# List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders

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 | Frank 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 | Adrian 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 | Marshawn Lynch | Buffalo Bills (2007–2010) Seattle Seahawks (2010–2015, 2019) Oakland Raiders (2017–2018) | 2,453 | 10,413 | 4.2 |
| 30 | Ottis 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 |

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