Rank[2] |
Player |
Position(s) regularly played |
Seasons by team |
Total rushing yards gained[3] |
Total receiving yards gained[3] |
Total interception return yards gained[3] |
Total punt return yards gained[3] |
Total kickoff return yards gained[3] |
Total recovered fumble return yards gained[3] |
Total all-purpose[1] yards gained[3] |
Year of induction into Pro Football Hall of Fame |
1 |
Jerry Rice |
Wide receiver |
San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000) Oakland Raiders (2001–2004) Seattle Seahawks (2004) |
645 |
22,895 |
0 |
0 |
6 |
0 |
23,546 |
2010 |
2 |
Brian Mitchell |
Running back Kick returner Punt returner |
Washington Redskins (1990–1999) Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2002) New York Giants (2003) |
1,967 |
2,336 |
0 |
4,999 |
14,014 |
14 |
23,330 |
None |
3 |
Walter Payton |
Running back |
Chicago Bears (1975–1987) |
16,726 |
4,538 |
0 |
0 |
539 |
0 |
21,803 |
1993 |
4 |
Emmitt Smith |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002) Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004) |
18,355 |
3,224 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(15)[4] |
21,564 |
2010 |
5 |
Tim Brown |
Wide receiver |
Oakland Raiders (1988–2003) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004) |
190 |
14,934 |
0 |
3,320 |
1,235 |
3 |
19,682 |
2015 |
6 |
Marshall Faulk |
Running back |
Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998) St. Louis Rams (1999–2005) |
12,279 |
6,875 |
0 |
0 |
18 |
18 |
19,190 |
2011 |
7 |
Steve Smith Sr. |
Wide receiver |
Carolina Panthers (2001–2013) Baltimore Ravens (2014–present) |
387 |
14,289 |
0 |
1,684 |
2,371 |
7 |
18,738 |
Not applicable[5] |
8 |
Darren Sproles |
Running back |
San Diego Chargers (2005–2010) New Orleans Saints (2011–2013) Philadelphia Eagles (2014–present) |
3,152 |
4,397 |
0 |
2,755 |
8,350 |
0 |
18,654 |
Not applicable[5] |
9 |
LaDainian Tomlinson |
Running back |
San Diego Chargers (2001–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011) |
13,684 |
4,772 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
18,456 |
Eligible in 2017[5] |
10 |
Barry Sanders |
Running back |
Detroit Lions (1989–1998) |
15,269 |
2,921 |
0 |
0 |
118 |
0 |
18,308 |
2004 |
11 |
Herschel Walker |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1986–1989, 1996–1997) Minnesota Vikings (1989–1991) Philadelphia Eagles (1992–1994) New York Giants (1995) |
8,225 |
4,859 |
0 |
0 |
5,084 |
0 |
18,168 |
None |
12 |
Marcus Allen |
Running back |
Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997) |
12,243 |
5,411 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(6)[4] |
17,648 |
2003 |
13 |
Curtis Martin |
Running back |
New England Patriots (1995–1997) New York Jets (1998–2005) |
14,101 |
3,329 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
(9)[4] |
17,421 |
2012 |
14 |
Tiki Barber |
Running back |
New York Giants (1997–2006) |
10,449 |
5,183 |
0 |
1,181 |
544 |
2 |
17,359 |
None |
15 |
Eric Metcalf |
Running back Wide receiver Kick returner |
Cleveland Browns (1989–1994) Atlanta Falcons (1995–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997) Arizona Cardinals (1998) Carolina Panthers (1999) Washington Redskins (2001) Green Bay Packers (2002) |
2,392 |
5,572 |
0 |
3,453 |
5,813 |
0 |
17,230 |
None |
16 |
Derrick Mason |
Wide receiver |
Tennessee Titans (1997–2004) Baltimore Ravens (2005–2010) New York Jets (2011) Houston Texans (2011) |
3 |
12,061 |
0 |
1,590 |
3,496 |
0 |
17,150 |
Eligible in 2017[5] |
17 |
Wes Welker |
Wide receiver |
San Diego Chargers (2004) Miami Dolphins (2004–2006) New England Patriots (2007–2012) Denver Broncos (2013–2014) St. Louis Rams (2015−present) |
151 |
9,924 |
0 |
2,584 |
4,138 |
0 |
16,797 |
Not applicable[5] |
18 |
Thurman Thomas |
Running back |
Buffalo Bills (1988–1999) Miami Dolphins (2000) |
12,074 |
4,458 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
16,532 |
2007 |
19 |
Tony Dorsett |
Running back |
Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987) Denver Broncos (1988) |
12,739 |
3,554 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
33 |
16,326 |
1994 |
20 |
Terrell Owens |
Wide receiver |
San Francisco 49ers (1996–2003) Philadelphia Eagles (2004–2005) Dallas Cowboys (2006–2008) Buffalo Bills (2009) Cincinnati Bengals (2010) |
251 |
15,934 |
0 |
0 |
78 |
13 |
16,276 |
None |
21 |
Henry Ellard |
Wide receiver |
Los Angeles Rams (1983–1993) Washington Redskins (1994–1998) New England Patriots (1998) |
50 |
13,777 |
0 |
1,527 |
364 |
0 |
15,718 |
None |
22 |
Warrick Dunn |
Running back |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001, 2008) Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007) |
10,967 |
4,339 |
0 |
48 |
310 |
1 |
15,665 |
None |
23 |
Randy Moss |
Wide receiver |
Minnesota Vikings (1998–2004, 2010) Oakland Raiders (2005–2006) New England Patriots (2007–2010) Tennessee Titans (2010) San Francisco 49ers (2012) |
159 |
15,292 |
0 |
162 |
33 |
(2)[4] |
15,644 |
Eligible in 2018[5] |
