List of NFL career all-purpose yards leaders explained

This is a list of National Football League players with a career total of over 15,000 all-purpose yards.[1] [2]

Players listed in bold currently active.

List

RankPlayerPosition(s)
regularly
played
Seasons
by team
Total
all-purpose
yards
gained
Total
rushing
yards
gained
Total
receiving
yards
gained
Total
interception
return
yards
gained
Total
punt
return
yards
gained
Total
kickoff
return
yards
gained
Total
recovered
fumble
return
yards
gained
Year of
induction into
Pro Football
Hall of Fame
1Jerry RiceWide receiverSan Francisco 49ers (1985 - 2000)
Oakland Raiders (2001 - 2004)
Seattle Seahawks (2004)
23,54664522,89500602010
2Brian MitchellRunning back
Punt returner
Kick returner
Washington Redskins (1990 - 1999)
Philadelphia Eagles (2000 - 2002)
New York Giants (2003)
23,3301,9672,33604,99914,01414None
3Walter PaytonRunning backChicago Bears (1975 - 1987)21,80316,7264,5380053901993
4Emmitt SmithRunning backDallas Cowboys (1990 - 2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003 - 2004)
21,56418,3553,224000(15)2010
5Frank GoreRunning backSan Francisco 49ers (20052014)
Indianapolis Colts (20152017)
Miami Dolphins (2018)
Buffalo Bills (2019)
New York Jets (2020)
19,99216,0003,9850007Eligible in 2026
6Darren SprolesRunning back
Punt returner
Kick returner
San Diego Chargers (2005 - 2010)
New Orleans Saints (2011 - 2013)
Philadelphia Eagles (20142019)
19,6963,5524,84002,9618,352(9)Eligible in 2025
7Tim BrownWide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
L.A./Oakland Raiders (1988 - 2003)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004)
19,68219014,93403,3201,23532015
8Marshall FaulkRunning backIndianapolis Colts (1994 - 1998)
St. Louis Rams (1999 - 2005)
19,19012,2796,8750018182011
9Steve Smith Sr.Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Carolina Panthers (2001 - 2013)
Baltimore Ravens (2014 - 2016)
19,18038714,73101,6842,3717None
10LaDainian TomlinsonRunning backSan Diego Chargers (2001 - 2009)
New York Jets (2010 - 2011)
18,45613,6844,77200002017
11Barry SandersRunning backDetroit Lions (1989 - 1998)18,30815,2692,9210011802004
12Herschel WalkerRunning back
Kick returner
Dallas Cowboys (1986 - 1989, 1996 - 1997)
Minnesota Vikings (1989 - 1991)
Philadelphia Eagles (1992 - 1994)
New York Giants (1995)
18,1688,2254,859005,0840None
13Adrian PetersonRunning backMinnesota Vikings (2007 - 2016)
New Orleans Saints (2017)
Arizona Cardinals (2017)
Washington Redskins (2018 - 2019)
Detroit Lions (2020)
Tennessee Titans (2021)
Seattle Seahawks (2021)
17,80814,9182,47400428(12)Eligible in 2027
14Marcus AllenRunning backLos Angeles Raiders (1982 - 1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993 - 1997)
17,64812,2435,411000(6)2003
15Larry FitzgeraldWide receiverArizona Cardinals (2004 - 2020)17,5606817,4920000Eligible in 2026
16Curtis MartinRunning backNew England Patriots (1995 - 1997)
New York Jets (1998 - 2005)
17,42114,1013,329000(9)2012
17Tiki BarberRunning backNew York Giants (1997 - 2006)17,35910,4495,18301,1815442None
18Eric MetcalfRunning back
Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Cleveland Browns (1989 - 1994)
Atlanta Falcons (1995 - 1996)
San Diego Chargers (1997)
Arizona Cardinals (1998)
Carolina Panthers (1999)
Washington Redskins (2001)
Green Bay Packers (2002)
17,2302,3925,57203,4535,8130None
19Derrick MasonWide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1997 - 2004)
Baltimore Ravens (2005 - 2010)
New York Jets (2011)
Houston Texans (2011)
17,150312,06101,5903,4960None
20Wes WelkerWide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
