 2003, where he came close to breaking the all time rushing mark. During that season, Lewis had 2,066 rushing yards, 14 rushing touchdowns, and 205 receiving yards. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, voted First Team All-Pro, voted the AP Offensive Player of the Year, and voted the PFWA NFL MVP.
He would go on to have several more effective years, but none that would come close to 2003. Lewis would retire after the 2009 season with the Cleveland Browns and remains third all time in rushing yards in a single season.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2392.88
17. Ahman Green, 2003
Ahman Green was successful at nearly everything he did. In high school, the Omaha, Nebraska native was the state’s football player of the year his senior season in 1994. He was also a track star, winning the state championship in the 100- and 200-meter dash his senior season.
Green brought this speed to the University of Nebraska, where he dominated for the Huskers. His senior season, Green rushed for 1,877 yards and 22 touchdowns, adding 105 yards through the air en route to the school’s third football national championship in three years. Green would start slow in the NFL, but would grow into a force in the backfield for years.
Drafted by the Seattle Seahawks, it wasn’t until Green found his way to the Green Bay Packers that he began to find success in the NFL. He would play seven years total for the franchise, break 1,000 yards rushing every year, and leave the team as the organization’s all time rushing leader.
The year in particular that makes this list at 17th is 2003. During this season Green played in 16 games, gained 1,883 rushing yards, 367 yards receiving, and scored 20 total touchdowns. In a normal year, these type of stats would lead to First Team All-Pro and Offensive Player of the Year consideration, but 2003 was a special year for running backs as you’ll see later in this list.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2407.34
16. Terrell Davis, 1998
Terrell Davis is just one in a very long list of Georgia Bulldog running backs who have gone on to have great careers in the NFL. Interestingly though, Davis had a relatively average, if not below average, college career. During his four seasons with the Bulldogs, Davis averaged 480 yards rushing, 106 yards receiving, and five touchdowns. Respectable numbers, but surprisingly average given Davis’ professional career.
Unsurprisingly, Davis wasn’t drafted until the sixth round of the 1995 NFL draft. Unfortunately for Chiefs’ fans, the Denver Broncos got a steal. Davis had an incredible first four years with the team, rushing for over 1,000 yards each season and totalling 6,413 rushing yards total. If you’re keeping track, that means Davis averaged 3.3 times his average rushing yards per year in college. Whatever Davis and the Broncos were doing was working.
The year in question that makes this list is Davis’ 1998 season. During this season he played in 16 games and gained 2,008 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards, and scored 23 total touchdowns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro for the third straight year, and won the Associated Press NFL MVP award. As a team, the Broncos capped off Davis’ spectacular statistical year with the franchise’s first Super Bowl win, beating the Packers 31-24.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2411.68
15. Adrian Peterson, 2012
Adrian Peterson is a physical freak. Like a few players on this list, he possesses size, power, and speed like few before him. A football and track and field star in high school, Peterson had high expectations placed on him when he came to Oklahoma. All he did was rush for an eye-popping 1,925 yards and 15 rushing touchdowns his freshman year. His sophomore and junior season weren’t quite as dominant, but he still broke 1,000 yards ever season and finished his career for the Sooners with 4,041 yards and 41 rushing touchdowns.
Needless to say, Peterson was a “can’t miss” prospect at the NFL level. He went seventh overall to the Minnesota Vikings and was a star from day one. He’d play 10 years in Minnesota and in that time rush for 11,747 yards and 97 touchdowns and add 1,945 yards and five touchdowns through the air.
The season that makes this list is Peterson’s 2012 campaign. During this season, Peterson played in 16 games and had 2,097 rushing yards, 217 receiving yards, and 13 total touchdowns. With this season, he now stands at No. 2 on the list trailing only Eric Dickerson for most rushing yards in a season. Peterson is still going strong playing for the Washington Redskins, and currently sits at eighth all time in career rushing yards with 13,318.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2427.43
14. Marcus Allen, 1985
Lots of Chiefs’ fans have a special place in their hearts for Marcus Allen. Sure, he spent his formative years churning the turf for our hated cross-country rival in the Oakland Raiders. However, he had some great years for the Chiefs playing “Marty Ball” during the Schottenheimer era.
In fact, every year he played for the Chiefs he averaged over 1,000 yards from scrimmage and nearly 12 touchdowns. He was a productive cog in a well-oiled machine that won a lot of games in the 1990s.
