List of National Football League annual rushing yards leaders
August 21, 2023
In American football, rushing and passing are the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field.[1] A rush, also known as a running play, generally occurs when the quarterback hands or tosses the ball backwards to the running back,[2] but other players, such as the quarterback, can run with the ball.[1] In the National Football League (NFL), the player who has recorded the most rushing yards for a season is considered the winner of the rushing title for that season.[3] In addition to the NFL rushing champion, league record books recognize the rushing champions of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the National Football League in 1970.[4]
The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[5] Since the adoption of the 14-game season in 1961, all but one rushing champion have recorded over 1,000 yards rushing. Eight rushing champions have recorded over 2,000 rushing yards, a feat first accomplished by O. J. Simpson in 1973 and most recently achieved by Derrick Henry in 2020. [6]
The player with the most rushing titles is Jim Brown, who was the rushing champion eight times over his career. Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, O. J. Simpson, Steve Van Buren, and Barry Sanders are tied for the second-most rushing titles, each having won four times. Jim Brown also holds the record for the most consecutive rushing titles with five, having led the league in rushing each year from 1957 to 1961. Steve Van Buren, Emmitt Smith, and Earl Campbell each recorded three consecutive rushing titles. The Cleveland Browns have recorded the most rushing titles with eleven; the Dallas Cowboys rank second, with seven rushing titles. The most recent rushing champion is Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders, who led the league with 1,656 yards rushing over the 2022 season. Derrick Henry is the most recent player to win back-to-back titles.[7]
In 2022 the NFL announced that, "To permanently honor the impact of Jim Brown on the NFL, the player with the most rushing yards each season will be presented with the "Jim Brown Award".[8] Josh Jacobs was the inaugural recipient.
^Wyatt, Jim (January 3, 2021). "DH2K: Titans RB Derrick Henry Eclipses 2,000-Yard Mark in Win Over Texans". TennesseeTitans.com. from the original on January 4, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^Gordon, Grant (January 3, 2021). "Titans RB Derrick Henry rushes for 2,000 yards in division-clinching win". NFL.com. from the original on January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
^NFL (February 9, 2023). "Josh Jacobs wins FedEx Ground Player of the Year and inaugural Jim Brown Award". nflcommunications.com. NFL. from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
^"NFL Year-by-Year Rushing Yards Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
^"NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season". Pro Football Hall of Fame. from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
^"1932 Boston Braves". Pro-Football-Reference.com. from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
^"1933 Boston Redskins". Pro-Football-Reference.com. from the original on July 16, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
^"1934 Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com. from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved June 16, 2013.
^ ab"NFL History by Decade: 1981–1990". NFL.com. from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
External links
National Football League
250 best American Football League (AFL) and NFL rushing seasons
August 21, 2023
