Jim Brown: The Best Running Back of All Time

The running back position is among the most interesting positions to watch in the NFL. Throughout the history of NFL, there have been a myriad of running backs with excellent skills. They create impressive and dynamic moments through spins, jukes, trucks and hurdles. Over the years, the running back position has developed from pure downhill running to agile explosions. Today, many running backs are part of the passing offense.

In NFL history, four playbacks have dominated the top spots, namely, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, and Jim Brown. They played in different eras, with Brown in the 50s and 60s, Payton in the 70s and 80s, and Smith and Sanders in the 90s. Although each of the four players achieved a GOAT status in their own accord, Jim Brown occupies the top seat of the best running back of all time.

Brown dominated the league like no one else. Statistical records in every major category of running back performance cements Brown’s dominance, which persisted for more than half of his career. 

Jim Brown’s combination of speed and power was exhilarating. His acceleration steered him towards successful tackles. He had godlike features. His powerful arms made it easy to deliver punishing blows to his contenders. His wide, muscular torso and thighs rendered him such a strong tower to bring down

In contemporary times, the NFL has become more and more of a passing league. During the days of Brown, rushing accounted for more than half the play calls and represented at least 42.7% of the league’s total offense. In his nine NFL seasons, Brown averaged 5.2 yards per carry and was named in the Pro Bowl in every campaign. 

He led the league in yardage rushing touchdowns, eight times out of the nine seasons of his career. This equalled the total of Smith, Payton, and Sanders combined, in both categories. During Brown’s era, the ball would run more than half the time and throwing happened for less yardage, compared to any other era. At that time, defense was majorly tasked with stopping the run game. It was hard to break sweat, trying to stop Brown, which made his efforts even more impressive. 

Brown marked his final season at 29 years old, in 1965. By the close of his NFL career, he had an average of 5.2 yards, was a three-time MVP and had been selected for the Pro-Bowl every year of his career. He rules the record book, as the only player in NFL history to average over 100 rushing yards per game, given that he played 118 games. 

At the epitome of his career, Brown was an all-time leading rusher. In his final game, he made a hallmark farewell by scoring three touchdowns. Brown undoubtedly stands out as the greatest running back of all time and one of the most talented players the league has ever witnessed.