That said, the year that finds its place on our list took place in The Black Hole. In 1985, Allen played in 16 games and gained 1,795 rushing yards, 555 receiving yards, and 14 total touchdowns. It was his best year as a pro and lands him at 14 on this list.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2446.28
13. Edgerrin James, 2000
Because of how transcendent Peyton Manning was for so long for the Indianapolis Colts, a lot of people likely forget just how good running back Edgerrin James really was.
James had an incredible 11-year career ending with 15,610 yards from scrimmage and 91 total touchdowns. He’s currently 13th all time in rushing yards and 20th in rushing touchdowns.
The season that makes this list is his 2000 season, where he had 1,709 rushing yards, 594 receiving yards, and 18 total touchdowns. They were career highs for him in all categoriesm and if it weren’t for another back on this list, you could argue he was the best that season.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2450.43
12. Jim Brown, 1958
This is Brown’s second entry on this list. It’s amazing to think how productive Brown was in an era where players weren’t cared for in the way they are today. Even more, the NFL didn’t switch to 16 games until the 1978 season. Even if you didn’t normalize Brown’s stats to fit the 16 game measuring stick, he’d still have one or two season in the top 25.
The particular season in question at No. 12 is his 1958 season. During this season Brown only played in 12 games. Some might remember, but the NFL didn’t even transition to a 14 game schedule until 1961. This makes Brown’s season that much more incredible.
He averaged 127 rushing yards per game en route to an NFL record, at the time, of 1,527 rushing yards in a season. He added to that 119 receiving yards and 18 total touchdowns. Brown’s 1958 season is the only one from the 1950s to make this list, and it is well deserved.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2482.17
11. Barry Sanders, 1997
Barry Sanders is one of the most recognizable names in football. He was a ridiculously dominant back at Oklahoma State, rushing for an incredible 2,628 yards and 37 touchdowns his final year with the team. Even though that was a college season, it might be incredible enough to be the top season on this list. All jokes aside though, Sanders was amazing. His final year he was an All-American, won the Heisman Trophy, won the Maxwell Award, and was named the Walter Camp Player of the Year. It might be the greatest season a player has had at their respective position in college football history.
Sanders had a remarkably consistent professional career for the Detroit Lions, rushing for greater than 1,300 yards every single season except one. For his 10 year career he had 15,269 rushing yards, 2,921 receiving yards, and 109 total touchdowns. He is currently third all time in career rushing yards and 10th all time in rushing touchdowns.
The year that checks in at No. 11 on this list is 1997. During that season, Sanders became the fourth running back to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards in a season with 2,053. He also added 305 yards through the air and had 14 total touchdowns. It was a remarkable season and deserves to be amongst the greatest all time.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2501.24
10. LaDainian Tomlinson, 2003
Chiefs’ fans are unfortunately all too familiar with the next player on our list, who happens to have two entries in the top 10. The Texas Christian product spent nine years running all over the AFC West and consequently, the Chiefs. He is widely considered one of the best and most consistent running backs to ever play.
During Tomlinson’s career with the Chargers, he broke 1200 yards rushing every year but once and had double digit rushing touchdowns every single year. In total, he gained 12,490 rushing yards, 3,955 receiving yards, and scored a whopping 153 total touchdowns. Just looking at his Chargers career, and not including the two years he played with the New York Jets, Tomlinson would still be firmly in the 2nd spot in all-time rushing touchdowns and 11th in all time rushing yards.
The year that falls 10th on this list, and Tomlinson’s first of two entries, is his 2003 season. During that year Tomlinson racked up 1,645 rushing yards, 725 receiving yards, and 17 total touchdowns. Believe it or not, this season was actually Tomlinson’s career high in yards from scrimmage at 2,370. It was an impressive year, but only the second best of his career.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2509.25
9. Marshall Faulk, 1999
Maybe it’s just me, but as a die-hard Chiefs’ fan the St. Louis, now Los Angeles Rams have never been a team I rooted against. At least until recently. Consequently, I always remember enjoying watching Marshall Faulk play. As one of the primary weapons in the former “Greatest Show on Turf,” he was extremely fun to watch.
Faulk was the absolute definition of an all-purpose back during his time in the league. In fact, he’s one of only three backs in the history of the NFL to surpass 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards and the only one to surpass 12,000 and 6,000. For his career, he totalled 12,279 rushing yards, 6,875 receiving yards, and 136 total touchdowns.
The season that checks in at 7th on our list is his 1999 season. During this season Faulk rushed for 1,381 yards and added an eye popping 1,081 yards through the air. He is in rare company with this feat, as the only other player to gain 1,000 yards in both categories before him was Roger Craig. Add to that 12 total touchdowns, and this was an amazing season. However, as you’ll see, this wasn’t Faulk’s best.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2542.93
8. OJ Simpson, 1973
For obvious reasons, while he was an incredible back for his time that would have likely been extremely successful regardless of what era in which he played, OJ Simpson’s accomplishments tend to take a back seat when talking about greatest running backs of all time. For most people born in the 1990s and beyond, they remember Simpson for his car chase and not for his athletic exploits.
