Top 10 Giants Running Backs

The NY Football Giants have always been known as a smash-mouth running team with a storied history of ball carriers.   This dates back to their early seasons in the old Polo Grounds all the way to their new state-of-the art stadium in New Jersey.  "Top" lists have always been a favorite water-cooler conversation of mine, and I hope this particular list is one for you.  

#10 Doug Kotar 1974-1981

RB Doug Kotar 1974-81

RB Doug Kotar was a versitile running back who played in what could be considered the darkest time in NY Football Giants history.  He had good speed, and could catch passes out of the backfield.  The problem was he played with 6 different starting QBs in his 8 years as a Giant.

He lead the team in rushing 1976, & 1978. 

He retired in 1982 as the 4th leading rusher in Giants history.

A fan favorite, he lost his battle with cancer in 1983.  

#9 RB Rob Carpenter 1981-85

FB Rob Carpenter 1981-85

Rob Carpenter was spending his career in Houston blocking for HOF Earl Campbell when GM George Young triggered a trade that jump-started a sluggish Giants running game in 1981.  The trade resulted in the Giants first appearance in the playoffs since 1963, and their first playoff win since 1958. Rob had the ability to run over and wear down opposing defences.   

He lead the Giants in rushing w/ 748 yards in only 10 games in 1981,

Lead team in rushing in 1984 w/ 7 tds. 

His performance against the Eagles in the 1981 NFC Wild Card playoff game was record setting w/161 yards.

# 8 FB Eddie Price 1950-55

Eddie Price's football card

Who was the LAST Giant rusher to lead the NFL in rushing yards? Eddie Price of course.  Eddie was the  Giants primary rusher from 1950-55, leading the team AND league in 1951 with 971 yards. ( They played 12 games were played in a regular season back then)  He also lead the league in carries in 1951 & 1952. 

Lead NFL in rushing with 971 yards in 1951

Lead team in rushing in 4 out of his 6 years with the Giants. 

3 time Pro Bowler  1951, 1952, 1954

2 Time 1st Team All-Pro  1951, 1952 

#7 RB Brandon Jacobs 2005-Present

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 03: Runningback Brandon Jacobs #27 of the New York Giants carries the ball in the first quarter against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Brandon was drafted in 2005 to be the new "thunder" that replaced Ron Dayne.  Jacobs was the short yardage, and goal-line back who had 7 TDs in his rookie season.  Since then, he has rushed for over 1,000 yds each in 2 seasons (2007 & 2008) He has left his footprint on the chests of opposing defensive players with his huge size, and power for a running back.  

He was the "Earth" in the triple threat of "earth" (Jacobs), wind (Ward), and fire (Bradshaw) from 2007 thru 2008.

Lead team in rushing 3 times 2007, 2008, & 2009

2007 Super Bowl Champion

#6 RB Alex Webster 1955-64

Alex following his blockers to daylight

In what was considered the "glory days" of Giants football (1955-63) The Giants had arguably the best backfield in the NFL.  One of those components was #29 Alex Webster from Kearny NJ.  Big Red as he was sometimes called was the "thunder" to Frank Gifford's  "lightning".  

He scored 2 touchdowns in the 1956 championship game helping the Giants beat the Bears 47-7 in Yankee Stadium.

Alex was the Giants all-time leading rusher from his retirement in 1964 until Joe Morris took that throne in in 1988.

Lead team in rushing as a rookie with 634 yards in 1955

Lead also team in rushing in 1961, & 1962.

He had a total of 56 tds in his 10 year career ( 39 rushing, 17 recieving )

2 Time Pro-Bowler 1958, & 1961

1956 NFL Champion

NY Giants Head Coach from 1969-1973.  He lead the Giants to (2) winning seasons in his tenure. ( 9-5 in 1970, & 8-6 in 1972 )  The only winning seasons that they would enjoy from 1964-1980.

#5 RB Ron Johnson 1970-75

Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson came to the Giants in a trade with the Browns for popular WR Homer Jones, and the impact was iminent as he became the first Giant to ever have over 1,000 yards rushing in a season in 1970.  He repeated that feat in 1972.  It is no coinsidence that the only 2 winning seasons from 1964-1980 were the years that Ron was at his best.   Chronic knee problems, and a hand injury in 1974 hampered his career, but he still remains one of the fans' favorite Giants. 

 Lead Giants In rushing 3 times in 6 years.

First Giant with 1,000 yards rushing in a season  1,027 in 1970,  & 1,182 in 1972.  

