Heaviest running backs in NFL history

[Rain Man]

The perceived size of Derrick Henry made me wonder about the largest running backs ever.

When I say 'running backs', I'm talking about guys who were really running backs, not the occasional hungry pig defensive tackle or blocking fullback.

So I went to our friendly pro-football-reference site, and sorted all running backs with 500+ career carries by weight. This uses the PFR weight, so I don't know if it's peak-year weight or last-year weight or rookie weight. It's just weight.

27 running backs with 500+ career carries are listed over 240 pounds, which is a smaller number than I expected. Without further ado, I present them in this thread in ascending order to build suspense.

[Why Not?]

I knew Jacobs was up there. Don’t know he was #1, so to speak. That dude was quite a load.

[Demonpenz]

there is really good highlight package of heyward on youtube. Harry Callus calling the game for pitt

[Demonpenz]

Lots of murmers around KC of brandon jacobs when he played at coffeyville ks. Like the size and speed were unreal

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

In summary, 8 of the 25 heaviest runners played for the Chiefs or Chargers in the 1980s. I find this interesting.

Means & Butts are my favorite Chargers RBs all time, over LT.
At the same time, the Chiefs had Okoye & Word.
All 4 were meant to play RB.

Henry is like having an LB/DE with some burst playing RB. It's not the same.

Ah, the early 90's...

[Wilson8]

Running backs that did not weigh as much as the guys you have listed, but could run players over.
Earl Campbell - 232
Larry Csonka - 237
John Riggins - 230

[chiefzilla1501]

I know fullbacks don't count, but Patrick Ricard at 303 lbs is a mammoth in the backfield.

[UK_Chief]

Can you arrange the shortlist by their combine 40 time?

[Gadzooks]

Can you arrange the shortlist by their combine height measurement?

[Gadzooks]

Can you arrange the shortlist by their combine shoe size?

[Chris Meck]

Originally Posted by Wilson8

Running backs that did not weigh as much as the guys you have listed, but could run players over.
Earl Campbell - 232
Larry Csonka - 237
John Riggins - 230

agreed. Those guys played in an era where a 300 pound lineman was highly unusual.

The 'Hogs' that Riggins ran behind was the first line that was all 300 pounds, if I remember correctly.

So guys like Campbell and Csonka were bigger in comparison to the defensive lines they were running at. Like they were the size of a lot of the defensive ends.

For what it's worth, Derrick Henry reminds me most of Campbell.

[Zhawk]

Awhile back I saw the starting lineups for the ‘69 Orange Bowl. KU vs Penn St and Riggins and Bobby Douglas were both HUGE compared to the linemen back then. Pretty much across the line OL and DL were like 205-210. Riggins and Douglas both weighed more than that.

The height of the linemen weren’t much different than today’s, but wow a LOT more beef on them. So Riggins WAS a beast back then...fast too. Freak.

[2112]

That play where Earl Campbell runs over Isaiah Robertson and Robertson holds onto his jersey and actually tears it off while Campbell keeps running to the goal line was a play I’ll never forget. I’ve still never seen anything like that. Bum Phillips killed him though by using him too much. He was fast too

[2112]

Originally Posted by D2112

That play where Earl Campbell runs over Isaiah Robertson and Robertson holds onto his jersey and actually tears it off while Campbell keeps running to the goal line was a play I’ll never forget. I’ve still never seen anything like that. Bum Phillips killed him though by using him too much. He was fast too

Sorry he just knocked him on his ass lol

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F9y_KZwOq9g

[Beef Supreme]

Craig Heyward had the best nickname. Ironhead.

[Sorce]

Originally Posted by TribalElder

Dontari Poe should have got more carries

You don't want to put your QB at risk for injury.