The Best Fullbacks of All Time: An All-Time Superstar Lineup

Full backs, also known as running backs, have been an integral part of the NFL since its inception. As an offensive position, they are responsible for carrying the ball, blocking, and pass-catching duties. The best fullbacks of all time have been a key component in thir team’s success and have revolutionized the way teams use the position.

Larry Csonka is widely considered to be one of the greatest fullbacks to ever play in the NFL. He was a standout performer for both his college team, Syracuse University, and his professional team, the Miami Dolphins. He was a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for both the 1970s and 1980s. Csonka was known for his hard-nosed running style which helped him rush for over 10,000 yards durig his career.

Another great fullback from that era is Mike Alstott. Alstott earned six Pro Bowl selections during his 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and he was selected to two All-Pro teams as well. Alstott was known as “The A-Train” due to his ability to bulldoze through opposing defenses with ease. His most memorable moment came when he scored a Super Bowl touchdown on a memorable catch late in Super Bowl XXXVII aginst Oakland Raiders in 2003.

Bronko Nagurski is considered one of football’s firt superstars, regardless of position. The Canadian born American Football player played fullback professionally from 1930 to 1937 with Chicago Bears and had legendary strength and size that made him nearly impossible to stop when he had the ball in his hands. His most famous run came during a game against Green Bay Packers in 1934 when he ran nearly 100 yards for a touchdown despite being swarmed by defenders who were unable to bring him down.

Jim Taylor was another superb fullback who played from 1958–1967 for Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints teams. Taylor earned four Pro Bowl selections duing his career along with several All-Pro honors as well as being named MVP of 1962 NFL Championship Game after rushing for 85 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries against New York Giants defense that featured Hall Of Famers Sam Huff and Andy Robustelli among others. Taylor was also a key member of Vince Lombardi’s legendary Packers teams that won five NFL championships between 1961–1967 as well as winning Super Bowl I in 1967.

Jim Brown is widely considered one of football’s greatest players regardless of position but he still deserves recognition as one of best fullbacks ever too thanks to nine Pro Bowl selections over nine seasons with Cleveland Browns between 1957–1965 where he rushed 12 thousand yards while averaging 5 yards per carry throughout his career which is still an impressive figure even today! Brown also led league in rushing eiht times during that span which included three consecutive years (1958–60) where he set record for most rushing touchdowns per season (17).

Finally, Marion Motley deserves mentioning too thaks to nine AFL/NFL All-Star Game appearances over ten years with Cleveland Browns from 1946–1955 where his hard-running style helped him lead league rushing five times while earning four Pro Bowl selections along way too!

In conclusion it can be said that there have been many great fullbacks throughout history but some stand out above rest such as Larry Csonka, Mike Alstott, Bronko Nagurski , Jim Taylor , Jim Brown ,and Marion Motley who all revolutionized how teams used fullback position thaks their unique skillsets!

The Greatest Fullback of All Time

Larry Csonka is widely recognized as the greatest fullback of all time. A two-time Super Bowl champion, five-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro, Csonka was selected to the NFL’s 75th anniversary all-time team in 1994. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

Csonka was renowned for his punishing running style, which saw him break tackles and grind out extra yards with ease. He was also an excellent blocker, helping pave the way for other great fullbacks such as Mike Alstott and Jim Taylor. He had six straight 1000+ yard seasons from 1971 to 1976, one of only six players in NFL history to achieve this feat.

Csonka’s place in NFL history is secure and he will forever be considered one of the greatest fullbacks of all time.

best full backs of all time
Source: sportdfw.com

The Greatest Running Back of All Time

The debate over who the best right-back of all time is highly contested and subjective. However, there is one player whose name continuously pops up in almot every conversation: Cafu.

Cafu, or Marcos Evangelista de Moraes, was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil in 1970. He began his career with local side Uniao São João before signing with Serie A side Roma in 1993. Cafu went on to becme one of the most successful defenders in Europe, winning five Serie A titles and two UEFA cups with Roma and two Champions League titles with AC Milan during a career that spanned from 1993 to 2008.

Cafu was known for his incredible durability, speed and skill on the ball. He was also an excellent crosser of the ball which helped him register a total of 67 assists throughout his career – a record for a defender. He was also renowned for his leadership skills and commitment to the team, qualities which saw him captain Brazil to the 2002 World Cup title – their first ever since 1970.

Cafu is widely considered to be one of the greatest defenders of all time and he has been included in FIFA’s list of 125 greatest living players as well as beig inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame. It is this level of recognition that makes Cafu undoubtedly the best right-back ever to have graced a football pitch.

The Fullback with the Most Receiving Yards

The fullback with the most receiving yards is Larry Centers, who played for four NFL teams from 1990 to 2003. Centers accumulated a total of 6,797 receiving yards over his career, wich is the highest among all fullbacks. He was a reliable target for quarterbacks during his time in the league, averaging 38.3 receptions and 431.3 receiving yards per season. Centers also made five Pro Bowls and was selected to two All-Pro teams during his career.

The Best Fullback in the NFL

The best fullback in the NFL is Alec Ingold of the Las Vegas Raiders. Ingold has been a standout performer since his rookie season in 2019, earning Pro Bowl honors in 2020 as well as being named a first-team All-Pro. He is an exceptional athlete and possesses a rare combination of size and speed that makes him capable of making plays both as a runner and receiver. As a blocker, he excels at taking on defenders one-on-one while also executing lead blocks for his running backs. His versatility makes him the perfect complement to the Raiders’ run game and his ability to play multiple positions makes him invaluable to the team’s offense. With Ingold on thir side, teams know they have to plan for the dynamic fullback whenever they play the Raiders.

Conclusion

Fullbacks are an important, yet often overlooked, part of a successful football team. While their roles may have changed over time, they are stll an integral part of the offense, providing blocking for the running back and being a safety valve for the quarterback in passing situations. From Bronko Nagurski to Alec Ingold, some of the greatest players in NFL history have been fullbacks who were able to use their size and strength to dominate on both sides of the ball. With so many different options available today, it is clear that fullbacks are here to stay and will continue to be an essential part of any successful football team.

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William Armstrong

William Armstrong is a senior editor with H-O-M-E.org, where he writes on a wide variety of topics. He has also worked as a radio reporter and holds a degree from Moody College of Communication. William was born in Denton, TX and currently resides in Austin.