{"id":493,"date":"2024-06-21T16:20:52","date_gmt":"2024-06-21T20:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/?p=493"},"modified":"2026-01-16T16:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T20:51:25","slug":"list-of-nfl-top-100-players-of-all-time-part-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/pfr-blog\/2024\/06\/list-of-nfl-top-100-players-of-all-time-part-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 100 NFL Players of All Time: Part 4"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

(last updated on January 16, 2026)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Greatest Rushers in NFL History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The NFL’s All-Time Top 100 list isn’t just a ranking; it’s a pantheon of legends \u2013 the running backs who carved through defenses like a hot knife through butter. This piece will delve into the dynamic rushers who graced the gridiron and displayed their offensive brilliance. We’ll meet the elusive running backs who left defenders grasping at air with their shifty moves and explosive speed. Prepare to be transported back through NFL history as we explore the careers of these offensive powerhouses. These running backs redefined the game and forever etched their names in this prestigious ranking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article takes a deep dive into the prestigious NFL Top 100 list, a dynamic ranking meticulously compiled by current and former players, coaches, and media experts mixed with the database values of Pro-Football-Reference. We’ll unravel the criteria distinguishing the elite from the exceptional, examining factors like on-field dominance, leadership qualities, and lasting impact on the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few years ago, the NFL released a list called the NFL 100. It was a media frenzy and stirred controversy and discussion as only the NFL can. For our list, we will consult the NFL\u2019s choices but also use the power of Stathead Football<\/a> and its approximate value and fantasy rankings data to provide a top 100 of the NFL\u2019s best players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With so many deserving players, crafting a list of the NFL top 100 players is daunting. We’ll tackle it by position groups and in multiple posts. We’ll have a compelling 100 to discuss by the end, sparking lively conversations among NFL fans. We are entering the final leg to round out the top 100 players chosen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, please sit back, relax, and join us as we delve into Part 4 of the definitive NFL\u2019s Top 100 list: the best players of all time. This exploration promises to ignite debates, rekindle memories of legendary plays, and solidify your understanding of the men who have truly shaped the game we love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Top Rushing Legends<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The running back is the heartbeat of many offensive schemes … the player who shoulders the load, breaks tackles, and is the elusive phantom leaving defenders grasping at air. In the NFL’s Top 100 annals, several running backs have etched their names in gridiron lore. This section delves into the pantheon of these ground game legends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\t
\n\t\n\n
\n\t

\n\t\tRed Grange<\/a><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\n \n \n\n\n\n \n

\n \n Harold Edward Grange\n  (The Galloping Ghost or The Wheaton Iceman<\/span>)\n <\/strong>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\tPosition<\/strong>: HB-BB-DB-TB\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n

6-0<\/span>, 180lb<\/span> (183cm, 81kg) <\/p>\n\n\n

\n Born:<\/strong> \n \n\t\tJune 13<\/a>, 1903\n \n \n in Forksville, PA<\/a><\/span>\n \n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n

Died:<\/strong>\n January 28<\/a>, 1991 (Aged 87-229d)<\/span>\n \n in Lake Wales, FL<\/a><\/span>\n<\/p>\n\n\n

College<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tIllinois<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t (College Stats<\/a>)\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/p>

High School<\/strong>: \n \n\t\tWheaton<\/a> (IL<\/a>)\n\t\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Hall of Fame<\/strong>: Inducted as \n\t\tPlayer in 1963\n(Full List<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n

<\/p>\n\n \n\n\n

Relatives<\/strong>: Brother Gardie Grange<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n