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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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CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 1: Running back Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs a play while under pressure from defensive back Darius Eubanks #50 and inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 1, 2013, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 1: Running back Maurice Jones-Drew #32 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs a play while under pressure from defensive back Darius Eubanks #50 and inside linebacker D’Qwell Jackson #52 of the Cleveland Browns during the first half at FirstEnergy Stadium on December 1, 2013, in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

25 best NFL running backs of the 21st century

20. player. 52. . . . Maurice Jones-Drew

After an All-American collegiate career at UCLA, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Maurice Jones-Drew in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Standing only 5-foot-7, Jones-Drew would have to prove that he could replicate his collegiate success at the NFL level, and he certainly did all of that and more.

For a bad Jaguars team, Jones-Drew became an NFL star, finding the end zone at least nine times in each of his first four seasons. A two-time first-team All-Pro, he led the NFL in rushing yards during the 2011 NFL season, a capper to a three-year run that saw him rush for over 4,300 yards, rewriting the Jaguars record book.

A three-time Pro Bowler during his time with the Jaguars, Jones-Drew was not only an incredible running back, but he was also a real threat in the return game. In fact, he had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during his illustrious career, a career in which he had over 8,000 rushing yards to go along with nearly 70 total touchdowns.

Sure, there may have been bigger backs than Jones-Drew during his time in the NFL, but for three years, he may have been the most productive back in football.

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