Barry Sanders vs. Emmitt Smith: Who Was the Best Running Back of the 90s?

The 1990s featured many great running backs: Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis, Thurman Thomas and Terrell Davis, just to name a few, but none of them compared with Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders. 

Even in the history of the NFL, it’s difficult to find a handful of running backs worthy of comparison with these two. If they’re not the best of all time, they’re No. 2 and 3 on the list.

Smith and Sanders were each legendary in their own right. Both are among the top three rushers of all time, both hold their share of NFL records, both have been voted the NFL’s Most Valuable Player, and both were electrifying runners whose highlight tapes feature countless unbelievable runs that leave you wondering, “How did they do that?”

Rather than give you the background stories of these two unique runners and beat around the bush with well-written fluff to try to sell you on my point of view, let me give you my raw opinion, first: Emmitt Smith was great, but many of his numbers were padded by the dominant Dallas Cowboys offense of the 1990s.

Barry Sanders is the greatest running back of all time, and his numbers would be better than Smith’s had he continued playing rather than retire out of respect for Walter Payton. 

Now, the sales pitch: Smith, one of the greatest running backs of all time and one of my personal favorites, ran for 1,773 yards and scored 25 touchdowns (NFL record) in 1995. Now, those stats are impressive regardless of how good Emmitt’s team was in 1995, and there’s no denying that his skill as a runner was the major factor in this record-breaking season.

However, Emmitt Smith was running behind one of the most dominant offensive lines in NFL history and was complemented by a Hall of Fame quarterback and a Hall of Fame wide receiver. 

While Emmitt’s contribution to the Cowboys offense was undoubtedly a major reason why it was so successful, it’s important to remember that his 1995 statistics are just as much a reflection of the power of the Cowboys offense as a whole as they are a testament to Emmitt Smith’s running ability.

Smith's 1995 season, though not a typical season for him, was also a reflection of his career. Had Barry Sanders played with Troy Aikman, Michael Irvin and the Cowboys O-Line, his stats would have been padded too.

Not to say that Scott Mitchell and Herman Moore weren’t good players, but they’re not the Hall of Fame caliber quarterback and receiver combination that Emmitt Smith played with. 

Unlike Smith and Walter Payton, Sanders’ big numbers mostly came while playing for losing or mediocre teams. His 2,053-yard season, unlike Emmitt’s 1,773-yard season, came with a 9-7 Lions team.

And unlike Emmitt, his big runs often started with a breakdown in the offensive line. What made Barry famous was his ability to turn nothing into something; to turn a sure tackle for a loss into a 40-yard touchdown run. No other offensive player in the history of the game left defenders wrapping their arms around air, or diving at nothing, or tackling their teammates or spinning in circles the way Barry did.

Barry Sanders could have all 11 defenders surrounding him, all running in his direction, shift his momentum, stop on a dime and cut the opposite way and take three or four strides before the defenders who were still on their feet could turn their bodies around to chase him. He was unbelievable. Three guys could have their arms wrapped around him and he would wiggle himself free, all in one fluid, graceful motion, and leave them lying on their backs and stomachs, watching him continue to run downfield. 

A linebacker could be running toward a gap, set to tackle him in, head-on, and Barry would sort of hop forward, stopping in place for just enough of a fraction of a split second to make the linebacker hesitate just a little bit, and then he’d change direction and leave the linebacker in the dust. 

And don’t be fooled by his size. He could run people over. Barry’s center of gravity was so low to the ground that he could in turn duck his shoulder so low that you’d wonder how he didn’t fall face first onto the turf, but the momentum of the collision would keep him on his feet, and leave the defender, whose helmet was aimed at Barry’s waist, just off balance enough that Barry could push him over with a stiff-arm and continue to run downfield.  

The guy was absolutely unbelievable and like no running back we’ve ever seen before.

Barry’s stats need little explaining. He set records. He led the league. He rushed for 1,000 yards every year of his career and ranks No. 3 in all-time rushing yards in just 10 seasons.

He was phenomenal. Barry Sanders is hands down the best running-back of all time, and anybody who thinks differently hasn’t watched his highlight tape.