24 |
Edgerrin James |
Running back |
Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005) Arizona Cardinals (2006–2008) Seattle Seahawks (2009) |
12,246 |
3,364 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15,610 |
None |
25 |
Irving Fryar |
Wide receiver |
New England Patriots (1984–1992) Miami Dolphins (1993–1995) Philadelphia Eagles (1996–1998) Washington Redskins (1999–2000) |
242 |
12,785 |
0 |
2,055 |
505 |
7 |
15,594 |
None |
26 |
Jim Brown |
Running back |
Cleveland Browns (1957–1965) |
12,312 |
2,499 |
0 |
0 |
648 |
0 |
15,459 |
1971 |
27 |
Josh Cribbs |
Wide receiver Kick returner Punt returner |
Cleveland Browns (2005–2012) Oakland Raiders (2013) New York Jets (2013) Indianapolis Colts (2014) |
808 |
1,175 |
0 |
2,375 |
11,113 |
(18)[4] |
15,453 |
Eligible in 2020[5] |
28 |
Eric Dickerson |
Running back |
Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987) Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991) Los Angeles Raiders (1992) Atlanta Falcons (1993) |
13,259 |
2,137 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15,411 |
1999 |
29 |
Isaac Bruce |
Wide receiver |
St. Louis Rams (1994–2007) San Francisco 49ers (2008–2009) |
139 |
15,208 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15,347[6] |
None |
30 |
Frank Gore |
Running back |
San Francisco 49ers (2005–2014) Indianapolis Colts (2014–present) |
12,040 |
3,150 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15 |
15,205 |
Not applicable[5] |
31 |
Steven Jackson |
Running back |
St. Louis Rams (2004–2012) Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014) Atlanta Falcons); New England Patriots (2015 |
11,438 |
3,683 |
0 |
0 |
79 |
(9)[4] |
15,191 |
Not applicable[5] |
32 |
Tony Gonzalez |
Tight end |
Kansas City Chiefs (1997–2008) Atlanta Falcons (2009−2013) |
14 |
15,127 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
15,141 |
Eligible in 2019[5] |
33 |
Jerome Bettis |
Running back |
Los Angeles Rams (1993–1995) Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005) |
13,662 |
1,449 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
15,113 |
2015 |
34 |
Allen Rossum |
Kick returner Punt returner |
Philadelphia Eagles (1998–1999) Green Bay Packers (2000–2001) Atlanta Falcons (2002–2006) Pittsburgh Steelers (2007) San Francisco 49ers (2008–2009) Dallas Cowboys (2009) |
17 |
4 |
0 |
3,056 |
11,947 |
0 |
15,024 |
None |
35 |
Glyn Milburn |
Running back Kick returner Punt returner |
Denver Broncos (1993–1995) Detroit Lions (1996–1997) Chicago Bears (1998–2001) San Diego Chargers (2001) |
817 |
1,322 |
0 |
2,984 |
9,788 |
0 |
14,911 |
None |
36 |
James Brooks |
Running back |
San Diego Chargers (1981–1983) Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1991) Cleveland Browns (1992) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992) |
7,962 |
3,621 |
0 |
565 |
2,762 |
0 |
14,910 |
None |
37 |
Ricky Watters |
Running back |
San Francisco 49ers (1992–1994) Philadelphia Eagles (1995–1997) Seattle Seahawks (1998–2001) |
10,643 |
4,248 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14,891 |
None |
38 |
Marvin Harrison |
Wide receiver |
Indianapolis Colts (1996–2008) |
28 |
14,580 |
0 |
189 |
3 |
5 |
14,805 |
2016 |
39 |
Franco Harris |
Running back |
Pittsburgh Steelers (1972–1983) Seattle Seahawks (1984) |
12,120 |
2,287 |
0 |
0 |
233 |
(18)[4] |
14,622 |
1990 |
40 |
Dante Hall |
Kick returner Punt returner |
Kansas City Chiefs (2000–2006) St. Louis Rams (2007–2008) |
242 |
1,747 |
0 |
2,261 |
10,136 |
0 |
14,386 |
None |
41 |
O. J. Simpson |
Running back |
Buffalo Bills (1969–1977) San Francisco 49ers (1978–1979) |
11,236 |
2,142 |
0 |
0 |
990 |
0 |
14,368 |
1985 |
42 |
Reggie Wayne |
Wide receiver |
Indianapolis Colts (2001–2014) |
0 |
14,345 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14,345 |
Eligible in 2020[5] |
43 |
James Lofton |
Wide receiver |
Green Bay Packers (1978–1986) Los Angeles Raiders (1987–1988) Buffalo Bills (1989–1992) Los Angeles Rams (1993) Philadelphia Eagles (1993) |
246 |
14,004 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
27 |
14,277 |
2003 |
44 |
Cris Carter |
Wide receiver |
Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989) Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001) Miami Dolphins (2002) |
41 |
13,899 |
0 |
0 |
244 |
0 |
14,184 |
2013 |
45 |
Andre Johnson |
Wide receiver |
Houston Texans (2003–2014) Indianapolis Colts (2014–present) |
54 |
14,100 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
14,154 |
Not applicable[5] |
46 |
Fred Taylor |
Running back |
Jacksonville Jaguars (1998–2008) New England Patriots (2009–2010) |
11,695 |
2,384 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
8 |
14,087 |
None |
47 |
Bobby Mitchell |
Wide receiver |
Cleveland Browns (1958–1961) Washington Redskins (1962–1968) |
2,735 |
7,954 |
0 |
699 |
2,690 |
0 |
14,078 |
1983 |
48 |
Adrian Peterson |
Running back |
Minnesota Vikings (2007–present) |
11,675 |
1,937 |
0 |
0 |
428 |
(12)[4] |
14,028 |
Not applicable[5] |