Running backs… the workhorses of the gridiron, the guys who take the rock, hit the gaps, and churn out yardage. For decades, teams have leaned on elite backs to set the tone and carry their offense.
And while they had a slight downturn in recent years, we are starting to see once again the difference that game-breaking back can make for an organization that uses him correctly.
There have, however, been quite a few running backs over the years that haven’t exactly lived up to the billing.
Let’s take a look back down memory lane at the WORST running back in every NFL team’s history.
Who are the worst running backs for each team in history?
Arizona Cardinals: Ryan Williams
GLENDALE, AZ – AUGUST 17: Running back Ryan Williams #34 of the Arizona Cardinals rushes the football against the Oakland Raiders during the NFL preseason game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 17, 2012 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
The man nicknamed “Lil Sweetness” as a nod to Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton coming out of college couldn’t have been further from the target once he got to the pros.
Big things were expected out of the Virginia Tech running back, but a ruptured patella tendon put him on the shelf for his entire rookie season in the desert.
When he finally took the field in 2012, Williams managed just 154 yards on 58 carries, but he didn’t see the field the following two years before being released by the Cardinals in 2014.
Atlanta Falcons: Tony Smith
18 OCT 1992: ATLANTA FALCONS RUNNING BACK TONY SMITH #28 CARRIES THE FOOTBALL DURING THE FALCONS 56-17 LOSS TO THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT CANDLESTICK PARK IN SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
When you spend the No. 19 overall pick on a running back, you’re expecting more than 329 rushing yards in their first year, let alone in an entire career.
Smith was supposed to be the weapon Atlanta needed, but his inability to produce left him categorized as a dud, not a difference-maker. Three years in the league, three total touchdowns, and the Falcons were left with nothing but regret.
And to make this all the more painful for Atlanta—this came after he held out to sign a $2.5 million contract, which was the richest in team history at the time for a rookie. Tough.
Baltimore Ravens: Bam Morris
23 Nov 1997: Running back Bam Morris of the Baltimore Ravens carries the football during the Ravens 16-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
Morris showed flashes of talent, but his stint with the Ravens was a hot mess. After just one season with the team in 1998, his off-field troubles — including drug-related arrests — overshadowed everything. His production in Baltimore was far from worth the headaches that he brought with his conduct off the field and his attitude in the locker room.
Buffalo Bills: Shaud Williams
CINCINNATI – DECEMBER 19: Shaud Williams #40 of the Buffalo Bills carries the ball during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on December 19, 2004 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Bills defeated the Bengals 33-17. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Buffalo gave him ample opportunity in the mid-2000s to prove himself as an undrafted free agent, but he really struggled to differentiate himself from the herd in a positive way.
Between ‘04 and ‘07, he averaged a forgettable 3.7 yards per carry.
His 330 rushing yards over four seasons left Bills fans asking, “Why are we still handing this dude the ball?” By that point, it was clear they shouldn’t have been, but sometimes it just takes teams a minute to accept that!
Carolina Panthers: Eric Shelton
Carolina Panthers running back Eric Shelton takes a handoff from quarterback Jake Delhomme against the Washington Redskins Nov. 26, 2006 at FedEx Field in Washington. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
A second-round pick who barely lasted two seasons after racking up a pathetic eight rushing attempts and 23 yards… Yeah, that’s Shelton’s claim to fame—if you dare to call it that.
He was never even able to get a start for the Panthers… A far cry from what they were expecting out of him as a second-round pick running back out of Louisville.
Hate to pour salt on the wound for Shelton… But have to say, it’s hard to fumble a career this badly, but Shelton somehow managed it.
Chicago Bears: Curtis Enis
8 Nov 1998: Running back Curtis Enis #39 of the Chicago Bears in action during a game against the St. Louis Rams at the Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Rams defeated the Bears 20-12. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport
The Bears thought they had their next franchise back when they selected Enis fifth overall in 1998 out of Penn State. After all, he had posted back-to-back 1200+ yard, double-digit touchdown seasons.
Instead, they got a walking disappointment. Injuries, poor conditioning, and a complete lack of explosiveness doomed his career from the jump.
