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List of NFL career all-purpose yards leaders

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This is a list of National Football League players with a career total of over 15,000 all-purpose yards.[a][1][2]

Players listed in bold currently active.

List

[edit]
Rank[b] Player Position(s)
regularly
played 		Seasons
by team 		Total
all-purpose[a]
yards
gained[c] 		Total
rushing
yards
gained[c] 		Total
receiving
yards
gained[c] 		Total
interception
return
yards
gained[c] 		Total
punt
return
yards
gained[c] 		Total
kickoff
return
yards
gained[c] 		Total
recovered
fumble
return
yards
gained[c] 		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) 		23,546 645 22,895 0 0 6 0 2010
2 Brian Mitchell Running back
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Washington Redskins (1990–1999)
Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2002)
New York Giants (2003) 		23,330 1,967 2,336 0 4,999 14,014 14 None
3 Walter Payton Running back Chicago Bears (1975–1987) 21,803 16,726 4,538 0 0 539 0 1993
4 Emmitt Smith Running back Dallas Cowboys (1990–2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003–2004) 		21,564 18,355 3,224 0 0 0 (15)[d] 2010
5 Frank Gore Running back San Francisco 49ers (2005–2014)
Indianapolis Colts (2015–2017)
Miami Dolphins (2018)
Buffalo Bills (2019)
New York Jets (2020) 		19,992 16,000 3,985 0 0 0 7 Eligible in 2026
6 Darren Sproles Running back
Punt returner
Kick returner 		San Diego Chargers (2005–2010)
New Orleans Saints (2011–2013)
Philadelphia Eagles (2014–2019) 		19,696 3,552 4,840 0 2,961 8,352 (9)[d] Eligible in 2025[e]
7 Tim Brown Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		L.A./Oakland Raiders (1988–2003)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004) 		19,682 190 14,934 0 3,320 1,235 3 2015
8 Marshall Faulk Running back Indianapolis Colts (1994–1998)
St. Louis Rams (1999–2005) 		19,190 12,279 6,875 0 0 18 18 2011
9 Steve Smith Sr. Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Carolina Panthers (2001–2013)
Baltimore Ravens (2014–2016) 		19,180 387 14,731 0 1,684 2,371 7 None
10 LaDainian Tomlinson Running back San Diego Chargers (2001–2009)
New York Jets (2010–2011) 		18,456 13,684 4,772 0 0 0 0 2017
11 Barry Sanders Running back Detroit Lions (1989–1998) 18,308 15,269 2,921 0 0 118 0 2004
12 Herschel Walker Running back
Kick returner 		Dallas Cowboys (1986–1989, 1996–1997)
Minnesota Vikings (1989–1991)
Philadelphia Eagles (1992–1994)
New York Giants (1995) 		18,168 8,225 4,859 0 0 5,084 0 None
13 Adrian Peterson Running back Minnesota Vikings (2007–2016)
New Orleans Saints (2017)
Arizona Cardinals (2017)
Washington Redskins (2018–2019)
Detroit Lions (2020)
Tennessee Titans (2021)
Seattle Seahawks (2021) 		17,808 14,918 2,474 0 0 428 (12)[d] Eligible in 2027[e]
14 Marcus Allen Running back Los Angeles Raiders (1982–1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1997) 		17,648 12,243 5,411 0 0 0 (6)[d] 2003
15 Larry Fitzgerald Wide receiver Arizona Cardinals (2004–2020) 17,560 68 17,492 0 0 0 0 Eligible in 2026
16 Curtis Martin Running back New England Patriots (1995–1997)
New York Jets (1998–2005) 		17,421 14,101 3,329 0 0 0 (9)[d] 2012
17 Tiki Barber Running back New York Giants (1997–2006) 17,359 10,449 5,183 0 1,181 544 2 None
18 Eric Metcalf Running back
Wide receiver
Punt returner
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) 		17,230 2,392 5,572 0 3,453 5,813 0 None
19 Derrick Mason Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1997–2004)
Baltimore Ravens (2005–2010)
New York Jets (2011)
Houston Texans (2011) 		17,150 3 12,061 0 1,590 3,496 0 None
20 Wes Welker Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		San Diego Chargers (2004)
Miami Dolphins (2004–2006)
New England Patriots (2007–2012)
Denver Broncos (2013–2014)
St. Louis Rams (2015) 		16,797 151 9,924 0 2,584 4,138 0 None
21 Thurman Thomas Running back Buffalo Bills (1988–1999)
Miami Dolphins (2000) 		16,532 12,074 4,458 0 0 0 0 2007
22 Tony Dorsett Running back Dallas Cowboys (1977–1987)
