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

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