In three underwhelming seasons, he barely scraped together 1,500 rushing yards and scored just four touchdowns. For a top-five pick, that’s about as painful as it gets. I mean, the Bears literally moved him to fullback at a certain point!
Bears fans have spent decades trying to forget Enis, but the letdown still lingers.
Cincinnati Bengals: Ki-Jana Carter
8 Sep 1996: Running back Ki-Jana Carter of the Cincinnati Bengals in action on the field as he looks back to the sideline to receive signals from coaches during the Bengals 27-14 loss to the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium in San Diego, Californ
If there’s one thing you don’t want to do as a No. 1 overall pick, it’s blow out your knee on your third carry in the NFL. But that’s exactly what Carter did in 1995. He never recovered, and his Bengals career sputtered to a sad 747 total yards. The ultimate “what could’ve been,” yes… but still—considering how much the Bengals had to invest in him and how little he ultimately contributed, it is hard to view him as anything besides the worst running back in franchise history.
Also Read: 10 NFL Players With The Most INSANE Beliefs That Will Shock You
Cleveland Browns: Terrance West
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 14: Running back Terrance West #28 of the Cleveland Browns scores a touchdown as he runs between free safety Jairus Byrd #31 and outside linebacker Junior Galette #93 of the New Orleans Saints during the second half at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 14, 2014 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
West was supposed to help rebuild the Browns run game in 2014. Instead, he gave them headaches. His rookie year was decent, but he developed a whole lot of attitude with his extremely modest success that rubbed his coaches the wrong way.
He showed up to camp the following year well overwaited, found his way back into the doghouse, and was let go before the end of the preseason.
For a guy who thought he was the man, West turned out to be very, very replaceable.
Dallas Cowboys: Sherman Williams
10 Nov 1996: Running back Sherman Williams of the Dallas Cowboys tries to break the tackle of linebacker Gary Plummer of the San Francisco 49ers during a game at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. The Cowboys won the game 20 – 17 in overtime. Manda
When you’re a backup to Emmitt Smith, opportunities are rare, but Williams made sure to do nothing with them. Over four seasons, he averaged a whopping 3.4 yards per carry. He finished his Cowboys career, which spanned from 1995 to 1999, with 1,162 yards and just four touchdowns, and then flamed out of the league.
And while you might think that expectations should’ve been low, don’t forget he was a second-round pick out of Alabama. Dallas had big plans for him to share the load with Smith—he just couldn’t get up to speed as a pro.
Denver Broncos: Montee Ball
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 5: Running back Montee Ball #28 of the Denver Broncos rushes against the Baltimore Ravens during the game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 5, 2013 in Denver Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Ball was hyped as the next big thing in Denver—and with good reason… Ball was a beast at Wisconsin.
But the second-round pick in 2013 barely cracked 700 yards in two seasons before injuries and ineffective play made him obsolete.
The dude couldn’t pass protect, couldn’t stay healthy, and couldn’t hang in the league. Not exactly a recipe for success.
Detroit Lions: Tatum Bell
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Tatum Bell #28 of the Detroit Lions carries the ball against the Oakland Raiders during the NFL game on September 9, 2007 at McAfee Coliseum in Oakland, California. The Lions won 36-21. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
The Lions were desperate for a reliable running back, and so much so that they turned to Tatum Bell as the answer in 2007. He was a complete flop. After a promising Week 1 performance, his production nosedived hard. Within five weeks, he lost his job to a banged-up Kevin Smith — the Lions were so done with Bell that they’d rather play a guy on one leg than give him another carry.
He finished his Lions career with just 182 yards.
Green Bay Packers: Ty Montgomery
GREEN BAY, WI – AUGUST 29: Ty Montgomery #88 of the Green Bay Packers rushes as Kenjon Barner #34 of the Philadelphia Eagles defends during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 29, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images)
The experiment of turning a wide receiver into a running back was doomed from the start. Montgomery had one big game in 2016, but his lack of vision, fumbling issues, and questionable decision-making… Kind of like trying to use their wide receiver as a running back instead of finding a real one in the draft or on the free-agent market.
