The Best Old-Age Running Back Ever

The other day I was watching the 1982 Redskins/Cowboys playoff game. This got me thinking about one of my favorite topics: great "old" athletes. 


John Riggins: 

During a period of time starting with the 1982 playoffs and until the end of the 1984 regular season John Riggins did this:

36 games
925 carries (That's 25.7 carries/game!)
3502 yards (97.3 yards/game)
3.8 ypc
48 Touchdowns!

He did this from the ages of 33-35. It's well known that 30 is the "use-by date" for most NFL Running Backs. What Riggins did during this period is truly mind-boggling.

In 8 playoff games alone, ages 33-35: 244 carries 966 yards 12 Touchdowns

Then as a 36 year old he was well on his way to another 1000yd season when Gibbs started to play the much younger George Rogers (who did reward Gibbs with great play). Through 8 games Riggins was at 553 yards at 4.3 ypc and 6 TDs.

Certainly was a different time back then.  Running Backs were the pride of the league in the 70's and 80's cuz the offenses were so run dominant.  That was the key to winning: strong defense and ball control running game.  Passing was looked upon as gimmicky and undependable.  Although the west coast offense began to change that and then came the rule changes to favor passing.  

Running backs are dispensable now and some teams won't even draft one in the 1st round anymore.  Not that they aren't important, but they're so easily injured that it is a risky investment.  The passing game is more important now, so tight ends are even more heavily sought after over RBs.

I can't think of any running backs that were better in their 30s than 20s, but Adrian Petersen stuck around awhile in his 30s.  Most running backs are done after three years.  And the average lifespan of an NFL player used to be 55, but it's probably quite higher now.  If you play football for any good length of time like 2 years, your chances of getting injured are 100%.  And your chances of a major injury that will have lifelong care are 50% (back injuries, knee ligaments).

Barry Sanders retired at 30.  He could have kept going.  Incompetent management by the Detroit Lions killed his drive.

eatbugs wrote:Barry Sanders retired at 30.  He could have kept going.  Incompetent management by the Detroit Lions killed his drive.

I still haven't gotten over this atrocity!!

scottmitchell74 wrote:

eatbugs wrote:Barry Sanders retired at 30.  He could have kept going.  Incompetent management by the Detroit Lions killed his drive.

I still haven't gotten over this atrocity!!

I did cuz I'm a Bears fan.  

They became an auto-win for 20 years after that gift.

I wasn't there to watch but, everything I've ever heard, including
from my dad, was that Jim Brown was the best there ever was or
will be...you can still find that sentiment all over the place today.

As to those I watched I would probably go with Sweetness...

Makes me think of my favorite run ever, by Earl Campbell:
https://twitter.com/NFLLegacy/status/1111810742854914048