list, national, football, league, annual, rushing, yards, leaders, american, football, rushing, passing, main, methods, advancing, ball, down, field, rush, also, known, running, play, generally, occurs, when, quarterback, hands, tosses, ball, backwards, runnin. In American football rushing and passing are the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field 1 A rush also known as a running play generally occurs when the quarterback hands or tosses the ball backwards to the running back 2 but other players such as the quarterback can run with the ball 1 In the National Football League NFL the player who has recorded the most rushing yards for a season is considered the winner of the rushing title for that season 3 In addition to the NFL rushing champion league record books recognize the rushing champions of the American Football League AFL which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the National Football League in 1970 4 Jim Brown led the league in rushing for eight seasons including five consecutive seasons from 1957 to 1961 and three consecutive seasons from 1963 to 1965 The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season 5 Since the adoption of the 14 game season in 1961 all but one rushing champion have recorded over 1 000 yards rushing Eight rushing champions have recorded over 2 000 rushing yards a feat first accomplished by O J Simpson in 1973 and most recently achieved by Derrick Henry in 2020 6 The player with the most rushing titles is Jim Brown who was the rushing champion eight times over his career Eric Dickerson Emmitt Smith O J Simpson Steve Van Buren and Barry Sanders are tied for the second most rushing titles each having won four times Jim Brown also holds the record for the most consecutive rushing titles with five having led the league in rushing each year from 1957 to 1961 Steve Van Buren Emmitt Smith and Earl Campbell each recorded three consecutive rushing titles The Cleveland Browns have recorded the most rushing titles with eleven the Dallas Cowboys rank second with seven rushing titles The most recent rushing champion is Josh Jacobs of the Las Vegas Raiders who led the league with 1 656 yards rushing over the 2022 season Derrick Henry is the most recent player to win back to back titles 7 In 2022 the NFL announced that To permanently honor the impact of Jim Brown on the NFL the player with the most rushing yards each season will be presented with the Jim Brown Award 8 Josh Jacobs was the inaugural recipient Contents 1 List of NFL rushing title winners 2 List of AFL rushing title winners 3 List of AAFC rushing title winners 4 Most rushing titles 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References 8 External linksList of NFL rushing title winners Edit Byron Whizzer White a future associate justice of the US Supreme Court won the league rushing title in 1938 and 1940 Gale Sayers led the NFL in rushing in 1966 and 1969 Eric Dickerson led the league in rushing in 1983 and 1984 his first two seasons in the league and won two more titles in 1986 and 1988 Emmitt Smith was the league s rushing champion four times including three consecutive years from 1991 to 1993 LaDainian Tomlinson won back to back rushing titles in 2006 and 2007 Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing in the 2008 2012 and 2015 seasons Derrick Henry won back to back rushing titles in 2019 and 2020 and is the most recent player to do so Key Pro Football Hall of Fame member Player is active Player won the AP Most Valuable Player award in the same year Player won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award in the same yearNational Football League NFL rushing title winners by season 9 Season Winner Team Yards Games A 1932 Cliff Battles Boston Braves 576 10 B 1933 Jim Musick Boston Redskins 809 12 C 1934 Beattie Feathers Chicago Bears 1 004 13 D 1935 Doug Russell Chicago Cardinals 499 121936 Tuffy Leemans New York Giants 830 121937 Cliff Battles 2 Washington Redskins 874 111938 Byron White Pittsburgh Pirates 567 111939 Bill Osmanski Chicago Bears 699 111940 Byron White 2 Detroit Lions 514 111941 Pug Manders Brooklyn Dodgers 486 111942 Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers 696 111943 Bill Paschal New York Giants 572 101944 Bill Paschal 2 New York Giants 737 101945 Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles 832 101946 Bill Dudley 2 Pittsburgh Steelers 604 111947 Steve Van Buren 2 Philadelphia Eagles 1 008 121948 Steve Van Buren 3 Philadelphia Eagles 945 121949 Steve Van Buren 4 Philadelphia Eagles 1 146 121950 Marion Motley Cleveland Browns 810 121951 Eddie Price New York Giants 971 121952 Dan Towler Los Angeles Rams 894 121953 Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers 1 018 121954 Joe Perry 2 San Francisco 49ers 1 049 121955 Alan Ameche Baltimore Colts 961 121956 Rick Casares Chicago Bears 1 126 121957 Jim Brown