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Year-by-Year Rushing Yards Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Yds | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | LaDainian Tomlinson (28) | 1,474 | SDG |
| 2006 | LaDainian Tomlinson (27) | 1,815 | SDG |
| 2005 | Shaun Alexander (28) | 1,880 | SEA |
| 2004 | Curtis Martin (31) | 1,697 | NYJ |
| 2003 | Jamal Lewis (24) | 2,066 | BAL |
| 2002 | Ricky Williams (25) | 1,853 | MIA |
| 2001 | Priest Holmes (28) | 1,555 | KAN |
| 2000 | Edgerrin James (22) | 1,709 | IND |
| 1999 | Edgerrin James (21) | 1,553 | IND |
| 1998 | Terrell Davis (26) | 2,008 | DEN |
| 1997 | Barry Sanders+ (29) | 2,053 | DET |
| 1996 | Barry Sanders+ (28) | 1,553 | DET |
| 1995 | Emmitt Smith (26) | 1,773 | DAL |
| 1994 | Barry Sanders+ (26) | 1,883 | DET |
| 1993 | Emmitt Smith (24) | 1,486 | DAL |
| 1992 | Emmitt Smith (23) | 1,713 | DAL |
| 1991 | Emmitt Smith (22) | 1,563 | DAL |
| 1990 | Barry Sanders+ (22) | 1,304 | DET |
| 1989 | Christian Okoye (28) | 1,480 | KAN |
| 1988 | Eric Dickerson+ (28) | 1,659 | IND |
| 1987 | Charles White (29) | 1,374 | RAM |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson+ (26) | 1,821 | RAM |
| 1985 | Marcus Allen+ (25) | 1,759 | RAI |
| 1984 | Eric Dickerson+ (24) | 2,105 | RAM |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson+ (23) | 1,808 | RAM |
| 1982 | Freeman McNeil (23) | 786 | NYJ |
| 1981 | George Rogers (23) | 1,674 | NOR |
| 1980 | Earl Campbell+ (25) | 1,934 | HOU |
| 1979 | Earl Campbell+ (24) | 1,697 | HOU |
| 1978 | Earl Campbell+ (23) | 1,450 | HOU |
| 1977 | Walter Payton+ (23) | 1,852 | CHI |
| 1976 | O.J. Simpson+ (29) | 1,503 | BUF |
| 1975 | O.J. Simpson+ (28) | 1,817 | BUF |
| 1974 | Otis Armstrong (24) | 1,407 | DEN |
| 1973 | O.J. Simpson+ (26) | 2,003 | BUF |
| 1972 | O.J. Simpson+ (25) | 1,251 | BUF |
| 1971 | Floyd Little (29) | 1,133 | DEN |
| 1970 | Larry Jr. Brown (23) | 1,125 | WAS |
| 1969 | Gale Sayers+ (26) | 1,032 | CHI |
| Dickie Post (24) | 873 | SDG | |
| 1968 | Leroy Kelly+ (26) | 1,239 | CLE |
| Paul Robinson (24) | 1,023 | CIN | |
| 1967 | Jim Nance (25) | 1,216 | BOS |
| Leroy Kelly+ (25) | 1,205 | CLE | |
| 1966 | Jim Nance (24) | 1,458 | BOS |
| Gale Sayers+ (23) | 1,231 | CHI | |
| 1965 | Jim Brown+ (29) | 1,544 | CLE |
| Paul Lowe (29) | 1,121 | SDG | |
| 1964 | Jim Brown+ (28) | 1,446 | CLE |
| Cookie Gilchrist (29) | 981 | BUF | |
| 1963 | Jim Brown+ (27) | 1,863 | CLE |
| Clem Daniels (26) | 1,099 | OAK | |
| 1962 | Jim Taylor+ (27) | 1,474 | GNB |
| Cookie Gilchrist (27) | 1,096 | BUF | |
| 1961 | Jim Brown+ (25) | 1,408 | CLE |
| Billy Cannon (24) | 948 | HOU | |
| 1960 | Jim Brown+ (24) | 1,257 | CLE |
| Abner Haynes (23) | 875 | DTX | |
| 1959 | Jim Brown+ (23) | 1,329 | CLE |
| 1958 | Jim Brown+ (22) | 1,527 | CLE |
| 1957 | Jim Brown+ (21) | 942 | CLE |
| 1956 | Rick Casares (25) | 1,126 | CHI |
| 1955 | Alan Ameche (22) | 961 | BAL |
| 1954 | Joe Perry+ (27) | 1,049 | SFO |
| 1953 | Joe Perry+ (26) | 1,018 | SFO |
| 1952 | Dan Towler (24) | 894 | RAM |
| 1951 | Eddie Price (26) | 971 | NYG |
| 1950 | Marion Motley+ (30) | 810 | CLE |
| 1949 | Steve Van Buren+ (29) | 1,146 | PHI |
| Joe Perry+ (22) | 783 | SFO | |
| 1948 | Marion Motley+ (28) | 964 | CLE |
| Steve Van Buren+ (28) | 945 | PHI | |
| 1947 | Spec Sanders (29) | 1,432 | NYY |
| Steve Van Buren+ (27) | 1,008 | PHI | |
| 1946 | Spec Sanders (28) | 709 | NYY |
| Bill Dudley+ (27) | 604 | PIT | |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren+ (25) | 832 | PHI |
| 1944 | Bill Paschal (23) | 737 | NYG |
| 1943 | Bill Paschal (22) | 572 | NYG |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley+ (23) | 696 | PIT |
| 1941 | Pug Manders (28) | 486 | BKN |
| 1940 | Whizzer White (23) | 514 | DET |
| 1939 | Bill Osmanski (24) | 699 | CHI |
| 1938 | Whizzer White (21) | 567 | PIT |
| 1937 | Cliff Battles+ (27) | 874 | WAS |
| 1936 | Tuffy Leemans+ (24) | 830 | NYG |
| 1935 | Doug Russell (24) | 499 | CRD |
| 1934 | Beattie Feathers (26) | 1,004 | CHI |
| 1933 | Jim Musick (23) | 809 | BOS |
| 1932 | Cliff Battles+ (22) | 576 | BOS |