The NY Giants have been home to many elite running backs over their long and illustrious history. Whether these players are certified all-time greats, or just very good players who contributed to a Super Bowl team, there has never been a real shortage in talented running backs in the Giants organization.
While not all of these running backs are up in the discussions of greatest running backs of all time, almost all of them played a huge roll in the team’s history. This is what really matters.
In order to, in our opinion, accurately put into order the Top 10 running backs of all time, we will be using a players career stats, accolades, team success and talent to help determine where they should rank.
With that being said, here are the Top 10 running backs in NY Giants history:
10. Saquon Barkley
Accolades: Pro Bowler, 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year, led the league in yards from scrimmage in 2018
Career stats with the Giants: 44 games played, 659 attempts, 2,937 yards, 19 TDs
Saquon Barkley is a player who would likely be much higher on this list if it wasn’t for a combination of injuries and poor management. After being taken No. 2 overall in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley burst onto the scene, tallying 261 carries for 1,307 yards and 11 TDs.
However, after being plagued with injuries the last couple of seasons, combined with playing behind arguably the worst line in all of football, Barkley has had it rough. There are little-to-no doubts about Barkley’s talent, as he is one of the most talented RBs in the league when healthy as we have seen. His health has began to raise some questions.
While there may be some arguments that Barkley should not be on the Top 10 list, his pure talent alone made it very difficult to leave him off when comparing who else could’ve taken the spot.
If Barkley can manage to bounce back this upcoming season, the doubts behind Barkley’s talent and greatness will likely begin to fade.
9. Ron Johnson
Accolades: Two-time Pro Bowler, First Team All-Pro, two-time league leader in rush attempts, led the league in yards from scrimmage in 1970
Career stats: 67 games played, 1,066 attempts, 3,836 yards, 33 TDs
After being traded to the NY Giants for legendary receiver Homer Jones, Ron Johnson began to breakout, leading the league in rushing attempts and yards from scrimmage in his first season. In addition to this, Johnson would also make a Pro Bowl, be named First Team All Pro, and rank ninth in MVP voting. He became the first player in Giants history to rush for over 1,000 yards.
While injuries would derail his next season, Johnson would bounce back in 1972, leading the league in rushing attempts yet again while making another Pro Bowl.
Johnson would remain with the Giants for three more seasons. However, he only rushed for 400+ yards in one of them. The combination of a short career, with no postseason success made it very difficult for us to put Johnson over some of the other players on this list.
8. Ahmad Bradshaw
Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion
Career stats: 84 games played, 921 attempts, 4,232 yards, 32 TDs
While Bradshaw never made a Pro Bowl or All-Pro team in his career, the success he had with the NY Giants is arguably more important than either of those accolades.
After being selected in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft, it would take Bradshaw a couple of years to take off. Following a 2008 season that would see Bradshaw only rush for 355 yards and one TD, he would go on to rush for 700+ yards in three out of the next four seasons, winning two Super Bowls in the process.
Bradshaw would play a very important role in both of the NY Giants Super Bowl runs, even scoring a somewhat accidental TD in the final moments of the 2011 Super Bowl against the Patriots that still, at the end of the day, put the game away.
7. Ottis Anderson
Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP
Career stats: 83 games, 704 rushing attempts, 2,274 yards, 36 TDs
By the time Ottis Anderson joined the NY Giants, many thought his career was over, as an injury in 1985 caused him to play only nine games in which he rushed for only 479 yards and four TDs. Then, after a slow start to the 1986 season, Anderson would be traded to the NY Giants for a couple of draft picks. However, for the remainder of the season, Anderson would be a near non-factor.
While he did score a TD in the NY Giants Super Bowl victory against the Denver Broncos, Anderson would not start a single game during his eight-game tenure with the Giants in 1986, and would only play in four games in 1987.
This was not the end of Anderson’s career though. After a somewhat bounce-back season in 1988, Anderson would explode back onto the scene in 1989. He rushed for 1,023 yards and 14 TDs: his first 1,000-yard season since 1984. Entering the 1990 season, it seemed like Anderson’s career might start coming to an end, as the Giants selected future Pro Bowler Rodney Hampton in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft.