Cleveland Browns 942 121958 Jim Brown 2 Cleveland Browns 1 527 121959 Jim Brown 3 Cleveland Browns 1 329 121960 Jim Brown 4 Cleveland Browns 1 257 121961 Jim Brown 5 Cleveland Browns 1 408 141962 Jim Taylor Green Bay Packers 1 474 141963 Jim Brown 6 Cleveland Browns 1 863 141964 Jim Brown 7 Cleveland Browns 1 446 141965 Jim Brown 8 Cleveland Browns 1 544 141966 Gale Sayers Chicago Bears 1 231 141967 Leroy Kelly Cleveland Browns 1 205 141968 Leroy Kelly 2 Cleveland Browns 1 239 141969 Gale Sayers 2 Chicago Bears 1 032 141970 Larry Brown Washington Redskins 1 125 141971 Floyd Little Denver Broncos 1 133 141972 O J Simpson Buffalo Bills 1 251 141973 O J Simpson 2 Buffalo Bills 2 003 141974 Otis Armstrong Denver Broncos 1 407 141975 O J Simpson 3 Buffalo Bills 1 817 141976 O J Simpson 4 Buffalo Bills 1 503 141977 Walter Payton Chicago Bears 1 852 141978 Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1 450 161979 Earl Campbell 2 Houston Oilers 1 697 161980 Earl Campbell 3 Houston Oilers 1 934 161981 George Rogers New Orleans Saints 1 674 161982 Freeman McNeil New York Jets 786 9 E 1983 Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 1 808 161984 Eric Dickerson 2 Los Angeles Rams 2 105 161985 Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders 1 759 161986 Eric Dickerson 3 Los Angeles Rams 1 821 161987 Charles White Los Angeles Rams 1 374 15 F 1988 Eric Dickerson 4 Indianapolis Colts 1 659 161989 Christian Okoye Kansas City Chiefs 1 480 161990 Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1 304 161991 Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1 563 161992 Emmitt Smith 2 Dallas Cowboys 1 713 161993 Emmitt Smith 3 Dallas Cowboys 1 486 141994 Barry Sanders 2 Detroit Lions 1 883 161995 Emmitt Smith 4 Dallas Cowboys 1 773 161996 Barry Sanders 3 Detroit Lions 1 553 161997 Barry Sanders 4 Detroit Lions 2 053 161998 Terrell Davis Denver Broncos 2 008 161999 Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1 553 162000 Edgerrin James 2 Indianapolis Colts 1 709 162001 Priest Holmes Kansas City Chiefs 1 555 162002 Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins 1 853 162003 Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens 2 066 162004 Curtis Martin New York Jets 1 697 162005 Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks 1 880 162006 LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1 815 162007 LaDainian Tomlinson 2 San Diego Chargers 1 474 162008 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1 760 162009 Chris Johnson Tennessee Titans 2 006 162010 Arian Foster Houston Texans 1 616 162011 Maurice Jones Drew Jacksonville Jaguars 1 606 162012 Adrian Peterson 2 Minnesota Vikings 2 097 162013 LeSean McCoy Philadelphia Eagles 1 607 162014 DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys 1 845 162015 Adrian Peterson 3 Minnesota Vikings 1 485 162016 Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys 1 631 152017 Kareem Hunt Kansas City Chiefs 1 327 162018 Ezekiel Elliott 2 Dallas Cowboys 1 434 152019 Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans 1 540 152020 Derrick Henry 2 Tennessee Titans 2 027 162021 Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis Colts 1 811 172022 Josh Jacobs Las Vegas Raiders 1 653 17List of AFL rushing title winners EditMain article List of American Football League rushing champions American Football League AFL rushing title winners by season 4 Season Winner Team Yards Games1960 Abner Haynes Dallas Texans 875 141961 Billy Cannon Houston Oilers 948 141962 Cookie Gilchrist Buffalo Bills 1 096 141963 Clem Daniels Oakland Raiders 1 099 141964 Cookie Gilchrist 2 Buffalo Bills 981 141965 Paul Lowe San Diego Chargers 1 121 141966 Jim Nance Boston Patriots 1 458 141967 Jim Nance 2 Boston Patriots 1 216 141968 Paul Robinson Cincinnati Bengals 1 023 141969 Dickie Post San Diego Chargers 873 14List of AAFC rushing title winners EditFurther information All America Football Conference All American Football Conference AAFC rushing title winners by season Season Winner Team Yards Games1946 Spec Sanders New York Yankees 709 141947 Spec Sanders 2 New York Yankees 1 432 141948 Marion Motley Cleveland Browns 964 141949 Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers 1 099 14Most rushing titles EditNOTE Italics denotes