20 best running back seasons in NFL history

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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SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 25: Terrell Davis #30 of the Denver Broncos carries the ball against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Broncos won the Super Bowl 31-24. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

6. Terrell Davis, Broncos (1997)

Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis was the catalyst of the Denver Broncos back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1997 and ‘98. He was the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXXII and the following year he not only led the league with 2,008 yards on the ground but was named the NFL MVP. It adds up to a pair of impressive back-to-back seasons.

So why is 1997 the selection here? It has plenty to do with his performance in the postseason. That’s almost splitting hairs considering the former University of Georgia standout had quite the playoff run in 2008 as well.

Head coach Mike Shanahan rode the 1995 sixth-round pick in ’97 and the Broncos reached the playoffs as a wild card. Davis played in 15 regular-season contests and totaled 369 attempts for 1,750 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Then came the postseason and the talented workhorse ran through the Jaguars (184), Chiefs (101), Steelers (139), and Packers (157) for a combined 581 yards and eight TDs.

It’s worth noting that Davis not only cracked the 2,000-yard mark during his NFL MVP but ran for at least 100 yards in each of the club’s three postseason games in their Super Bowl XXXIII title campaign of ’98.

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