List of NFL annual rushing yards leaders

In American football, rushing and passing are the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field.

Eric Dickerson, Emmitt Smith, O. J. Simpson, Steve Van Buren, and Barry Sanders are tied for the second-most rushing titles, each having won four times.

Steve Van Buren, Emmitt Smith, and Earl Campbell each recorded three consecutive rushing titles.

Derrick Henry is the most recent player to win back-to-back titles.

[6] In 2022, the NFL announced, "To permanently honor the impact of Jim Brown in the NFL, the player with the most rushing yards each season will be presented with the "Jim Brown Award".

Jim Brown, wearing a jacket, poses for a picture.
Jim Brown led the league in rushing for eight seasons, including five consecutive seasons from 1957 to 1961 and three consecutive seasons from 1963 to 1965
Byron White, in his Supreme Court attire, poses for a headshot.
Byron "Whizzer" White , a future associate justice of the US Supreme Court , won the league rushing title in 1938 and 1940
Gale Sayers poses for a picture while holding a trophy.
Gale Sayers led the NFL in rushing in 1966 and 1969
Eric Dickerson running with the ball in a football game.
Eric Dickerson led the league in rushing in 1983 and 1984, his first two seasons in the league, and won two more titles in 1986 and 1988
Emmitt Smith is sitting down and talking.
Emmitt Smith was the league's rushing champion four times, including three consecutive years from 1991 to 1993
In team warmups and in full Chargers uniform, LaDainian Tomlinson runs with the ball.
LaDainian Tomlinson won back-to-back rushing titles in 2006 and 2007
Adrian Peterson wearing his Vikings football uniform, but no helmet.
Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing three times in the 2008, 2012, and 2015 seasons
Derrick Henry wearing his Titans football uniform, but no helmet, on the sidelines.
Derrick Henry won back-to-back rushing titles in 2019 and 2020 , and is the most recent player to do so