Who is the best running back in the NFL's History? Really, there is no answer to that, just opinions. Many different people can make an argument for many of the games past running backs such as; Barry Sanders, Jim Brown, and Hershel Walker. And of course, don't forget Walter Payton, "Sweetness". Each of these running backs brought a different style of running to the game. Barry with his lighting fast moves, Brown with his power running, and Peyton with his ability to make defenders look as if they didn't know what was going on. But, the one that comes to my mind is none other than the new record holder for the most career rushing yards in NFL History Emmitt Smith. .
As Emmitt was drafted in by the Dallas Cowboys, everyone said coming in that Emmitt was too small and too slow for the NFL. Let's face it, he is just too good. He might not have every ones support but he has got enough to back my theory up. "Just because he doesn't have the smoothness of "Sweetness", the moves of Barry or the Power of Hershel Walker, when the subject comes up Emmitts name might never come up. But let's face it his short step, choppy style of running has gotten the job done." Said Chris Berman of ESPN's Sportscenter. Tony Kornheiser of ESPN's Pardon the Interuption, once said of Smith, "He has got to be in everyone's top three! You can't break one of the NFL's biggest records and not be considered among the greatest of all time. If he is not in peoples top three they know nothing about Emmitt and nothing about the game."(www.espn.go.com).
Now statistically, let's take a look. Rushing yards 17,021 (and counting), that's most in NFL History, including three NFL rushing tittles. Rushing attempts 3,996 (and counting), that's the most by anyone in NFL History. He has 151 career touchdowns which is second all-time in NFL history. He has 141 of them rushing which is the most rushing touchdowns than any one in NFL history.