NFL All-Time Leaders
3,502 ranked players · regular-season career totals · showing top 250.
| Season | Record holder | Career rushing yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | Steve Van Buren | 4,904 yds |
| 1950 | Steve Van Buren | 5,533 yds |
| 1951 | Steve Van Buren | 5,860 yds |
| 1952 | Steve Van Buren | 5,860 yds |
| 1953 | Steve Van Buren | 5,860 yds |
| 1954 | Steve Van Buren | 5,860 yds |
| 1955 | Joe Perry | 6,162 yds |
| 1956 | Joe Perry | 6,682 yds |
| 1957 | Joe Perry | 7,136 yds |
| 1958 | Joe Perry | 7,894 yds |
| 1959 | Joe Perry | 8,496 yds |
| 1960 | Joe Perry | 8,591 yds |
| 1961 | Joe Perry | 9,266 yds |
| 1962 | Joe Perry | 9,625 yds |
| 1963 | Joe Perry | 9,723 yds |
| 1964 | Jim Brown | 10,768 yds |
| 1965 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1966 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1967 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1968 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1969 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1970 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1971 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1972 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1973 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1974 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1975 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1976 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1977 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1978 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1979 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1980 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1981 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1982 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1983 | Jim Brown | 12,312 yds |
| 1984 | Walter Payton | 13,309 yds |
| 1985 | Walter Payton | 14,860 yds |
| 1986 | Walter Payton | 16,193 yds |
| 1987 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1988 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1989 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1990 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1991 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1992 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1993 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1994 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1995 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1996 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1997 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1998 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 1999 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 2000 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 2001 | Walter Payton | 16,726 yds |
| 2002 | Emmitt Smith | 17,151 yds |
| 2003 | Emmitt Smith | 17,407 yds |
| 2004 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2005 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2006 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2007 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2008 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2009 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2010 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2011 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2012 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2013 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2014 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2015 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2016 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2017 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2018 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2019 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2020 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2021 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2022 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2023 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2024 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2025 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |
| 2026 | Emmitt Smith | 18,344 yds |