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NFL Rushing Champions

Name the players who have led the NFL in rushing since 1957.
All-time record in gold
Quiz by Quizmaster
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Last updated: January 7, 2024
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First submittedDecember 31, 2012
Times taken41,320
Average score39.5%
Rating4.17
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Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
Year
Yards
Player
2023
1,459
Christian McCaffrey
2022
1,653
Josh Jacobs
2021
1,811
Jonathan Taylor
2020
2,027
Derrick Henry
2019
1,540
Derrick Henry
2018
1,434
Ezekiel Elliott
2017
1,327
Kareem Hunt
2016
1,631
Ezekiel Elliott
2015
1,485
Adrian Peterson
2014
1,845
DeMarco Murray
2013
1,607
LeSean McCoy
2012
2,097
Adrian Peterson
2011
1,606
Maurice Jones-Drew
2010
1,616
Arian Foster
2009
2,006
Chris Johnson
2008
1,760
Adrian Peterson
2007
1,474
LaDainian Tomlinson
2006
1,815
LaDainian Tomlinson
2005
1,880
Shaun Alexander
2004
1,697
Curtis Martin
2003
2,066
Jamal Lewis
2002
1,853
Ricky Williams
2001
1,555
Priest Holmes
Year
Yards
Player
2000
1,709
Edgerrin James
1999
1,553
Edgerrin James
1998
2,008
Terrell Davis
1997
2,053
Barry Sanders
1996
1,553
Barry Sanders
1995
1,773
Emmitt Smith
1994
1,883
Barry Sanders
1993
1,486
Emmitt Smith
1992
1,713
Emmitt Smith
1991
1,563
Emmitt Smith
1990
1,304
Barry Sanders
1989
1,480
Christian Okoye
1988
1,659
Eric Dickerson
1987
1,374
Charles White
1986
1,821
Eric Dickerson
1985
1,759
Marcus Allen
1984
2,105
Eric Dickerson
1983
1,808
Eric Dickerson
1982
786
Freeman McNeil
1981
1,674
George Rogers
1980
1,934
Earl Campbell
1979
1,697
Earl Campbell
Year
Yards
Player
1978
1,450
Earl Campbell
1977
1,852
Walter Payton
1976
1,503
O.J. Simpson
1975
1,817
O.J. Simpson
1974
1,407
Otis Armstrong
1973
2,003
O.J. Simpson
1972
1,251
O.J. Simpson
1971
1,133
Floyd Little
1970
1,125
Larry Brown
1969
1,032
Gale Sayers
1968
1,239
Leroy Kelly
1967
1,205
Leroy Kelly
1966
1,231
Gale Sayers
1965
1,544
Jim Brown
1964
1,446
Jim Brown
1963
1,863
Jim Brown
1962
1,474
Jim Taylor
1961
1,408
Jim Brown
1960
1,257
Jim Brown
1959
1,329
Jim Brown
1958
1,527
Jim Brown
1957
942
Jim Brown
18 Comments
+1
Level 71
Jan 2, 2013
Really disappointed that AP didn't get it Sunday. He was so close. At least the Vikings made the playoffs though.
+1
Level 87
Aug 1, 2018
Well it's almost 6 years later and fans are still complaining that Frazier (or Musgrave) didn't have him go for it, while the playoff game was another forgettable loss.
+1
Level 29
Apr 7, 2016
got em all but Jim taylor
+2
Level 83
Jan 3, 2017
Walter Payton only once huh? And interesting to see how low this number was years ago, but I assume that is partly because they played fewer games.
+1
Level 23
May 10, 2020
That's what makes Simpson's 2,003 yard season so impressive. He did it in only 12 games. That's the cool thing about the earlier football days like when Marchetti got 43 sacks in 12 games, and it's unfortunate that sacks weren't recorded when that happened.
+2
Level ∞
Jan 3, 2021
14 games, but yeah. It wasn't even his best season. Two years later, he rushed for 1817 yards and had another 426 receiving yards, with 25 total touchdowns. Possibly the greatest season ever for a running back. Too bad about what happened later...
+1
Level 23
Jan 10, 2021
Yeah Marchetti's season was 12 games. Simpson's was 14
+1
Level 72
Sep 11, 2021
What happened later? You mean his hammy roles in the Naked Gun series? ~( 8
+1
Level 67
Jan 8, 2017
Surprised Jerome Bettis didn't appear even once...but I guess that's what happens when your prime coincides with those of Emmitt Smith and Barry Sanders.
+1
Level 85
Apr 4, 2017
I feel sorry for any fan that never got to see Barry Sanders play.
+1
Level 12
Nov 18, 2017
Marshall Faulk is not there. Surprising
+1
Level 85
Dec 30, 2019
Jim Nance gained 1458 yards rushing for the AFL's Boston Patriots in 1966, so you don't seem to be counting AFL yardage on this quiz, but on other "NFL" quizzes updated today you do count AFL yardage. Why not clarify how you're counting AFL data in the instructions to the various quizzes?
+2
Level 14
Feb 14, 2022
How could I miss Derrick Henry...
+2
Level 36
Oct 19, 2022
What happened to running backs in 1982?
+2
Level 68
Nov 20, 2022
Strike-shortened season. Only 9 games
+1
Level 75
Nov 7, 2023
Thought it was funny there were a bunch of Jim Browns and then he changed his last name to Taylor and then back again.
+2
Level 37
Jan 8, 2024
33% didn't get Walter Payton?
+1
Level 76
Jan 31, 2024
Now 43%. Not everyone shares your interests. And that was a long time ago.