Jim Brown dies at 87: Ranking 10 greatest RB seasons in NFL history, with Brown's 1963 campaign near the top

Brown had several epic seasons to choose from

Once upon a time, before quarterbacks ruled the gridiron, running back was hailed as the football's premier position. The league's biggest and brightest stars played the position, players who included the Giants' Frank Gifford, Chicago's Gale Sayers, Cleveland's Jim Brown -- who died Thursday at age 87 -- and Green Bay's Paul Hornung. Those players helped set the stage for future generations of running backs, players who took the position to even greater heights. 

There have been scores of prolific rushing campaigns over the years, from John Riggins' MVP campaign in 1983 to Derrick Henry's 2,000-yard season in 2020. Neither of these seasons, however, managed to crack our list of the top 10 rushing seasons in league history. Neither did Jamal Lewis' monstrous 2003 season that saw him rack up 2,066 rushing yards, then the second-highest total in league history. The fact that these individual efforts were left on the cutting room floor is a testament to the amount of impressive seasons turned in by running backs over the years. Only the best seasons made the cut, and each one is presented in detail below. 

Before we break down the greatest rushing seasons in history, here's the official criteria used when making the list.