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25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

By Brad Weiss

Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images)
Charger RB LaDainian Tomlinson runs down the field as the San Diego Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 20 - 9 on December 17, 2006 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, CA. (Photo by Tracy Frankel/Getty Images) /
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New York Giants # 21 Rb Tiki Barber under pressure by Steelers # 76 DT Chris Hoke during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Giants on December 18, 2004.aa Giants Stadium final score Steelers 33 Giants 30. (Photo by Tom Berg/Getty Images)
New York Giants # 21 Rb Tiki Barber under pressure by Steelers # 76 DT Chris Hoke during the Pittsburgh Steelers vs New York Giants on December 18, 2004.aa Giants Stadium final score Steelers 33 Giants 30. (Photo by Tom Berg/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

. . Tiki Barber. 16. player. 31.

The New York Giants made Tiki Barber the No. 36 overall pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, but he did not become the feature back for the franchise until the turn of the century. Moving into the starting role for the 2000 NFL season, Barber would help the Giants reach the Super Bowl, a game they would eventually lose to the Baltimore Ravens.

Still, the young running back became a star that season, and across his final five years with New York, he would rush for at least 1,000 yards in each campaign. Sure, he had to battle through some fumbling injuries, ones that would draw the ire of head coach Tom Coughlin, but he was a mainstay in this lineup and would go on to name to three straight Pro Bowls from 2004 through 2006.

The 2006 season proved to be his final at the NFL level, as he retired in the prime of his career after rushing for 1,662 yards and five touchdowns in his final year. He even dominated in the final game of his career, a 137-yard effort against division rival Philadelphia, which is why his retiring at that point was such a shock to the organization.

The following year, the Giants would win the Super Bowl without him, but that did nothing to diminish what he meant to this franchise. A member of the team’s Ring of Honor, Barber set over 20 Giants records during his time with the franchise, cementing his place in Giants history.

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