Denver Broncos (1988) 		16,326 12,739 3,554 0 0 0 33 1994
23 Terrell Owens Wide receiver San Francisco 49ers (1996–2003)
Philadelphia Eagles (2004–2005)
Dallas Cowboys (2006–2008)
Buffalo Bills (2009)
Cincinnati Bengals (2010) 		16,276 251 15,934 0 0 78 13 2018
24 Ted Ginn Jr. Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Miami Dolphins (2007–2009)
San Francisco 49ers (2010–2012)
Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015–2016)
Arizona Cardinals (2014)
New Orleans Saints (2017–2019)
Chicago Bears (2020) 		15,749 486 5,742 0 2,624 6,899 (2)[d] Eligible in 2026[e]
25 Henry Ellard Wide receiver Los Angeles Rams (1983–1993)
Washington Redskins (1994–1998)
New England Patriots (1998) 		15,718 50 13,777 0 1,527 364 0 None
26 Warrick Dunn Running back Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997–2001, 2008)
Atlanta Falcons (2002–2007) 		15,665 10,967 4,339 0 48 310 1 None
27 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) 		15,644 159 15,292 0 162 33 (2)[d] 2018
28 Edgerrin James Running back Indianapolis Colts (1999–2005)
Arizona Cardinals (2006–2008)
Seattle Seahawks (2009) 		15,610 12,246 3,364 0 0 0 0 2020
29 Irving Fryar Wide receiver
Punt returner 		New England Patriots (1984–1992)
Miami Dolphins (1993–1995)
Philadelphia Eagles (1996–1998)
Washington Redskins (1999–2000) 		15,594 242 12,785 0 2,055 505 7 None
30 Jim Brown Running back Cleveland Browns (1957–1965) 15,459 12,312 2,499 0 0 648 0 1971
31 Josh Cribbs Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Cleveland Browns (2005–2012)
Oakland Raiders (2013)
New York Jets (2013)
Indianapolis Colts (2014) 		15,453 808 1,175 0 2,375 11,113 (18)[d] None
32 Eric Dickerson Running back Los Angeles Rams (1983–1987)
Indianapolis Colts (1987–1991)
Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
Atlanta Falcons (1993) 		15,411 13,259 2,137 0 0 0 15 1999
33 Isaac Bruce Wide receiver L.A./St. Louis Rams (1994–2007)
San Francisco 49ers (2008–2009) 		15,399 139 15,208 0 52 0 0 2020
34 Antonio Brown Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner 		Pittsburgh Steelers (2010–2018)
New England Patriots (2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2021) 		15,353 128 12,291 0 1,761 1,173 0 Eligible in 2027[e]
35 Steven Jackson Running back St. Louis Rams (2004–2012)
Atlanta Falcons (2013–2014)
New England Patriots (2015) 		15,191 11,438 3,683 0 0 79 (9)[d] None
36 Tony Gonzalez Tight end Kansas City Chiefs (1997–2008)
Atlanta Falcons (2009–2013) 		15,141 14 15,127 0 0 0 0 2019
37 Jerome Bettis Running back L.A./St. Louis Rams (1993–1995)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1996–2005) 		15,113 13,662 1,449 0 0 0 2 2015
38 Allen Rossum Cornerback
Punt returner
Kick 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) 		15,046 17 4 22 3,056 11,947 0 None
39 LeSean McCoy Running back Philadelphia Eagles (2009–2014)
Buffalo Bills (2015–2018)
Kansas City Chiefs (2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020) 		15,001 11,102 3,898 0 0 0 1 Eligible in 2026[e]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ a b All-purpose yards are those gained by an offensive player from scrimmage, viz., those gained by a player's rushing or receiving a pass; a defensive player by return of interception or fumble; or by any player by return of punt, kickoff, or recovered fumble.
  2. ^ Rank is as of Week 18 of the 2021 season.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Total is through Week 18 of the 2021 season.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Parentheses denote the negativity of the enclosed net yardage total.
  5. ^ a b c d e A player is not eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for five calendar years or is deceased.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "NFL All-Purpose Yards Career Leaders (since 1945)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Most All Purpose Yards Player NFL History". StatMuse. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
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