Fansided

20 best running back seasons in NFL history

By Russell S. Baxter

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 15, 1964: Runningback Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns awaits the next series of plays for the offense during a game on November 15, 1964 against the Detroit Lions at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Also pictured for the Bowns include Frank Ryan #13 and Clifton McNeil #85. 64-71385 (Photo by: Herman Seid Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 15, 1964: Runningback Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns awaits the next series of plays for the offense during a game on November 15, 1964 against the Detroit Lions at Municipal Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Also pictured for the Bowns include Frank Ryan #13 and Clifton McNeil #85. 64-71385 (Photo by: Herman Seid Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – SEPTEMBER 2: Earl Campbell #34 of the Houston Oilers carries the ball against the Washington Redskins during an NFL football game September 2, 1979 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Campbell played for the Oilers from 1978-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – SEPTEMBER 2: Earl Campbell #34 of the Houston Oilers carries the ball against the Washington Redskins during an NFL football game September 2, 1979 at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.. Campbell played for the Oilers from 1978-84. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

11. Earl Campbell, Oilers (1979)

He dominated from the moment he entered the NFL as the first overall pick in the 1978 NFL Draft. It’s somewhat difficult to sort out just which one of University of Texas running back Earl Campbell’s first three seasons in the league was his best. That’s because you could make a very good case for any of the three being on this list. After all, he led the league in rushing yards in each of his first three NFL campaigns.

The call here was his 1979 showing thanks mainly to a second-half surge that saw him put together quite the seven-game run. That Houston Oilers’ team was arguably the second-best team in the league that year and proved in the playoffs they could win a big game without several of their offensive stars – including the “Tyler Rose.”

That season, Campbell carried 368 times for 1,697 yards and 19 touchdowns. He reached the century mark 11 times in 16 outings, including the final seven games to close out the season. Campbell was not only the NFL Offensive Player of the Year but the league’s MVP.

In 1980, the Pro Football Hall of Famer had more attempts (373) and more rushing yards (1,934) than the previous year. However, Campbell ran 187 times for 885 yards and seven TDs to close out his impressive ’79 showing.

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