Ranking the Top 5 Buffalo Bills Running Backs of All Time

Strong points

• OJ Simpson is the Buffalo Bills’ all-time leading running back and still holds several NFL records.
• Thurman Thomas is the Bills’ all-time leading rusher and also had impressive receiving abilities.
• Fred Jackson, Joe Cribbs and LeSean McCoy also had a significant impact in Buffalo.

Founded in 1959, the Buffalo Bills are almost 70 years old. And while it hasn’t all been rosy, it’s hard to deny Buffalo’s status as a highly respected organization.

The Bills have been on a hot streak of late and are best known for their star quarterback Josh Allen, whose emergence as an elite signal-caller has changed the way Buffalo approaches the game.

This is a departure from many previous Bills teams that relied on the run. Even some of the franchise’s most successful quarterbacks had a formidable running back to help balance things out.

Here’s a look at the best running backs in Buffalo Bills history.

1 OJ Simpson

Simpson broke several records during his career

OJ Simpson left behind a very complex legacy that goes far beyond football. In truth, a complete summary of Simpson’s life and his many controversies could be the subject of an article (or book) all on its own. However, when looking at his performances on the field, it is clear that Simpson is one of the greatest running backs of all time.

During his 11 NFL seasons, he was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro selection, all during his nine years in Buffalo.

In 1973, Simpson became the first running back in league history to surpass 2,000 rushing yards in a season, finishing his NFL MVP campaign with 2,003 yards, and remains the only person to do so in 14 games. His 143.1 yards per game that season is a league record and has yet to be seriously tested.

The USC product had blazing speed and could turn a seemingly uneventful play into a 30-yard gain in the blink of an eye. Simpson hit a wall after his athleticism declined, but not before etching his name into the history books.

He ranks second in franchise history in rushing yards and touchdowns with 10,183 and 57, respectively, while averaging 4.7 yards per carry, the most of any qualified Bills running back. On a per-game and per-touchdown basis, Simpson was by far the best running back to ever wear a Bills uniform.

2 Thurman Thomas

Thomas is the Bills’ all-time leading rusher

With Simpson second all-time in rushing touchdowns and yards, it begs the question of who is No. 1 in those categories. That honor goes to Thurman Thomas, who was the star fullback for the 1990s Bills who went to four consecutive Super Bowls.

Thomas was a great back, which is almost a given given his 11,938 rushing yards and 65 touchdowns with Buffalo. But he was more than just a runner and became a vital part of the Bills’ passing attack, as evidenced by his 456 receptions, 4,341 receiving yards and 22 receiving touchdowns with the franchise.

To this day, Thomas is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving yards from scrimmage in four consecutive seasons. He may not have been the best pure runner in the league, but few players could combine receiving and running abilities as well as Thomas.

Thomas made five Pro Bowls and five All-Pro teams with Buffalo and also earned NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors in 1991. A Super Bowl ring is the only thing missing from his legacy, but the same can be said for every Buffalo running back.

3 LeSean McCoy

McCoy joined Buffalo for the final years of his career

LeSean McCoy can boast of being a top-five running back for two different franchises. For most fans, McCoy is best known for his work with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Pitt product’s changeable nature has given defenses a hard time and made him a top-performing back. McCoy led the league in rushing touchdowns in 2011 and in rushing yards and yards from scrimmage in 2013.

He was then traded to Buffalo before the 2015 season as part of head coach Chip Kelly’s efforts to rebuild the roster. McCoy made three Pro Bowls in his four seasons with the Bills and was an offensive leader. He wasn’t able to make cuts and shake defenders like he did in his younger years, but he was still a top-notch back and finished in the top six in rushing yards twice in Buffalo.

Despite a relatively brief stint with the Bills, McCoy ranks sixth in team history in rushing yards with 3,814, and his 4.3 yards per carry is higher than several players on this list.

4 Joe Cribbs

Cribbs’ decision to leave the NFL at its peak came back to haunt him

Joe Cribbs was a truly special back early in his career. Drafted in the second round by the Bills in the 1980 NFL Draft, he got off to a flying start, rushing for 1,185 yards and 11 touchdowns as a rookie. He eventually finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and continued to produce throughout his rookie contract.

Cribbs made three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons, the only exception being the strike-shortened season of 1982. He appeared to be on the verge of greatness and could become the first Bills running back to be inducted into the Hall of Fame since Simpson. But due to a contract dispute in the spring of 1984, he opted to join the USFL and play for the Birmingham Stallions.

The Bills even sued Cribbs in an attempt to keep him on their roster, claiming that his contract prohibited him from making such a move. The court ultimately ruled in Cribbs’ favor and granted him permission to switch leagues.

The USFL folded after one season, leading Cribbs to return to the NFL. He played one more season for the Bills, but took on a more limited role before leaving for San Francisco in 1986. Cribbs ranks fourth in Bills history with 4,445 rushing yards and would likely be in the top three had he never joined the USFL.

5 Fred Jackson

Jackson was an underrated runner in Buffalo

One of the forgotten backs of the 2010s, Fred Jackson made the most of his low volume with the Bills. From sharing the backfield with C.J. Spiller to battling injuries, Jackson didn’t have the luxury of being a back-horse, which hurt his productivity. Zero Pro Bowls and just one 1,000-yard season could make Jackson a tough sell early on.

However, he was a consistent performer throughout his eight years with the team and racked up enough yards to rank among the Bills’ all-time leading rushers. His 5,646 rushing yards and 30 rushing touchdowns both rank third in franchise history among all running backs.

Jackson was primarily a downhill runner who gained ground between the tackles, but he was also an underrated pass catcher and had adequate vision. While no one is pushing for Jackson to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, his consistency and efficiency earn him a spot in the top five on this list.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.