That said, Simpson was an incredible back for USC and had a breathtaking stretch for the Buffalo Bills in the 1970s. During the five-year period from 1972 through 1976, Simpson averaged 1,540 rushing yards, 228 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Bowl and voted First Team All-Pro every single year.
The particular year in question, and one of two on this list for Simpson, is his 1973 season. With 2,003 rushing yards, Simpson was the first running back to surpass 2,000 yards rushing shattering the previous record held by Jim Brown since 1963. Simpson added 70 yards through the air and 12 rushing touchdowns. He was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL’s Most Valuable Player. For most backs, this would be far and away their best year, but it wasn’t for Simpson.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2544.76
7. LaDainian Tomlinson, 2006
Tomlinson’s second entry on this list falls in his record breaking 2006 season. During this season Tomlinson broke the all time total touchdown mark that had been set three seasons before by Chiefs’ running back Priest Holmes. That’s not all he would do.
In total, Tomlinson gained 1,815 rushing yards, 508 receiving yards, and scored 31 total touchdowns. For his incredible performance he was voted to the Pro Bowl, named First Team All-Pro, received the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, and was named the league’s Most Valuable Player, a rare feat for a running back.
For his career, Tomlinson ranks second all time in rushing touchdowns with 145, third all in total touchdowns with 162, and sixth all time in career rushing yards.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2548.07
6. Walter Payton, 1977
Walter Payton, known as “Sweetness,” had one of the greatest overall careers for a running back ever. He dominated the mid-1970s through the late-1980s, posting 1,000 yard rushing seasons in 10 of his 13 years in the NFL. He’s currently second on the list of all-time rushing yards, trailing only Emmitt Smith who played two seasons more than he did. He’s also No. 4 in rushing touchdowns and No. 7 in rushing yards per game. Simply put, he’s one of the all time greats at the position.
The season checking in at No. 6 all time is Payton’s 1977 campaign. During that season Payton played in 14 games, had 1,852 yards rushing, 269 yards receiving and 16 total touchdowns. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, was voted First Team All-Pro, and was voted the AP Offensive Player of the Year.
This was Payton’s best season, but it was not his only great season. In total, he was named to 9 Pro Bowls, named First Team All-Pro 5 times, and was eventually enshrined in Canton as part of the 1993 class. In 1999, Payton unfortunately passed away due complications from a rare liver disease. His NFL legend continues to live on in Bears’ fans across the world.
TOTAL SEASON SCORE: 2613.67
5. Jim Brown, 1963
Like I said before, Jim Brown had an incredibly dominant career. As such, he has multiple years in the top 25 best seasons all time for a running back. If you’re counting, this is the third entry in the top 25. That’s pretty incredible.
The year in question that comes in fifth on this list is Brown’s 1963 season. During that season he played in 14 games and ran the ball 291 times for 1,863 yards and twelve touchdowns. He added 29 receptions for 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was an incredible season and one of the best all time. In an era where the game was arguably more physical, Brown’s accomplishments are tremendous.
A final fun fact about Jim Brown: he has a successful acting career, starring in numerous films beginning in 1964 and most recently played himself in “Draft Day” in 2014.
TOTAL SEASON SCORE: 2631.05
4. Chris Johnson, 2009
Chris Johnson, while boasting a top five season all time for a running back, surprisingly only has one entry on this list. However, he had several great seasons for the Titans before declining at the end of his career with the Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
During Johnson’s six-year career with the Titans, he averaged 1,328 rushing yards, 334 receiving yards, and nearly 10 total touchdowns. He made the 2008 NFL All Rookie Team, was voted to the Pro Bowl three times, and was named First Team All-Pro once.
The year that makes the top five on this list was Johnson’s second year for the Titans, and it was a record breaking one. During that season, Johnson gained 2,006 rushing yards, 503 receiving yards, and 16 total touchdowns. He set and currently holds the all time record for yards from scrimmage in one season with 2,509. He was voted to the Pro Bowl, named First Team All-Pro, and received the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award. It was a special season for Johnson, the fans, and one for the record books.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2645.06
3. Marshall Faulk, 2000
Needless to say, as it’s ranked higher, Faulk’s second season on this list was even more incredible. The 2000 season was the culmination of the “Greatest Show on Turf” in their defeat of the Titans on the one-yard line to claim the franchise’s last and only Super Bowl.
