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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BRONX, NY – OCTOBER 13: Jim Brown #32 of the Cleveland Browns fights off Sam Huff #70 of the New York Giants during the game at Yankee Stadium on October 13, 1963 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by Robert Riger/Getty Images) /

5. Jim Brown, Browns (1963)

Any debate over who is the greatest running back in NFL history usually begins and often ends (not always) with Cleveland Browns’ star Jim Brown. A first-round pick by the franchise in 1957, the former Syracuse University pigskin and lacrosse standout played only nine NFL seasons.

He led the league in rushing eight times, was named to the Pro Bowl every season, and was an eight-time All-Pro. For his career, he averaged 104.3 yards per game on the ground. He also scored 126 total touchdowns in 118 regular-season contests. Do the math!

Narrowing down which one of Brown’s nine seasons was his best is a tall order. In 1964, he totaled 1,786 yards from scrimmage and Cleveland won its last NFL championship. The pick here is the previous year in his seventh year in the league.

He rolled up 1,863 yards on the ground on only 291 attempts, an impressive 6.4 yards per carry. He averaged 133.1 yards per game rushing, totaled 100-plus yards in nine contests, and scored a dozen touchdowns. Brown added 24 catches for 268 yards and three scores, finishing with an NFL-high 15 touchdowns. All of this in 14 games.

There would be no playoffs for the Browns in 1964 despite a 10-4 season. They would more than make up for that one year later.

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