Houston Texans: Rex Burkhead
HOUSTON, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 22: Rex Burkhead #34 of the New England Patriots carries the ball following a reception in the third quarter during their game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on November 22, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
Burkhead’s stint with the Texans was the epitome of uninspired. In 2021, he somehow led the team in rushing with a paltry 427 yards — a stat that says more about the Texans’ backfield woes than his talent.
Indianapolis Colts: Trent Richardson
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – SEPTEMBER 22: Trent Richardson #34 of the Indianapolis Colts looks on during warm-ups against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park on September 22, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Two words: colossal bust. The Colts traded a first-round pick for Richardson, and in return, they got a guy who looked like he was running in wet cement. His vision was nonexistent, and his 3.1 yards per carry in Indy made this one of the worst trades in recent memory.
Jacksonville Jaguars: T.J. Yeldon
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – NOVEMBER 11: T.J. Yeldon #24 of the Jacksonville Jaguars runs the ball against Indianapolis Colts in the fourth quarter at Lucas Oil Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
Yeldon was a second-round pick who ran like he was afraid of getting tackled. After a decent rookie year, he disappeared, failing to hit 1,000 yards over his next three seasons combined. The Jags expected a top-level playmaker and were sorely disappointed, to say the least.
Kansas City Chiefs: Greg Hill
10 Nov 1996: Greg Hill #27 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of their game in Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. Mandatory Credit: Jed Jacobsohn/Allsport
A first-round pick in 1994, Hill was supposed to be a dynamic runner for the Chiefs. Instead, he was a living, breathing letdown. Over four seasons, Hill never topped 700 rushing yards in a single year—pitiful considering his workload.
Las Vegas Raiders: Ameer Abdullah
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 27: Nick Bolton #32 of the Kansas City Chiefs tackles Ameer Abdullah #8 of the Las Vegas Raiders in the fourth quarter of a game at Allegiant Stadium on October 27, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Honestly, with the way the Raiders have run the football in 2024, you could just use any one of their backs… but Abduallah has probably been the worst. The running back guy can’t find a lane to save his life, and the production shows it.
Los Angeles Chargers: Barry Redden
By the time former first-round pick Barry Redden landed with the Chargers in 1987, his best days — if you could even call them that — were behind him. Over two seasons in Powder Blue, he managed a pathetic 66 rushing yards.
Los Angeles Rams: Lawrence Phillips
28 Sep 1997: Running back Lawrence Phillips (left) of the St. Louis Rams tries to avoid an arm tackle by defensive back James Trapp #37 of the Oakland Raiders during the Rams 35-17 loss at UMAX Stadium in Oakland, California. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport
Where do we start with Phillips? Off-field issues overshadowed his career, but on the field, he was almost as big of a disaster. Despite being the sixth overall pick in 1996, he managed just 1,265 yards in two years with the Rams before they’d had enough. A colossal bust in every sense.
Miami Dolphins: Kalen Ballage
FOXBOROUGH, MA – SEPTEMBER 30: Kalen Ballage #27 of the Miami Dolphins warms up before the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Ballage had the size and speed to be a solid back, but on the field, he looked lost. His 1.8 yards per carry in 2019 was one of the worst single-season averages in NFL history for a running back with at least 70 carries. He finished his Dolphins career with just 326 rushing yards in two seasons.
Minnesota Vikings: Alexander Mattison
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 20: Alexander Mattison #2 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up before the start of a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 20, 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
After a couple of strong spot starts, the Vikings handed Mattison the starting role in 2023 and expected him to be a reliable replacement for Dalvin Cook. Unfortunately, he couldn’t protect the football and lacked any of the explosiveness he showed as a backup.
New England Patriots: J.R. Redmond
17 Dec 2000: J.R. Redmond #21 of the New England Patriots runs with the ball during the game against the Buffalo Bills at the Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Patriots defeated the Bills 12-10.Mandatory Credit: Rick Stewart /Allsport
When Curtis Martin bolted in free agency, the Patriots were desperate for a steady hand in the backfield. They tried a couple of different guys until they landed on J.R. Redmond, a third-round pick in 2000 who was supposed to provide stability. Instead, he delivered frustration.
