NFL All-Time RB Rank No. 10: Earl Campbell

Ranking the top 25 running backs in NFL history…

10. Earl Campbell

Drafted first overall by the Houston Oilers in 1978 out of the University of Texas, Campbell burst onto the NFL scene as a dominant force, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors with 1,450 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.

Over six seasons with the Oilers, he led the league in rushing three straight years (1978-1980), amassing 1,934 yards in 1979 to win MVP and Offensive Player of the Year. His punishing style propelled Houston to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 1978 and 1979.

Campbell’s peak included five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections, and he became the first player to rush for over 1,300 yards in his first three seasons.

Traded to the New Orleans Saints in 1984, injuries limited his production over two final seasons, but he still notched 643 yards in 1984.

Campbell’s career totals include 2,187 rushes for 9,407 yards (4.3 average) and 74 touchdowns, plus 121 receptions for 806 yards, ranking him among the top rushers of his era upon retirement as the NFL’s seventh all-time leading rusher. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1991 and named to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team.

Campbell’s standout attributes were his extraordinary power and leg drive, often described as a “human bowling ball” who powered through tackles with sheer strength and determination. At 5-foot-11 and 232 pounds, he combined speed (sub-4.6 40-yard dash) with unmatched physicality.

He was a classic power back: a relentless, downhill runner who sought contact, wore down defenses and excelled in short-yardage situations.

While his aggressive approach led to early retirement at age 28 due to accumulated injuries, including spinal stenosis, his legacy is as one of the most feared rushers in NFL history.

But who ranks ahead of Campbell at No. 9 all-time?