San Diego Chargers (2004)
Miami Dolphins (2004 - 2006)
New England Patriots (2007 - 2012)
Denver Broncos (2013 - 2014)
St. Louis Rams (2015)
16,7971519,92402,5844,1380None
21Thurman ThomasRunning backBuffalo Bills (1988 - 1999)
Miami Dolphins (2000)
16,53212,0744,45800002007
22Tony DorsettRunning backDallas Cowboys (1977 - 1987)
Denver Broncos (1988)
16,32612,7393,554000331994
23Terrell OwensWide receiverSan Francisco 49ers (1996 - 2003)
Philadelphia Eagles (2004 - 2005)
Dallas Cowboys (2006 - 2008)
Buffalo Bills (2009)
Cincinnati Bengals (2010)
16,27625115,9340078132018
24Ted Ginn Jr.Wide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Miami Dolphins (20072009)
San Francisco 49ers (20102012)
Carolina Panthers (2013, 20152016)
Arizona Cardinals (2014)
New Orleans Saints (20172019)
Chicago Bears (2020)
15,7494865,74202,6246,899(2)Eligible in 2026
25Henry EllardWide receiverLos Angeles Rams (1983 - 1993)
Washington Redskins (1994 - 1998)
New England Patriots (1998)
15,7185013,77701,5273640None
26Warrick DunnRunning backTampa Bay Buccaneers (1997 - 2001, 2008)
Atlanta Falcons (2002 - 2007)
15,66510,9674,3390483101None
27Randy MossWide receiverMinnesota Vikings (1998 - 2004, 2010)
Oakland Raiders (2005 - 2006)
New England Patriots (2007 - 2010)
Tennessee Titans (2010)
San Francisco 49ers (2012)
15,64415915,292016233(2)2018
28Edgerrin JamesRunning backIndianapolis Colts (1999 - 2005)
Arizona Cardinals (2006 - 2008)
Seattle Seahawks (2009)
15,61012,2463,36400002020
29Irving FryarWide receiver
Punt returner
New England Patriots (1984 - 1992)
Miami Dolphins (1993 - 1995)
Philadelphia Eagles (1996 - 1998)
Washington Redskins (1999 - 2000)
15,59424212,78502,0555057None
30Jim BrownRunning backCleveland Browns (1957 - 1965)15,45912,3122,4990064801971
31Josh CribbsWide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Cleveland Browns (2005 - 2012)
Oakland Raiders (2013)
New York Jets (2013)
Indianapolis Colts
15,4538081,17502,37511,113(18)None
32Eric DickersonRunning backLos Angeles Rams (1983 - 1987)
Indianapolis Colts (1987 - 1991)
Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
Atlanta Falcons (1993)
15,41113,2592,137000151999
33Isaac BruceWide receiverL.A./St. Louis Rams (1994 - 2007)
San Francisco 49ers (2008 - 2009)
15,39913915,208052002020
34Antonio BrownWide receiver
Punt returner
Kick returner
Pittsburgh Steelers (20102018)
New England Patriots (2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (20202021)
15,35312812,29101,7611,1730Eligible in 2027
35Steven JacksonRunning backSt. Louis Rams (2004 - 2012)
Atlanta Falcons (2013 - 2014)
New England Patriots (2015)
15,19111,4383,6830079(9)None
36Tony GonzalezTight endKansas City Chiefs (1997 - 2008)
Atlanta Falcons (20092013)
15,1411415,12700002019
37Jerome BettisRunning backL.A./St. Louis Rams (1993 - 1995)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1996 - 2005)
15,11313,6621,44900022015
38Allen RossumCornerback
Punt returner
Kick returner
Philadelphia Eagles (–)
Green Bay Packers (–)
Atlanta Falcons (–)
Pittsburgh Steelers
San Francisco 49ers (–)
Dallas Cowboys
15,046174223,05611,9470None
39LeSean McCoyRunning backPhiladelphia Eagles (20092014)
Buffalo Bills (20152018)
Kansas City Chiefs (2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020)
15,00111,1023,8980001Eligible in 2026

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NFL All-Purpose Yards Career Leaders (since 1945) . Pro-Football-Reference.com . 17 January 2023 . en.
  2. Web site: Most All Purpose Yards Player NFL History . StatMuse . 17 January 2023 . en.