2 Time Pro Bowler 1970, & 1972

1 Time First-Team All-Pro (1970)

#4 Rodney Hampton 1990-97

Rodney carried the Giant offense for most of his career.

Rodney Hampton was one of the most rugged rushers in Giants history.  He had 5 straight 1,000 yd seasons from 1991-95, and lead the team in rushing a then-record 6 straight seasons.   He unfortunatly missed the 1990 post season due to injury when the Giants won their second Super Bowl.   His best moment as a Giant came in the 1993 NFC Wild Card game versus the Vikings when he ran for 161 yards and 2 tds in a victory at Giants Stadium.

2 Time Pro-Bowler  1992 & 1993

Lead team in rushing from 1991-1996

 6,879 rushing yards in 2nd all-time.

1990 Super Bowl Champion

#3 RB Joe Morris 1982-88

Little Joe could hurdle over anyone to the end zone

In our house, he was known as "Little Joe".   The thing was though, that Little Joe played Big.  He was a back-up to Butch Woolfolk & Rob Carpenter until he broke out in a huge way in 1985. That season saw him break the Giant single season rushing yardage record with 1,336., and rushing tds with 21. He was the first Giant 1,000 yd runner since Ron Johnson in 1972.  The next year 1986 was even more "super" as he ran for 1,516 yards and 14 tds. helping lead the Giants to their first NFL Title in 30 years.   A devestating preseason injury forced him to miss the 1989 season.   No one can forget the long TD run in 1985 against Pittsburgh on 1 shoe.

Broke Alex Webster's all-time yardage record in 1987

2 time Pro Bowler  1985, 1986

1 Time First Team All-Pro  1986

Lead NFL in rushing TDs with 21  in 1985

Lead Giants in rushing yards 4 straight years.

1986 Super Bowl Champion

#2 HB / FL Frank Gifford 1952-60, 62-64

University of Southern California/Getty Images

Tailback Frank Gifford of the University of Southern California. (Photo by University of Southern California/Getty Images)

What can you say about Frank?  He was the face of the franchise from day one till the end in 1964.  The Golden Boy.  He was one of the first true superstars of the NFL that gave the league national appeal.  Drafted #1 out of USC, he played both sides of the ball.  HB, WR, DB, and later almost exclusivly as a flanker, where he made a living catching td passes from Y.A. Tittle.  Frank retired for 1 season in 1961 because of a devastating neck injury he suffered at the hands of Eagle DT Chuck Bednarick in Yankee Stadium in 1960.

Frank was a star on, AND off the field during his career. After retirement from the game, he went into broadcasting.  Frank became a national figure as the play-by-play voice of Monday Night Football.

Inducted Into The Hall Of Fame in 1977

8 Time Pro Bowler  1953-59, & 1963

4 Time 1st Team All-Pro  1955-57, & 1959

His 77 combined touchdowns from scrimmage is a Giants record

Has 14 td passes in his career.

Lead Giants in rushing 4 straight seasons 1956-59

Lead Giants in recieving yards 3 times.

Lead NFL in total yards from scrimmage in 1956 with 1,422

1956 NFL Champion

#1 RB Tiki Barber 1997-2006

Al Bello/Getty Images

16 Nov 1997: Tiki Barber #21 of the New York Giants in action during a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Cardinals 19-10. Mandatory Credit: Al Bello /Allsport

Tiki had 2 careers in one.  After the Kieth Elias experiment failed, Tiki was drafted in the 5th round out of Virginia in 1997 to be the 3rd down back and punt/ko returner for the Giants.  This is the primary role he had for his first 3 years until 2000.   In 2000, the Giants drafted Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne to be the primary back.  This was going to be the "Thunder (Dayne) & Lightning (Barber)" for the seasons to come.  Tiki as the Lightning ran for over 1,000 yards that year, helping the Giants reach their 3rd Super Bowl.   This began his "second career" as the Giants primary back until his unexpected retirement after the 2006 season.  During that time, he broke all Giants rushing records for attempts, yards, & tds.

Tiki was also a great reciever out of the backfield with 586 career catches for 5,183 yards. 

3 Time Pro-Bowler  2004-2006.

1 Time First Team All-Pro 2005

Giants All-time Rushing Yardage Leader with 10,449

Giant All-Time Rushing TD Leader with  55

Lead NFL in Total Yards From Scrimage For 2 straight seasons  2004-2005

Set Giant Single Game Rushing Mark w/ 234 yds in 2006.

22nd All-Time in NFL rushing yards.  10,449

11th All-Time In NFL Yards From Scrimmage  15,632