However, Anderson would still see a majority of the carries, and entering the playoffs he would take off. He rushed for 249 yards and a TD in three games, winning Super Bowl MVP against the Buffalo Bills. Anderson’s career with the NY Giants may have been short. However, the impact he had on the team was good enough to put him in the No. 7 spot on our list.
6. Alex Webster
Accolades: Two-time Pro Bowler, two-time Second Team All Pro, 1956 NFL Champion
Career stats: 109 games played, 1,196 attempts, 4,638 yards, 39 TDs
Alex Webster spent 10 seasons with the team, winning an NFL Championship in the process. After being selected in the 11th round of the 1953 NFL Draft by Washington, Webster would choose to play a season for the Montreal Alouettes as opposed to playing in the NFL. Following this, Webster would sign a contract with the Giants, remaining with the team for the entirety of his career.
While looking at Webster’s stats may make you think he was not a special talent, he was quite an excellent player for his time. He made two Pro Bowls and two All-Pro team selections.
Webster would also play a critical role in the Giants 1956 NFL Championship victory. Carrying the ball 12 times for 27 yards and 2 TDs, while also catching five passes for 76 yards. Again, he may not have been known for head-turning stats, but Webster was quite the player for the Giants and will always be remembered for his strong play.
5. Brandon Jacobs
Accolades: Two-time Super Bowl champion, NY Giants all-time leader in rushing TDs
Career stats: 107 games played, 1,136 attempts, 5,094 yards, 60 TDs
Up next is one of the most underrated players in Giants history, Brandon Jacobs. In his career, Jacobs made his name as one of the most powerful running backs of the 2000s.
After being selected in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, it would take a couple of years for Jacobs to catch on. However, when he was ready, he made an instant impact, rushing for 1,009 yards and four TDs in 2007, helping the NY Giants win the Super Bowl against the undefeated Patriots.In the playoffs that season, Jacobs would rush for 179 yards and 3 TDs in four games.
Jacobs would follow up the 2007 season well, rushing for 1,089 yards and 15 TDs, helping the Giants make the playoffs once again. However, due to a loss of offense after star receiver Plaxico Burress was arrested for gun charges, the Giants would lose in the first round of the 2008 playoffs to the Eagles. In this game, Jacobs would rush for 92 yards.
In his next three seasons with the Giants. Jacobs would rush for 550+ yards and 5+ TDs each year, winning another Super Bowl in 2011. Following the 2011 season, Jacobs would sign a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers. However, a leg injury would limit him to only two games that year. Jacobs would then return to the Giants before eventually retiring.
Jacobs will best be remembered for his electric power and the elite backfield duo he made with the previously mentioned Bradshaw. The part he played in both NY Giants Super Bowl victories will never be forgotten by Giants fans.
4. Joe Morris
Accolades: Two-time Pro Bowler, First Team All Pro, 1985 Super Bowl Champion, NFL leader in rushing TDs in 1985
Career stats: 64 games played, 1,318 attempts, 5,296 yards, 48 TDs
Joe Morris had arguably the best single season out of anyone on this list. However, a broken foot in 1989 would derail a once promising career. Morris was selected in the second round of the 1982 NFL Draft and after two non-productive seasons with the Giants, Morris would finally make his name known in the 1985 season. He rushed for 510 yards and four scores.
This was only the beginning for Morris, as in the following season he would rush for 1,336 yards and a league leading 21 TDs while making a Pro Bowl. Morris would not slow down in the playoffs, rushing for 173 yards.
Following the 1985 season, Morris would have yet another spectacular year, rushing for 1,516 yards and 14 TDs. This year, he made another Pro Bowl, his first All Pro selection, and even came in fourth for MVP voting. Morris would continue to play tremendously in the postseason, rushing for 313 yards and 4 TDs in three games, helping the NY Giants defeat the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl that same year.
Injuries hurt Morris later in his career, leading to him being released by the Giants. He would then sign with the Browns, playing one year before retiring. Injuries hurt him, but he surely made a monstrous impact in New York.