season in which a player won the AAFC rushing title Titles Player Years Team8 Jim Brown 1957 1961 1963 1965 Cleveland Browns4 Eric Dickerson 1983 1984 1986 1988 Los Angeles Rams Indianapolis ColtsBarry Sanders 1990 1994 1996 1997 Detroit LionsO J Simpson 1972 1973 1975 1976 Buffalo BillsEmmitt Smith 1991 1993 1995 Dallas CowboysSteve Van Buren 1945 1947 1949 Philadelphia Eagles3 Earl Campbell 1978 1980 Houston OilersAdrian Peterson 2008 2012 2015 Minnesota VikingsJoe Perry 1949 1953 1954 San Francisco 49ers2 Cliff Battles 1932 1937 Boston Braves Washington RedskinsBill Dudley 1942 1946 Pittsburgh SteelersEzekiel Elliott 2016 2018 Dallas CowboysCookie Gilchrist 1962 1964 Buffalo BillsDerrick Henry 2019 2020 Tennessee TitansEdgerrin James 1999 2000 Indianapolis ColtsLeroy Kelly 1967 1968 Cleveland BrownsJim Nance 1966 1967 Boston PatriotsBill Paschal 1943 1944 New York GiantsMarion Motley 1948 1950 Cleveland BrownsGale Sayers 1966 1969 Chicago BearsLaDainian Tomlinson 2006 2007 San Diego ChargersByron White 1938 1940 Pittsburgh Pirates Detroit LionsSpec Sanders 1946 1947 New York Yankees AAFC See also EditList of National Football League career rushing yards leaders List of NCAA major college football yearly rushing leadersNotes Edit The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season instead setting a minimum 10 The Boston Braves played 10 games in a non standardized season 11 The Boston Redskins played 12 games in a non standardized season 12 The Chicago Bears played 13 games in a non standardized season 13 The 1982 season was reduced from 16 to 9 games due to a 57 day players strike 14 The 1987 season was reduced from 16 to 15 games due to a 24 day players strike 14 References EditGeneral AP MVP Winners Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on March 5 2013 Retrieved March 3 2013 AP Offensive Player of the Year Winners Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on March 5 2013 Retrieved March 3 2013 Hall of Famers Alphabetically Pro Football Hall of Fame Retrieved March 3 2013 NFL Players NFL com Retrieved June 15 2013 Footnotes a b Beginner s Guide to Football National Football League Archived from the original on February 16 2011 Retrieved September 30 2012 The Run NFL360 com Archived from the original on December 29 2012 Retrieved June 19 2013 Miami s Bush Eyeing NFL Rushing Title Foxsports com August 16 2012 Archived from the original on November 23 2012 Retrieved June 19 2013 a b 2012 NFL Record and Fact Book PDF NFL com pp 625 626 Archived PDF from the original on September 13 2012 Retrieved June 19 2013 NFL s Passer Rating Pro Football Hall of Fame Archived from the original on October 3 2015 Retrieved June 19 2013 Wyatt Jim January 3 2021 DH2K Titans RB Derrick Henry Eclipses 2 000 Yard Mark in Win Over Texans TennesseeTitans com Archived from the original on January 4 2021 Retrieved January 4 2021 Gordon Grant January 3 2021 Titans RB Derrick Henry rushes for 2 000 yards in division clinching win NFL com Archived from the original on January 5 2021 Retrieved January 4 2021 NFL February 9 2023 Josh Jacobs wins FedEx Ground Player of the Year and inaugural Jim Brown Award nflcommunications com NFL Archived from the original on February 10 2023 Retrieved February 9 2023 NFL Year by Year Rushing Yards Leaders Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on June 12 2020 Retrieved June 15 2013 NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season Pro Football Hall of Fame Archived from the original on May 12 2013 Retrieved June 15 2013 1932 Boston Braves Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on April 5 2013 Retrieved June 16 2013 1933 Boston Redskins Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on July 16 2013 Retrieved June 16 2013 1934 Chicago Bears Pro Football Reference com Archived from the original on May 31 2013 Retrieved June 16 2013 a b NFL History by Decade 1981 1990 NFL com Archived from the original on October 6 2008 Retrieved February 27 2013 External links EditNational Football League 250 best American Football League AFL and NFL rushing seasons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of National Football League annual rushing yards leaders amp oldid 1165100912, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,