Fansided

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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PHILADELPHIA – DECEMBER 27: Running back Brian Westbrook #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball during a game against the Denver Broncos on December 27, 2009, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 30-27. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – DECEMBER 27: Running back Brian Westbrook #36 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball during a game against the Denver Broncos on December 27, 2009, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles won 30-27. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

. . . Brian Westbrook. 23. player. 54

Brian Westbrook played his college ball at Villanova, so it is no big surprise that he would catch the attention of the Philadelphia Eagles. Westbrook was a dominant player during his college days but based on his size, and a knee injury, he ended up falling to the third round, where the Eagles made him the No. 91 overall pick in the 2002 NFL Draft.

In Year 2, Westbrook started to become a real weapon for quarterback Donovan McNabb and this Eagles offense. He helped the team reach the NFC title game, before moving into a starting role the next season. An incredible playmaker on the ground, and through the air, Westbrook would rack up nearly 6,000 rushing yards as a member of the Eagles, including back-to-back 1,000-yard season in 2006 and 2007.

It was during Westbrook’s tenure as a featured weapon for the Eagles that they became a perennial playoff team, and he was a big reason why. A first-team All-Pro player in 2004 and 2007, the same two years he made the Pro Bowl, the diminutive back hauled in 90 receptions in 2007 alone while finishing that season with 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

Westbrook was the kind of do-everything back that the Eagles were missing, and he nearly helped them to a Super Bowl title.

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