The best fullbacks in NFL history
Powerful runners and blockers
The fullback is a forgotten position in the NFL. For years, teams banked on these players to either clear paths or run with the football to gain tough yardage. Some even did more than that.
John Riggins
John Riggins played 14 seasons, nine with Washington and five in New York with the Jets. He rushed for 11,352 yards and 104 touchdowns.
Howard Griffith
Howard Griffith played for 11 seasons, the final two in Denver where he won Super Bowls each season.
Daryl Johnston
Daryl Johnston as a staunch blocker on the iconic Dallas Cowboys teams that won multiple Super Bowls.
Mack Strong
An undrafted free agent, Mack Strong played all 14 seasons with Seattle and was a two-time Pro Bowler.
James Develin
A three-time Super Bowl champion, James Develin was a New England Patriot from 2012-19.
Larry Centers
Larry Centers is best known for his prowess in nine years as a Cardinal. He went on to also play for Buffalo, Washington and New England, ending his career with 6,797 yards rushing and 28 TDs.
Lorenzo Neal
Lorenzo Neal spent time with seven teams from 1993-2008. He rushed for a total of 807 yards and six TDs, but that did not tell the story of how iconic a fullback he was during the timeframe. As a great blocker, he helped plenty of great backs add to their overall totals, too.
Cookie Gilchrist
An AFL legend, Cookie Gilchrist ran for 4,293 yards from 1962-1967. He led the league twice in rushing and four consecutive seasons for TDs scored on running plays.
Bronko Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski gained more than 4,000 combined yards in nine seasons. He is a Class of 1963 HOF inductee.
Jim Taylor
Jim Taylor was part of the great Green Bay backfield under Vince Lombardi.
Larry Csonka
Larry Csonka starred for the great Miami Dolphins teams under Don Shula. He was a fullback on the 1972 team that went undefeated.
Jim Brown
Legend. The best to carry the ball, whether considered a halfback or fullback.
Mike Alstott
Mike Allstott starred for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a stellar career.
Marion Motley
Marion Motley fits the term icon when it comes to his playing days.
John Henry Johnson
John Henry Johnson was an NFL champ in 1957 and a four-time Pro Bowler.
Tom Rathman
Tom Rathman is a two-time Super Bowl champion and was inducted into the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Fame.
Earl Campbell
The “Tyler Rose” starred for Texas and then went on to a wonderful NFL career, first for the Houston Oilers, then New Orleans Saints.
Franco Harris
Franco Harris came out of Penn State and stayed in-state with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was a four-time Super Bowl champion and MVP of IX.
Marv Hubbard
Hubbard was a three-time Pro Bowl selection and helped the Raiders win Super Bowl XI. Pretty good for a guy who spent his college career at Colgate.
Joe Perry
While Perry wasn’t the prototypical fullback, he played the position at a Hall of Fame level that best fit his speedy style. Nicknamed “The Jet,” he spent time with the 49ers and Colts, earning first-team All-Pro honors twice and making history as the first African-American to win the NFL MVP award.
