List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders

NFL lists
Quarterbacks Career passing touchdowns leaders Career passing yards leaders Career passer rating leaders Career completions/attempts Career wins Annual passing touchdowns leaders Annual passing yards leaders Annual passer rating leaders Annual completion percentage leaders Playoff records 5000 yard seasons Consecutive starts Consecutive games with TD pass Starting quarterbacks by team: BUF MIA NE NYJ BAL CIN CLE PIT HOU IND JAX TEN DEN KC LV LAC DAL NYG PHI WAS CHI DET GB MIN ATL CAR NO TB ARI LAR SF SEA
Running backs Career rushing yards leaders Career rushing touchdowns leaders Career rushing attempts leaders Annual rushing yards leaders Annual rushing touchdowns leaders 2,000-yard club 1,000-yard duos
Receivers Career receptions leaders Career receiving yards leaders Career receiving touchdowns leaders Annual receptions leaders Annual receiving yards leaders Annual receiving touchdowns leaders Triple crown winners 1,000 yard trios
Defense Career sacks leaders Career interceptions leaders Annual sacks leaders Annual interceptions leaders Annual forced fumbles leaders
Special teams Longest field goals Career punting yards leaders Career kickoff return yards leaders Annual punting yards leaders Annual punt return yards leaders Annual kickoff return yards leaders
Other lists Career all-purpose yards leaders Career scoring leaders Annual scoring leaders Career games played Most consecutive starts (and games played) National Football League records All-time NFL team wins-losses NFL individual records NFL team records NFL awards

This is a list of National Football League running backs by total career rushing yards. This list includes 31 running backs who have rushed for at least 10,000 yards. 16 of the 31 have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Emmitt Smith leads with 18,355 yards. He has held the all-time rushing yards record since 2002.

Players with at least 10,000 rushing yards

Key

^	Shows player is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*	Shows player who is still active

Through 2022 season

Rank	Player	Team(s) by season	Carries	Yards	Average
1	Emmitt Smith^	Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002) Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004)	4,409	18,355	4.2
2	Walter Payton^	Chicago Bears (1975–1987)	3,838	16,726	4.4
3	Gore, FrankFrank Gore	San Francisco 49ers (2005–2014) Indianapolis Colts (2015–2017) Miami Dolphins (2018) Buffalo Bills (2019) New York Jets (2020)	3,735	16,000	4.3
4	Barry Sanders^	Detroit Lions (1989–1998)	3,063	15,269	5.0
5	Peterson, AdrianAdrian Peterson	Minnesota Vikings (2007–2016) New Orleans Saints (2017) Arizona Cardinals (2017) Washington Redskins (2018–2019) Detroit Lions (2020) Tennessee Titans (2021) Seattle Seahawks (2021)	3,230	14,918	4.6
6	Curtis Martin^	New England Patriots (1995–1997) New York Jets (1998–2005)	3,518	14,101	4.0
7	LaDainian Tomlinson^	San Diego Chargers (2001–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011)	3,174	13,684	4.3
8	Jerome Bettis^	St. Louis/L.A. Rams (1993–1995) Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005)	3,479	13,662	3.9
9	Eric Dickerson^	Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987) Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991) Los Angeles Raiders (1992) Atlanta Falcons (1993)	2,996	13,259	4.4
10	Tony Dorsett^	Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987) Denver Broncos (1988)	2,936	12,739	4.3
11	Jim Brown^	Cleveland Browns (1957–1965)	2,359	12,312	5.2
12	Marshall Faulk^	Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998) St. Louis Rams (1999–2005)	2,836	12,279	4.3
13	Edgerrin James^	Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005) Arizona Cardinals (2006–2008) Seattle Seahawks (2009)	3,028	12,246	4.0
14	Marcus Allen^	Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997)	3,022	12,243	4.1
15	Franco Harris^	Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983) Seattle Seahawks (1984)	2,949	12,120	4.1
16	Thurman Thomas^	Buffalo Bills (1988–1999) Miami Dolphins (2000)	2,877	12,074	4.2
17	Fred Taylor	Jacksonville Jaguars (1998–2008) New England Patriots (2009–2010)	2,534	11,695	4.6
18	Steven Jackson	St. Louis Rams (2004–2012) Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014) New England Patriots (2015)	2,764	11,438	4.1
19	John Riggins^	New York Jets (1971–1975) Washington Redskins (1976–1985)	2,916	11,352	3.9
20	Corey Dillon	Cincinnati Bengals (1997–2003) New England Patriots (2004–2006)	2,618	11,241	4.3
21	O. J. Simpson^	Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979)	2,404	11,236	4.7
22	LeSean McCoy	Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2014) Buffalo Bills (2015–2018) Kansas City Chiefs (2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020)	2,457	11,102	4.5
23	Warrick Dunn	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001, 2008) Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007)	2,669	10,967	4.1
24	Ricky Watters	San Francisco 49ers (1992–1994) Philadelphia Eagles (1995–1997) Seattle Seahawks (1998–2001)	2,622	10,643	4.1
25	Jamal Lewis	Baltimore Ravens (2000–2006) Cleveland Browns (2007–2009)	2,542	10,607	4.2
26	Thomas Jones	Arizona Cardinals (2000–2002) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2003) Chicago Bears (2004–2006) New York Jets (2007–2009) Kansas City Chiefs (2010–2011)	2,678	10,591	4.0
27	Tiki Barber	New York Giants (1997–2006)	2,217	10,449	4.7
28	Eddie George	Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1996–2003) Dallas Cowboys (2004)	2,865	10,441	3.6
29	Lynch, MarshawnMarshawn Lynch	Buffalo Bills (2007–2010) Seattle Seahawks (2010–2015, 2019) Oakland Raiders (2017–2018)	2,453	10,413	4.2
30	Anderson, OttisOttis Anderson	St. Louis Cardinals (1979–1986) New York Giants (1986–1992)	2,562	10,273	4.0
31	Ricky Williams	New Orleans Saints (1999–2001) Miami Dolphins (2002–2003, 2005–2010) Baltimore Ravens (2011)	2,431	10,009	4.1

References

• "NFL History – Rushing Leaders". ESPN.com.
• "NFL Rushing Yards Career Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference.