Green Bay Packers: Top 10 Running Backs of All Time

[caption id="attachment_29764" align="aligncenter" width="590"] Mark Tauscher blocks for Ryan Grant against the Colts in 2009. Raymond T. Rivard photograph[/caption]rnrnLombardi Ave is back at it with our Green Bay Packers top 10 lists and this time we are evaluating the Packers all-time greatest running backs.rnrn[teamnews align="right" team="packers" sport="nfl"]rnrnThis was another tough list to decide and we did leave off some great players, but what each of these 10 guys brought and what some still are able to bring, creates a very tough argument.rnrnWe throw in multiple decades in this list and a couple teammates as well, so without further ado, here are the 10 greatest running backs in Green Bay Packer history ...rnrn[nextpost teaser="This Packer was drafted in 1966" slider="true"]rn 10. Donny Anderson rnrn rnrnDonny Anderson had one of the hardest tasks in Packers history in replacing two hall of fame running backs who are further on our list. Vince Lombardi had a system of a two running back scheme which Anderson and Jim Grabowski, who were both high touted draft picks in the 1966 NFL Draft, filled nicely.rnrnOne of the greatest plays Anderson is remembered for is knocking out Fred Williamson of the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl I. One of the cooler features from Anderson was also the fact he was a punter and really started the idea of "hang time" you see in the NFL today.rnrnAnderson played from 1966-71 and won two Super Bowls with the Packers in his first two seasons. He currently sits 11th on the Packers all-time list in rushing with 3,165 yards and 13th in touchdowns with 24.rnrnHe was also elected to the Pro Bowl once during his career. What Anderson did for the team learning under two hall of fame running backs and then transitioning into a featured player ranks him 10th on our all time list.rnrn[nextpost teaser="Still a part of the team today" slider="true"]rn rn 9. Edgar Bennett rn[caption id="attachment_45310" align="alignright" width="300"] Green Bay Packers receivers coach Edgar Bennett. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports photograph[/caption]rnrnThe man who will take over the prestigious role of being the Packers offensive coordinator this season sits ninth on our list.rnrnThough Bennett only played five seasons with the Packers, he was a big part of the 1996 championship run alongside another running back on our list.rnrnHis 1995 season was one of the best in Packers history as Bennett rushed for 1,067 yards in 1995 while also catching the ball 61 times for 648 receiving yards . His career was cut short as a Packer as he tore his Achilles and missed the 1997 season.rnrnBennett was a fourth round draft pick in 1992 and played with Green Bay from 1992-97. He came back to help coach the Packers in 2001 and has held positions such as the running back and wide receivers coach proving his versatility.rnrnAs mentioned before, he will be the Packers offensive coordinator this season and will continue to help current running back Eddie Lacy improve, who could be on our list when his career is over.rnrnBennett rushed for 3,353 yards in his career ranking him tenth all-time in Packers history. He also scored 21 touchdowns for the Packers ranking him eighteenth all-time. Though Bennett did not have the touchdown totals of some not on this list, we'll admit we're a little biased being that he's been a big part of the organization for so long.rnrnEven so, his playing career was no joke as he was a big part of the championship puzzle in 1996.rnrn[nextpost teaser="This Packer went undrafted" slider="true"]rn rn 8. Ryan Grant rn rnrnWhere the heck did this kid come from?rnrnUndrafted out of college, the Green Bay Packers traded a sixth round pick for some guy named Ryan Grant in 2007 with no idea the success he would have.rnrnSitting behind Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Winn, Grant was given a golden opportunity to start for the team while both Jackson and Winn went down with injuries.rnrnHe did not disappoint.rnrnRyan Grant ran wild in 2007, accumulating 929 yards in just 10 games. He helped a team that was extremely one dimensional through the air become two dimensional on the ground and was a big part of the Packers going to the NFC Championship game that season.rnrnThe next two seasons saw Grant run for more than 1,000 yards each while scoring a combined 15 touchdowns. He currently sits fifth all-time in Packers history in rushing with 4,143 yards while adding 27 touchdowns ranking him tenth.rnrnGrant gets a bad rap from the injuries he faced in the later stages of his career as a Packer. His inconsistency in some games has also been questioned, but what he did for the organization in 2007 should not be forgotten as he helped turn the team's horrific running game around.rnrn[nextpost teaser="A Super Bowl Champion" slider="true"]rn rn 7. Dorsey Levens rn rnrnDorsey Levens sits at number seven on our list with the contributions he made for the organization when they needed him most.rnrnDuring the Super Bowl run of 1996, Levens broke out in the NFC Championship game rushing for more than 80 yards and then was the Packers leading rusher in the Super Bowl victory that season.rnrnLevens also was huge for the team when Edgar Bennett tore his Achillies in 1997, filling in to rush for 1,435 yards and seven touchdowns. He also hit 1,000 yards rushing in 1999.rnrnLevens played for the Packers from 1994-2001 and his 1997 season will go down as his biggest accomplishment next to being a big part of the Super Bowl winning season in 1996.rnrnLevens rushed for 3,937 yards in Green Bay, ranking him sixth all-time. His 28 touchdowns rank him eighth all-time.rnrn[nextpost teaser="Broke a record in his first three seasons" slider="true"]rn rn 6. John Brockington rn rnrnThe Green Bay Packers selected a kid from Ohio State in the first round of the 1971 draft named John Brockington.rnrnBrockington was slated to take over the running back position from Donny Anderson upon entering the NFL and he did exactly that. Brockington became the first player ever to rush for 1,000 yards in his first three seasons. His dominance upon entering the league earned him both three All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections in 1971, 1972, and 1973.rnrnBrockington played in Green Bay from 1971-77 