This is a list of National Football League running backs by total career rushing yards, and includes the 32 running backs who have rushed for at least 10,000 yards, for which sixteen of them have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Through end of 2023 playoffs[1] Seven players have been recognized as having held the career rushing yards record in the NFL.
Since reliable yardage statistics were not recorded prior to 1932, the first NFL player recognized as the career leader in rushing yards was Cliff Battles, who played from 1932 to 1937 for the Boston Braves / Boston Redskins / Washington Redskins.
[2] He led the NFL with 576 yards in 1932 and held on to the record throughout his career.
Emmitt Smith has held the record since surpassing Walter Payton's long-standing total in 2002.