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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Pro Football Hall of Fame and Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton (34) running into the record books as he has a career high and NFL single game rushing record 275 yards in the Bears 10-7 victory over the Vikings on 11/20/1977 at Soldier Field in Chicago Illinois. (Photo by Bill Smith/Getty Images) /

12. Walter Payton, Bears (1977)

He was one of the game’s most magnificent performers. Running back Walter Payton led the Chicago Bears in rushing yards (679) during his rookie season and also saw his share of action on kickoff returns. That team made him the fourth overall pick in the 1975 NFL Draft.

The following season, he led the league with 311 rushing attempts and ran for 1,390 yards and 13 scores during an All-Pro campaign. However, the third year proved to be pretty charming for the Jackson State product. Payton would lead the NFL in carries (339), rushing yards (1,852), total yards from scrimmage (2,121), and total touchdowns (16).

Those are pretty impressive numbers in 14 games as the NFL would move to a 16-game schedule in 1978, The Windy City legend would be named the league’s Most Valuable Player as well as the Offensive Player of the Year. He set a then-NFL record for rushing yards in a game when he gashed the rival Vikings for 275 yards. That mark remains amongst the best in league history, ranking fifth all-time.

Perhaps the most significant note was that Payton’s performance was the key to the Bears reaching the playoffs for the first time since 1963.

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