Arrowhead Addict
FanSided

Top 25 seasons by a running back ever: Which Kansas City Chiefs make the cut?

By Jordan Mannix

SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Running back Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball during the game against the San Diego Chargers on November 30, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 28-24. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - NOVEMBER 30: Running back Priest Holmes #31 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball during the game against the San Diego Chargers on November 30, 2003 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Chiefs defeated the Chargers 28-24. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 12
Next
Running Back, Larry Johnson
KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 20: Larry Johnson #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs carries the ball against Gerard Warren #61 of the Oakland Raiders during the game at Arrowhead Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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.

Home/Chiefs All-Time Lists