and was a serious threat in the backfield in the beginning of his career. Unfortunately Brockington slowed down tremendously after his first three seasons as he was an absolute workhorse for the team. He ranks third all-time in attempts and rushing yards in Packers history and sixth all-time in career touchdowns.rnrn[nextpost teaser="The Grey Ghost of Gonzaga" slider="true"]rn rn 5. Tony Canadeo rn rnHere's where it starts to get increasingly difficult to rank the prestigious individuals who played the running back position for the Green Bay Packers.rnrnWe go with the "Grey Ghost of Gonzaga," Tony Canadeo, at number five who played for the Packers from 1941-52. One of the more interesting things about Canadeo was that he that he left the NFL to join the U.S. Navy in 1944 and through 1945 to return to the team in 1946.rnrnCanadeo was a workhorse for the Packers upon his return from the military and rushed for 1,049 yards in 1949. His #3 jersey is retired and his name sits above Lambeau Field today.rnrnHe was also inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Canadeo rushed for 4,197 yards and 26 touchdowns during his tenure in Green Bay ranking him fourth all-time in yards and eleventh in touchdowns.rnrn[nextpost teaser="Helped turn the team into a dynasty" slider="true"]rn rn 4. Clarke Hinkle rn rnrnClarke Hinkle is our number four player with the ability he brought alongside Arnie Herber and Don Hutson. Hinkle played in Green Bay from 1932-41, which included two NFL Championships in 1936 and 1939. Though Hinkle was listed as a fullback he would be considered a running back in today's NFL. His ability to help Herber and Hutson on the ground contributed to turning the Packers into a dynasty in the 1930s.rnrnHinkle is member of the NFL's all decade team in the 1930s while also being named to the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. He was elected to the Pro Bowl three times while being named to the All-Pro team four times.rnrnHinkle is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame while also being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1964.rnrnHis 3,860 career rushing yards rank seventh all-time for the Packers and his 35 career touchdowns rank him fourth all-time. It should also be noted that Hinkle retired as the NFL's all-time leader in rushing yards.rnrn[nextpost teaser="Scored 176 points in a single season" slider="true"]rn rn 3. Paul Hornung rn rnPaul Hornung will forever go down as one of the greatest scorers in NFL history.rnrnHornung played in Green Bay from 1957-66 and helped the team win multiple championships. The number of points Hornung scored during the time period he played was amazing and helps our choice to rank him third on our all-time list.rnrnHornung was a part of the Vince Lombardi era and helped the team to four NFL championships including Super Bowl I.rnrnHe was named to the Pro Bowl twice as well as being named an All Pro twice and a second team All Pro once. He also won the NFL MVP award in 1961 and was named to the All-Decade Team in 1960. He is a member of both the Packers and Pro Football Hall of Fame.rnrnHis record of 176 points in a single season consisted of 13 rushing touchdowns and 2 receiving touchdowns as well as kicking field goals will go down as one of the greatest single seasons in Packes history.rnrnThat record of points scored in a season was not broken for more than 40 years. Hornung rushed for 3,711 yards, which ranks him ninth all-time, while his 50 career touchdowns rank him third in all-time Packers history.rnrn[nextpost teaser="The Packers all time leading rusher" slider="true"]rn rn 2. Ahman Green rn rnThe amount of patience and consistency Ahman Green showed in the backfield ranks him number two on our list as he is somebody who will go down as underrated in our book in terms of league history.rnrnSpeaking of consistency, Green rushed for 1,000 yards five seasons in a row and six of seven seasons in a row having an injury-filled season in 2005.rnrnHe rushed for an amazing 1,883 yards in 2003 with 15 touchdowns which has to go down as one of the greatest seasons from a running back in NFL history.rnrnYou had to love Green's patience in waiting for holes to open up and then hitting them with such velocity as it made him unstoppable.rnrnGreen is the Packersall-time leading rusher and although he may not have the accolades and achievements of some others on this list he played in a different era of football and if he had played earlier and produced the same numbers, he would be a first ballot hall of fame player. For a sixth round pick to be named to the Pro Bowl four times, is outstanding and to lead the entire NFC in rushing yards in 2003 puts a stamp on Green's career. Green rushed for 8,322 yards again making him the all time leader in Packer history, while adding 54 touchdowns which makes him second all time. He is undoubtedly one of the most underrated running backs in NFL history.rnrn[nextpost teaser="Scored an amazing 81 touchdowns" slider="true"]rn rn 1. Jim Taylor rn rnrnJim Taylor idealized what Green Bay football is all about.rnrnThe toughness he exhibited every game proved why fans loved him, and opponents hated him.rnrnA second round pick in 1958, Taylor starred in the backfield with Paul Hornung who were together nicknamed thunder and lightning. Taylor played in Green Bay from 1958 to 1966 and led the league in rushing every season except one.rnrnHe won five NFL Championships with the team including Super Bowl I.rnrn[related-category]rnrnTaylor was named to five Pro Bowls in his career and was a first team All-Pro as well. The 1962 NFL season saw Taylor crowned as the NFL MVP while rushing for 1,474 yards and scoring 19 touchdowns.rnrnTaylor was named to the 1960s All-Decade Team while also being inducted into both the Packers and Pro Football halls of fame.rnrnThe simply outstanding stat that jumps out in ranking Taylor #1 was the number of touchdowns he scored in his NFL career. His 81 touchdowns are 27 ahead of Ahman Green who is second in Packer history.rnrnThat's incredible.rnrnTaylor rushed for 8,207 yards which ranks him second to Green and his 81 touchdowns may never be broken.rnrn[recentposts]rn[sitesocials]rnrn[fsdaily]rn[subscribe]

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Green Bay Packers: Top 10 Running Backs of All Time

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