History of NFL’s Single Season Rushing Yardage Record Timeline

1970:
Larry Brown Washington Redskins 1125, 14 game season, First season of AFL-NFL merger

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1971:
Floyd Little Denver Broncos 1133

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1972:
O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1251

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1973:
O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 2003First 2,000-yard NFL season; NFL record 143.1 yards per game

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1974:
Otis Armstrong Denver Broncos 1407

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1975: O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1817

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1976:
O. J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1503

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1977:
Walter Payton Chicago Bears 1852

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1978:
Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1450, 15 games played, (first 15 game season) Rookie season; First NFL season with,regular-season games

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1979:
Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1697

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1980:
Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1934

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1981:
George Rogers New Orleans Saints 1674, Rookie season

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1982:
Freeman McNeil New York Jets 786, 9 games played* *Strike-shortened season

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1983:
Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 1808, Rookie season

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1984: Eric Dickerson, RB for the Rams, beats O.J. Simpson’s 1973 mark of 2,003 with his own yardage mark of 2,105 (379 rushes, 5.6 yards per carry average, 14 touchdowns, 21 receptions for 139)That same year, Dan Marino had 5,084 yards passing, Roy Green had 1,555 yards receiving, and Mark Gastineau had 22 sacks.

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1985:
Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders 1759

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1986:
Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 1821, Only rushing champion with 400+ carries (404)

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1987:
Charles White Los Angeles Rams 1374, 15 games played,* *Strike-shortened season; White’s only season with more than 350 yards rushing[11]

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1988:
Eric Dickerson Indianapolis Colts 1659,

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1989:
Christian Okoye Kansas City Chiefs 1480, 15 games played

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1990:
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1304

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1991:
Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1563

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1992:
Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys[12] 1713,First Rushing Champion to win Super Bowl

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1993:
Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys[13] 1486, 14 game played after missing first two games over contract dispute

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1994:
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1883

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1995:
Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys[14] 1773

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1996:
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1553

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1997:
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 2053, Highest rushing total of the 1990s

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1998:
Terrell Davis Denver Broncos[15] 2008, Second consecutive season with 2,000-yard rusher.

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1999:
Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1553, Rookie season

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2000:
Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1709

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2001:
Priest Holmes Kansas City Chiefs 1555

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2002:
Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins 1853

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2003:
Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens 2066, Highest rushing total of the 2000s.

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2004:
Curtis Martin New York Jets 1697, Only rushing champion to win after 30th birthday (31)

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strong>2005:
Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks 1880

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2006:
LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1815, Also set record for rush TDs (28)2006: LaDainian Tomlinson has one of the best statistical seasons for a running back ever, 1815 yards rushing (5.2 yards per carry) with 28 rushing touchdowns, and 508 receiving yards with 3 receiving touchdowns.  That’s 2,323 yards!  (16 game season)

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2008:
Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1760, NFC’s last rushing champion

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2009:
Chris Johnson Tennessee Titans 2006,Also set NFL record for yards from scrimmage (2,509)

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2010:
Arian Foster Houston Texans 1616, Texans’ first rushing champion

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2011:
Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville Jaguars 1606, Jaguars’ first rushing champion
2012: Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings finishes with 2097, only 9 yards short of record.  (348 attempts for a 6.0 yards per carry average,  12 touchdowns with 40 receptions for 217 yards, no receiving touchdowns).  Peterson amassed 2,314 all-purpose yards from scrimmage, tying Marcus Allen for the eighth-highest total ever.