During this season, Faulk was incredible. As the key factor in the offense, Faulk had 1,359 rushing yards and 830 receiving yards. While his overall yards from scrimmage were lower than the previous year, he scored more than twice as many touchdowns with 26, setting the record for the time in total touchdowns in a season.
While Faulk didn’t score in the Super Bowl, he was undoubtedly a major factor in the team’s success that year. He’s arguably one of the greatest running backs of all time and his 2000 season is only surpassed by two others.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2737.43
2. OJ Simpson, 1975
Simpson’s second entry on this list, and the one that garners him the runner-up spot to the greatest season of all time, is his 1975 season. This was actually a less decorated season for Simpson, as he didn’t win the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year or the MVP. Both those awards were given to Fran Tarkenton of the Minnesota Vikings.
Even so, this was Simpson’s best year as a professional. He set a career high in yards from scrimmage with 1,817 rushing yards and 426 receiving yards, and nearly doubled his previous best of 12 total touchdowns with 23.
Up to that point, and not until 27 years later would a running back have a better season.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2807.10
1. Priest Holmes, 2002
I know what you’re thinking. Probably something like, “I love Priest more than the next guy, but c’mon! Ranking his 2002 season the best of all time? Get out of here with that nonsense!” Let me first answer by saying I didn’t plan this. In fact, I was hoping something like this wouldn’t happen, as I could guess the response of some readers. However, the formula is a good one and this is who it says comes in at No. 1. The more I think it through, the more sure I become of the result.
Before you grab your pitchforks, let’s examine the arguments against this and see why they’re right or wrong. The first one, and probably the most common one I’m sure I’ll hear, is that this wasn’t even Holmes’ best season. His best season, as most fans will probably think, was 2003. I’ll give it to you, at first glance it sure seems that way. In this case however, things are not what they seem. Why? Because Holmes only played in 14 games in 2002 as opposed to 16 in 2003, so you have to take a closer look.
First, Holmes was actually much more effective in 2002 averaging 163 yards from scrimmage per game compared with 132 yards from scrimmage per game in 2003. Out of all the players on this list, that his the highest yards from scrimmage per game in their respective seasons. In fact, if you add Holmes’ game by game average for an additional two games he’d be the current yards from scrimmage record holder for all of NFL history with 2,613 yards.
Second, most fans remember 2003 as this fantastic season because Holmes broke the all time touchdown record up to that point with 27 touchdowns. I’ll admit, even though it only lasted a few years, this was an amazing feat. Again however, Holmes was more productive in 2002 on a game by game basis averaging 1.71 touchdowns per game compared to 1.68 touchdowns in 2003.
If you noticed, that means if Holmes had finished the 2002 season he likely would have set the all-time yards from scrimmage and touchdown record in the same season. Only two players, both on this list, have since surpassed what Holmes’ touchdown output would have been if he played the whole season and none of them have an adjusted yards from scrimmage number like his.
Now, you may point to the fact that Holmes had an incredible offensive line. You’d be absolutely correct, but without a consistent metric to compare offensive lines across the 65 seasons I evaluated, there’s not much that can really be accurately evaluated here. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending upon how you look at it, gut feeling has no place in an objective evaluation like this one.
You also might point to the fact that Holmes’ yards per carry in 2002 was not as good as some of the other running backs on this list. You’d again be correct, except that the player with the highest yards per carry on this list had 178 less adjusted yards from scrimmage and 10 less adjusted touchdowns. If you’ve been tracking the formula, all things being equal, that’s 238 points. I would have had to weight yards per carry way more than it should be for any running back on this list over 6 yards per carry to make it to the top spot. Yards per carry is important, but there are several variables at play there as well.
So there you have it. Priest Holmes’ 2002 season checks in as the greatest of all time according to the formula. You might be able to tweak a factor here or there and come up with a slightly different answer, but it’s obvious that his 2002 campaign was incredible and it’s a shame that he wasn’t able to finish it the way he deserved.
NORMALIZED SEASON SCORE: 2823.54
Conclusion:
For those who are interested, here is a list of the players ranked from 26th through 50th:
As you can see, Chiefs’ running backs through the years have fared well when it comes to to all time seasons. If it weren’t for injuries and poor coaching for a long period of the franchise’s history, it’s likely we would have several more Chiefs’ running backs in the top 25.
That said, as fans we have been blessed to watch some of the greatest to ever play don the red-and-yellow adorned arrowhead. For that, we should all be grateful.
Stay tuned for a following piece where I’ll cover the top Chiefs’ quarterback seasons from each decade. Go Chiefs!