List of National Football League career rushing yards leaders

Table columns:
Rank
Player
Team(s) by season
Carries
Yards
Average

Table rows:
cells: 1
Emmitt Smith^
Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002) Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004)
4,409
18,355
4.2
cells: 2
Walter Payton^
Chicago Bears (1975–1987)
3,838
16,726
4.4
cells: 3
Barry Sanders^
Detroit Lions (1989–1998)
3,062
15,269
5.0
cells: 4
Curtis Martin^
New England Patriots (1995–1997) New York Jets (1998–2005)
3,518
14,101
4.0
cells: 5
Frank Gore*
San Francisco 49ers (2005–2014) Indianapolis Colts (2015–2017) Miami Dolphins (2018–present)
3,226
14,026
4.3
cells: 6
LaDanian Tomlinson^
San Diego Chargers (2001–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011)
3,174
13,684
4.3
cells: 7
Jerome Bettis^
St. Louis/L.A. Rams (1993–1995[a]) Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005)
3,479
13,662
3.9
cells: 8
Eric Dickerson^
Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987[b]) Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991) Los Angeles Raiders (1992) Atlanta Falcons (1993)
2,996
13,259
4.4
cells: 9
Tony Dorsett^
Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987) Denver Broncos (1988)
2,936
12,739
4.3
cells: 10
Jim Brown^
Cleveland Browns (1957–1965)
2,359
12,312
5.2
cells: 11
Marshall Faulk^
Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998) St. Louis Rams (1999–2005)
2,836
12,279
4.3
cells: 12
Adrian Peterson*
Minnesota Vikings (2007–2016) New Orleans Saints (2017) Arizona Cardinals (2017)
2,574
12,276
4.8
cells: 13
Edgerrin James
Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005) Arizona Cardinals (2006– 2008) Seattle Seahawks (2009)
3,028
12,246
4.0
cells: 14
Marcus Allen^
Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997)
3,022
12,243
4.1
cells: 15
Franco Harris^
Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983) Seattle Seahawks (1984)
2,949
12,120
4.1
cells: 16
Thurman Thomas^
Buffalo Bills (1988–1999) Miami Dolphins (2000)
2,877
12,074
4.2
cells: 17
Fred Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars (1998–2008) New England Patriots (2009–2010)
2,534
11,695
4.6
cells: 18
Steven Jackson
St. Louis Rams (2004–2012) Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014) New England Patriots (2015)
2,764
11,438
4.1
cells: 19
John Riggins^
New York Jets (1971–1975) Washington Redskins (1976–1985)
2,916
11,352
3.9
cells: 20
Corey Dillon
Cincinnati Bengals (1997–2003) New England Patriots (2004–2006)
2,618
11,241
4.3
cells: 21
O. J. Simpson^
Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979)
2,404
11,236
4.7
cells: 22
Warrick Dunn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001) Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2008)
2,669
10,967
4.1
cells: 23
Ricky Watters
San Francisco 49ers (1992–1994) Philadelphia Eagles (1995–1997) Seattle Seahawks (1998–2001)
2,622
10,643
4.1
cells: 24
Jamal Lewis
Baltimore Ravens (2000–2006) Cleveland Browns (2007–2009)
2,542
10,607
4.2
cells: 25
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
cells: 26
Tiki Barber
New York Giants (1997–2006)
2,217
10,449
4.7
cells: 27
Eddie George
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans (1996[c]–2003) Dallas Cowboys (2004)
2,865
10,441
3.6
cells: 28
Ottis Anderson
St. Louis Cardinals (1979–1986[d]) New York Giants (1986–1992)
2,562
10,273
4.0
cells: 29
LeSean McCoy*
Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2014) Buffalo Bills (2015–present)
2,185
10,092
4.6
cells: 30
Ricky Williams
New Orleans Saints (1999–2001) Miami Dolphins (2002–2003), (2005–2010) Baltimore Ravens (2011)
2,431
10,009
4.1
cells: 31
Marshawn Lynch*
Buffalo Bills (2007–2010) Seattle Seahawks (2010–2015) Oakland Raiders (2017–present)
2,251
10,003
4.3

Questions about this table:
originalText: who is the leading rusher in the nfl
answer: answerTexts: Emmitt Smith