New Orleans Saints: Troy Davis
31 Aug 1997: Running back Troy Davis of the New Orleans Saints moves the ball during a game against the St. Louis Rams at the Trans World Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams won the game, 38-24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
After a record-setting college career at Iowa State, the Saints thought they were getting a hidden gem when they drafted Davis in the third round in 1997, but he managed just 446 yards in three years there.
New York Giants: Devin Singletary
LANDOVER, MARYLAND – SEPTEMBER 15: Devin Singletary #26 of the New York Giants runs for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Washington Commanders at Northwest Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The Giants had high hopes for Singletary, but he did not deliver, to the point that he lost the starting job to Tyrone Tracy. And besides, it isn’t so much about what he is… but what he’s not—and that’s Saquon Barkley, who they let walk in favor of Singletary.
New York Jets: Blair Thomas
SAN DIEGO, CA – DECEMBER 2: Running back Blair Thomas #32 of the New York Jets looks on from the sideline during a game against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium on December 2, 1990 in San Diego, California. The San Diego Chargers won 38-17 (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
The Jets’ history of draft busts is legendary, and Blair Thomas might be the poster boy. Taken second overall in 1990, the former running back never rushed for more than 728 yards in a season, and that was more of them spamming him than anything else, as he averaged under 4 yards a carry.
Philadelphia Eagles: Donnel Pumphrey
PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 08: Donnel Pumphrey #35 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up before a preseason game against the Tennessee Titans at Lincoln Financial Field on August 8, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
The all-time NCAA rushing leader came to the Eagles with high hopes, but Pumphrey’s NFL career was a total zero. He never played a regular-season snap and spent his brief stint bouncing between the practice squad and injured reserve.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Preston Pearson
Pearson’s stint as the Steelers running back in the early 1970s was an experiment gone wrong. Across five seasons in Pittsburgh, he averaged a woeful 3.4 yards per carry and never cracked 605 rushing yards in a single year.
It’s shocking he stuck around in town for five years and ended up with a 14-year NFL career.
San Francisco 49ers: Glen Coffee
SAN FRANCISCO – AUGUST 22: Glen Coffee #29 of the San Francisco 49ers runs against the Oakland Raiders during a preseason game on August 22, 2009 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Coffee retired abruptly after just one season in 2009, citing a desire to join the military. During his time as a pro, he looked completely overmatched, averaging just 2.7 yards per carry.
Seattle Seahawks: Christine Michael
FOXBORO, MA – NOVEMBER 13: Christine Michael #32 of the Seattle Seahawks carries the ball during the second quarter of a game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on November 13, 2016 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
Michael was routinely referenced as a guy who should be “next up.” He had all the physical tools, but his lack of discipline and understanding of the playbook doomed him. He bounced on and off the roster, never living up to his second-round pedigree. In four seasons with Seattle, he managed just 915 rushing yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Louis Carter
One of the original members of the 1976 expansion Buccaneers, Louis Carter, was part of a team that redefined losing. While Tampa Bay’s offense was historically bad, Carter did nothing to help the cause. In two seasons, he managed just 521 yards on 182 carries
Tennessee Titans: Bishop Sankey
NASHVILLE, TN – AUGUST 09: Bishop Sankey #20 of the Tennessee Titans runs with the ball in the second half of an NFL preseason game against the Green Bay Packers at LP Field on August 9, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Titans won 20-16. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
The Titans thought they had a gem when they made Sankey one of the first running backs off the board in the 2014 draft. Instead, they got two seasons of underwhelming production. Sankey managed just 762 yards over that span and never looked the part of a starting back and subsequently flamed out of the league.
Washington Commanders: T.J. Duckett
ST. LOUIS – DECEMBER 24: T.J. Duckett #36 of the Washington Redskins carries the ball during the game against the St. Louis Rams on December 24, 2006 at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams defeated the Redskins 37-31. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Duckett’s brief stint in Washington was the definition of pointless. Acquired in a three-team trade in 2006, the former first-round pick was supposed to add power to the Redskins’ backfield, but all he managed was a measly 132 yards.