3. Rodney Hampton
Accolades: Two-time Pro Bowler, 1986 Super Bowl Champion
Career stats: 104 games played, 1,824 attempts, 6,897 yards, 49 TDs
Similar to Joe Morris, Rodney Hampton was another fantastic player whose career was shortened by injuries. After being selected 27th overall in the 1990 NFL Draft, Hampton would have a pretty solid season splitting carries with the aforementioned Anderson. While Hampton still has a ring, he would miss the team’s Super Bowl victory his rookie year due to a broken leg.
This would be the only major injury of Hamptons career for the most part, as he would play 14 or more games every season until his last year in the NFL in 1997. Following his rookie year, Hampton would rush for 1,000+ yards in five consecutive seasons. Rushing for 10+ TDs in three out of those seasons, making two Pro Bowls in the process. In Hampton’s final healthy season with the Giants, he would rush for 827 yards and 1 TD.
Things then quickly went downhill for Hampton. Multiple issues with his knee would limit him to only two games in 1997. These injuries would turn out to be very serious, s following the 1997 season, Hampton would retire at the young age of 28. Ending his career as the NY Giants all-time leader in rushing yards.
2. Frank Gifford
Accolades: Eight-time Pro Bowler, four-time First Team All Pro selections, Second Team All-Pro selection, 1956 NFL MVP, 1956 NFL Champion, NFL Hall of Famer
Career stats: 136 games played, 840 attempts, 3,609 yards, 34 TDs
While Frank Gifford was more than just a running back, heck, he was more of a receiver than a running back. He still had arguably the best career out of anyone else on this list. It was a difficult decision for us to make on rather Gifford should be on the all time receivers, or all time running backs list. However, since his listed position for the majority of his career was running back, it only makes sense to put him on this list.
After being selected 11th overall in the 1952 NFL Draft, Gifford would have a rather unproductive rookie year. Only rushing for 116 yards in 10 games. However, this would be Gifford last unproductive season for the next seven years. In this timespan, Gifford would make seven Pro Bowls, earn five All-Pro selections, and even win MVP in 1956, winning the NFL Championship in that same season.
However, after the 1959 season, it seems as if Gifford’s focused shifted to full time receiver. He would only carry the ball 84 times in the final four years of his career. Despite this, Gifford still made one more Pro Bowl in 1963 before retiring at the end of the 1964 season.
1. Tiki Barber
Accolades: Three-Time Pro Bowler, First Team All Pro, two-time league leader in yards from scrimmage, NY Giants all-time leader in rushing yards
Career stats: 154 games played, 2,217 attempts, 10,449 yards, 55 TDs
While Tiki Barber may have left a sour taste in the mouths of NY Giants fans due to his post retirement antics, there are no doubts that he is the greatest running back in team history. Gifford may have had a better career, but he was not a pure running back like Barber.
After being selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, Barber would have a slow start to his career, only rushing for 500+ yards once in three seasons. However, Barber would burst onto the scene in 2000, rushing for 1,006 yards and 8 TDs. He Helped the NY Giants make the Super Bowl, where they would eventually be defeated by the Baltimore Ravens.
Barber would keep this level of success up throughout the remainder of his career, rushing for 1,200+ yards in five out of his final six seasons. He made three Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All- Pro selection and came in fourth of the MVP voting in 2005.
However, Barber would suddenly retire following the 2006 season, blaming head coach Tom Coughlin, alongside his physical health for his early retirement. Stating the following on the Scoop B Radio Podcast:
"“I mean, [former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin] was such a small part of it. He was so hard on everybody and you felt unappreciated at times, but it was so much more than that. Maybe he was the last little straw that made me walk away from the game, but physically I was getting beat up, man.”"
This decision would bite Barber in the behind, as in the following season the NY Giants would go on to win the Super Bowl without him. Following his retirement, Barber would pursue a career in broadcasting which still goes on to this day. While during his earlier years of his new career he would spend a lot of time trashing the Giants, Barber has since had a change of heart, repairing a lot of the wounds he left NY Giants fans.
As a pure running back, there is no doubt the Barber is the best in Giants history. He is the only running back to rush for over 10,000 yards and 50+ TDs for the team. It is very unfortunate that Barber decided to retire early, as a Super Bowl victory may have been enough to put him in the Hall of Fame. He was a star for the Giants.