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How many running backs have rushed for 2000 yards in a single season?

Author

Sarah Cherry

Published Feb 15, 2026

How many running backs have rushed for 2000 yards in a single season?

Seven different
Seven different running backs have rushed for 2,000 yards in a season.

Which national football player was the first to rush for 2000 yards in a single season?

OJ Simpson
On December 16, 1973, the Buffalo Bills running back Orenthal James “OJ” Simpson becomes the first player in the National Football League (NFL) to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a single season.

Who has the most rushing yards in a single season?

Eric Dickerson
Rushing Yards: 2,105 — Eric Dickerson (1984) Eric Dickerson set the NFL’s single-season rushing record with the Los Angeles Rams in 1984, running for 2,105 yards.

Did Emmitt Smith ever rush for 2000 yards?

Emmitt rushed for over 100 yards in 45 of the 49 games he started for Escambia (including the last 28 in a row) and finished with a 7.8 yards per carry average. Twice, he broke the 2,000-yard rushing mark in a season.

How many colleges are 2000 yard rushers?

Since 1956, 26 FBS running backs have rushed for at least 2,000 yards in a season.

What year did Adrian Peterson rush for 2000 yards?

2012
Minnesota Vikings back Adrian Peterson is the second most recent player to have surpassed 2,000 yards rushing, having finished the 2012 season with 2,097 yards rushing, just 8 yards short of Dickerson’s record….Key.

SymbolMeaning
N/ENot yet eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Who ran for 2000 yards in the NFL?

2,000-yard rushers

No.SeasonPlayer
11973O. J. Simpson
21984Eric Dickerson
31997Barry Sanders
41998Terrell Davis

When did Chris Johnson rush 2000 yards?

2. Chris Johnson (2,006 Rushing Yards, 14 Touchdowns) Chris Johnson’s 2009 season was one of the most amazing ever.

Has any receiver had a 2000 yard season?

No player has ever finished with over 2,000 receiving yards in a season; the current record is 1,964 yards, set by Calvin Johnson during the 2012 season. A Green Bay Packers player has led the league in receiving yards eleven times, the most in the NFL; the Los Angeles/St.

What year did Chris Johnson rush for 2000 yards?

2009
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson ran for 2,006 yards in 2009, averaging 5.6 yards per carry, and also recorded an NFL-record 2,509 yards from scrimmage….Key.

SymbolMeaning
No.Number of the player, ranked by the time he surpassed 2,000 rushing yards
GamesGames in the season
Att.Total rushing attempts

How many 2000 yard rushers have there been in the NFL?

NFL: Ranking the 6 2,000-Yard Rushers. Perhaps the hardest feat to accomplish in sports is rushing for 2,000 yards. So far in NFL history only six players achieved this: Jamal Lewis, Chris Johnson, Barry Sanders, Terrell Davis, O.J. Simpson and Eric Dickerson.

What is the most rushing yards by a quarterback in a season?

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson owns the NFL’s all-time record for rushing yards in a season by a quarterback, with 1,206 rushing yards in 2019.