The 10 best running backs in the history of the NY Giants

The NY Giants have left a lasting mark in the NFL, winning four NFL championships and four Super Bowls since the league's induction. Big Blue is also known for producing several of the game's great players. One position in particular that they have had success with is running backs.

Although the importance of running backs has dwindled over the years, Giants fans know first hand that an exceptional ball carrier can drastically change how well the offense plays — they've seen it happen in the past few decades with some star tailbacks. Many household names have shined in the backfield for the G-Men, so we ranked the 10 best in franchise history in this piece.

Criteria for selection

Given that the Giants have a rich history that dates back to nearly 100 years ago, there are plenty of players who could sneak their way into this Top 10 list. Times have changed since the NFL was founded in 1920, especially how statistics are tracked and the way games are played.

Because of this, both individual accolades and team success were considered when creating this list. That could include All-Pro/Pro Bowl selections and even Super Bowl rings. The importance of stats was determined by the era they played in.

While there is no perfect way to compare two players who competed in completely different time periods, we believe this was the most important way to do so. Many memorable running backs have played for NY over the years, but these are the10 best to ever wear a Giants uniform.

The Top 10 running backs in NY Giants history

10. Eddie Price

Eddie Price played in the 1950s and posted astounding numbers for the period he played in. He received back-to-back All-Pro First-Team selections and led the league in rushing in 1951 with 971 yards. That might not be considered special in 2024, but he played in a low-scoring era. He averaged 52.3 yards per game during his six-year career, all of which he spent in NY.

In addition to his on-the-field prowess, he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Price never won a ring because he retired one year before NY won the 1956 NFL Championship, though he will still go down in the history books as one of the franchise's best rushers.

9. Ahmad Bradshaw

Ahmad Bradshaw was looked at as an afterthought in the 2007 NFL Draft, going in the seventh round to the Giants. He played sparingly until Brandon Jacobs sustained an injury, and NY needed someone to step up. After he recorded 17 carries for 151 yards and a touchdown in Week 16, fans found out that he could play.

He was a terrific change-of-pace back who ran with toughness and power. Bradshaw battled injuries in NY's Super Bowl-winning season in 2011, but he was outstanding in the playoffs and scored a touchdown against the Patriots. His best season came in 2010 when he ran for a career-high 1,235 yards and eight touchdowns in 16 games.

8. Ron Johnson

Ron Johnson's career often goes unnoticed by football fans, but he was one of the league's best running backs for a short period during the early 1970s. He was dealt to NY in a trade after his rookie year with the Browns and immediately made the most of his opportunity.

In 1970, he tallied 1,027 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and 487 receiving yards in his first full season in the league. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors, a Pro Bowl nod, and finished ninth in MVP voting while becoming the first Giant to run for 1,000 yards. Not too shabby. While Johnson's legacy was cut short due to a handful of leg injuries, he could have been one of the greatest tailbacks to ever do it. At his peak, he has an argument to leap into the Top 5 of this list.

7. Alex Webster

An 11th-round draft pick in 1953, Webster opted to play in a Canadian football league until the Giants offered him a contract in 1955. He hit the ground running once he reached the NFL, rushing for 1,328 yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons en route to a pair of All-Pro selections. He won a championship with NY in 1956 and spent the rest of his career there.

Webster primarily served as a fullback during his playing days, but was still involved in the receiving game, tallying 240 catches and 2,649 receiving yards across his decade-long Giant tenure. Even after he retired, his roots with the Giants continued to run strong. He was NY's head coach from 1969-1973.

6. Rodney Hampton

Rodney Hampton was taken with the Giants' first-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, and he lived up to his hefty expectations. He won a Super Bowl in his rookie year and became the starter from his second year on. Hampton recorded five consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons from 1991-1995, earning two Pro Bowl selections and scoring 45 total touchdowns.

The Texas native was durable and extremely effective on the ground, spending his whole career with the Giants. He retired as NY's all-time leading rusher (6,897 yards) until his record was broken the following decade. While he was never the best player at his position, Hampton provided steady production for some middling Giants teams in the 1990s.

5. Saquon Barkley

The Penn State graduate had high expectations the second he was drafted No. 2 overall by the Giants in 2018. He quickly became a revered figure in NY, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage in Year 1. Although his tenure was marred by injuries, Barkley proved he had the talent to become a superstar.

While his bitter exit to Philadelphia is still fresh in our minds, there is no denying how electric Barkley is as a player. He tallied three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and two Pro Bowls. In addition, Barkley was a prolific receiver at his position. He departed with the franchise's fourth-most all-time rushing yards (5,211) and needed only 74 games to do so.

4. Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Jacobs might not have the most eye-popping stats on this list, but he was a force to be reckoned with during his tenure in East Rutherford. He played a crucial role on two Super Bowl-winning Giants teams, totaling four touchdowns in the 2007 playoffs.

Watching Jacobs play was a treat for NY fans. He had the prototypical build of a defensive end or tight end — still, the 264-pound tailback could easily run over opposing defenders with his size. His 2008 campaign stands out the most, as he ran for career highs in rushing yards (1,089) and touchdowns (15). Jacobs spent the first seven years of his career with the Giants, later returning to retire with the team after a brief stint with the 49ers.

3. Joe Morris

Joe Morris is one of the most thrilling offensive weapons to ever step foot in MetLife Stadium. The 5-7 running back made up for his lack of size with his elusiveness and ability to slice through gaps. By his fourth year, he was NY's full-time starter and immediately transformed into a star.

He was the leading rusher on the 1986 Giants team that breezed all the way to a Super Bowl victory. That season, Morris recorded a career-high 1,516 rushing yards and finished fourth in MVP voting. He led the NFL with 21 scores on the ground one year prior and continued to produce until a foot injury slowly derailed his performance. The Syracuse standout was out of the league from 1989-1991 before spending one year with the Browns. He subsequently retired from the NFL.

2. Frank Gifford

Frank Gifford was an easy choice to make this list, and he has a serious argument to make the No. 1 spot. He is the only Giants running back to win an MVP award, which he did in 1956. Furthermore, he made eight Pro Bowl teams and was selected to four All-Pro teams. During his Big Blue tenure from 1952-1964, the team made five NFL Championship appearances and won one of them.

The majority of Gifford's production came in the backfield, but he was a jack of all trades. He played both ways as a safety on defense and running back/wide receiver on offense. The Pro Football Hall of Famer even threw 14 touchdowns, returned 48 kicks, and connected on 10 extra point attempts in his career.

Gifford is ninth on NY's all-time rushing list and third on the all-time receiving list. He was a perfect representation of Giants football. However, there is one more running back for the G-Men that tops the rest.

1. Tiki Barber

Some other spots on this list could be disputed, but there is no doubt that Tiki Barber is the greatest running back in Giants' history. His accolades are endless — three-time Pro Bowler, one-time First-Team All-Pro, and a stretch of five consecutive 1,000+ yard rushing seasons.

Barber's success was not limited to what he could do as a ball-carrier. He is second all-time on NY's receptions list and is among the best pass-catching backs in NFL history. He was a versatile star who made things happen whenever he had the ball in his hands.

His 10,449 rushing yards make him the franchise's all-time leading rusher by a landslide. If he had not retired during the prime of his career, he could have had thousands of more yards. Without question, Barber is the best player to ever line up in the backfield for NY.