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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GREEN BAY, WI – SEPTEMBER 25: Running back Paul Hornung #5 of the Green Bay Packers runs with the ball during a game on September 25, 1960 against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Paul Hornung6002 (Photo by: Kidwiler Collection/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

19. Paul Hornung, Packers (1960)

Vince Lombardi was hired to be the Green Bay Packers head coach in 1959. In nine years with the franchise, he never suffered a losing season and forged an impressive 9-1 postseason record.

His first playoff appearance came in 1960 as his team faced the Philadelphia Eagles for the NFL championship. The Pack came up short, 17-13, at Philadelphia, but the club was just getting warmed up. Green Bay would win five league championships in a seven-year span from 1961-67. That included three straight from 1965-67, including the first two Super Bowls.

Back to 1960, when Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Paul Hornung had quite the 1960 season for Lombardi’s club. He set an NFL record for points scored (176), a mark that stood until 2006 when Chargers’ running back LaDainian Tomlinson totaled 186 points via 31 touchdowns.

That season, Hornung ran for 671 yards and 13 TDs in 12 contests. He caught 28 passes for 257 yards and two more trips to the end zone. He connected on all 41 PAT attempts and hit on 15 of his 28 field goal attempts. Do the math. That’s 78 plus 12, plus 41, plus 45 and you get 176. By the way, Hornung also threw two TD passes that season (which doesn’t figure into his points total).

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