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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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PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Running back Corey Dillon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals gestures while on the field before a National Football League game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2003, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Bengals defeated the Steelers 24-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Running back Corey Dillon #28 of the Cincinnati Bengals gestures while on the field before a National Football League game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on November 30, 2003, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Bengals defeated the Steelers 24-20. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

7. player. 56. . . . Corey Dillon

Corey Dillon was born in the Northwest, so it made sense that he would go on to star at Washington during his college days. A second-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 1997 NFL Draft, Dillon played with the Bengals through the 2003 season, before finishing up his career at the NFL level with the New England Patriots.

It did not take Dillon long to get his feet wet in the pros, as he reeled off six straight 1,000-yard seasons to kick off his career. More impressively, Dillon was able to do so on some really bad Cincinnati Bengals teams, but he would get his chance to shine in the playoffs in New England, as he was a member of their Super Bowl XXXIX-winning team.

A four-time Pro Bowler, Dillon ran wild for the Patriots during that Super Bowl season, rushing for 1,635 yards and 15 touchdowns. In New England, he was a touchdown machine, scoring 37 across his three seasons with the franchise, capping his career off with a 13-touchdown campaign in 2006, which happened to be the most touchdowns he had scored in a season in his career.

However, his biggest highlight came in 2000, when, as a member of the Bengals, he went off to the tune of 278 yards against the Denver Broncos, a then-NFL record. Dillon finished his career with 11,241 yards and 82 touchdowns, becoming one of the more prolific running backs of his era.

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