The 10 best running backs in the history of the New England Patriots

The Patriots have a rich history of rostering great running back talent, which fortunately continues to this day. Although many were rarely the flashiest names or put up the most historical performances, their impact was invaluable to the offense's success, especially when the team needed it most.

From big-bodied, tough-to-bring-down players and the smaller yet elusive backs to the dual threats that any quarterback would love, New England has had their fair share of wildly talented guys in the backfield.

In recent years, the position has risen in the ranks of importance for the team, mainly since Tom Brady left four years ago, and is expected to remain the offensive focus under new offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt along with rookie quarterback Drake Maye.

They appear to have found their running back of the here, now, and the future in Rhamondre Stevenson, who earned a contract extension this offseason. But who else has been great out of the backfield for the Patriots throughout history?

Criteria for selection

Besides the obvious consideration of their all-time statistics and accomplishments, other factors, like their importance to the offense's success during their tenure, were treated with importance when ranking the 10 best running backs in Patriots history.

One of the most critical aspects of the ranking is how much the team relied on their performance, especially when reflecting upon its post-season success. But that's far from the defining factor when putting together a list of this nature.

It's important to remember that stats don't tell the whole story, no matter how impressive they might be. A running back's contributions go beyond the stat sheet, which is even more important to consider when ranking players who were part of the team before the dynasty began.

Just because someone didn't win several Super Bowls or lead the league in rushing yards doesn't mean they weren't a valuable member of the team during their tenure.

The 10 best running backs in the history of the New England Patriots

10. Sony Michel

Perhaps one of the more underrated and undervalued running backs in team history, Sony Michel deserves more credit for how he helped the Patriots win during his three years with the team. Although his tenure began and ended a bit chaotically, mostly because Belichick passed on drafting Lamar Jackson, Michel was an integral part of the team's Super Bowl run in 2018.

His most impressive performance came against the Chargers that year, a win that saw Michel record 24 carries for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns. He followed that up with another 100+ yard game against the Chiefs in the AFC Championship, totaling 29 carries for 113 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Michel neared 100 yards in Super Bowl LIII, as well, and added another touchdown to his resume. And by the end of his career in Foxboro in 2021, he recorded 535 carries for 2,292 yards and 14 touchdowns, all of which easily and firmly landed him on the best running backs of all-time list.

9. John Stephens

A first-round draft pick in 1988, John Stephens came to the Patriots at the perfect time. The team needed a replacement for Tony Collins and Craig James, creating a massive opportunity for the Northwestern alum to become the next top running back in New England.

Much like many of his predecessors, Stephens' rookie season was impressive. He totaled 297 carries for 1,168 yards and 4 touchdowns, which earned him the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award and (what would be) his first and only Pro Bowl selection.

Although he never broke the 1,000-yard mark again, he remained consistent over the next two years. But by 1991, other running backs received the bulk of the workload, which remained until Stephens signed with the Packers in 1993.

When his Patriots career ended, Stephens recorded 891 carries for 3,249 yards and 17 touchdowns, plus 100 receptions for 781 yards and a score. He was the rushing leader three years in a row and still holds a top-10 spot on the Patriots' all-time rushing leaders list.

8. Tony Collins

After missing the 1980 season due to a contract dispute and not performing as well upon returning, the Patriots needed a replacement for the once-dominant Sam Cunningham. They appeared to have found him in the second round of the 1981 draft, as Tony Collins went on to lead the backfield to success during his seven seasons in New England.

He started his career with a bang, recording 204 carries for 873 yards and 7 touchdowns as a rookie. Two years later, he became part of the 1,000-yard club, totaling 1,049 yards on 219 carries and ten touchdowns. That performance earned him his one and only Pro Bowl selection, but Collins remained a big part of the offense in the years after.

By the time he served a year-long suspension in 1988, Collins had racked up 1,191 carries for 4,647 yards and 32 touchdowns, plus 261 receptions for 2,356 yards and 12 more scores. His performance throughout his career, including their Super Bowl run in 1985, secured his spot on the Patriots All-1980s Team.

7. LeGarrette Blount

Despite Bill Belichick's knack for finding dual-threat running backs, the arrival of LeGarrette Blount in 2013 dramatically changed how the Patriots used the running game. As a big-bodied, bully ball player, Blount was a force on the ground, and it was not easy for defenders to knock down.

He was dominant out of the backfield during his first year with the team but really came alive during the 2016 season, when he recorded 299 carries for 1,161 yards and a league-high 18 touchdowns. He was the first running back to break 1,000 yards in a season since Stevan Ridley in 2010, and it couldn't have come at a better time, as the Patriots went on to win Super Bowl LI.

Some of his most impressive performances came when the stakes were the highest, as he added 111 carries for 470 yards and 8 touchdowns to his resume. Blount set a standard for bigger running backs in New England, paving the way for guys like Rhamondre Stevenson to thrive in their offense.

During his four years in New England, Blount totaled 677 carries for 2,917 yards and 34 touchdowns, all while helping the team win two Super Bowls in three years. On top of that, he added 19 receptions for 137 yards and a touchdown.

6. Curtis Martin

One of the most consistently impressive running backs on this entire list has to be Curtis Martin, who joined the Patriots as a third-round draft pick in 1995.

He came out swinging as a rookie with 368 carries for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns as Drew Bledsoe's primary backfield target. It earned him the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year and his first Pro Bowl selection. He nearly repeated that performance over the next two years, adding back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons to his NFL career.

He carried that production into the playoffs, too, during the 1996 season, by totaling 49 carries for 267 yards and 5 touchdowns in just three games.

By the time Bill Parcells poached him away from the Patriots when he became the Jets head coach in 1998, Martin recorded 958 carries for 3,799 yards and 32 touchdowns, plus 117 receptions for 890 yards and 5 touchdowns.

5. Corey Dillon

Possibly one of the shortest Patriots tenures on the list, Corey Dillon solidified his spot as one of the best as a part of the team from 2004 to 2006. It was the height of the dynasty era, with two Super Bowl wins already under the Patriots' belt, and Dillon became a big part of the effort to add a third Lombardi in 2004.

He accomplished the best season of his career that season, after already recording six 1,000-yard seasons in his first 7 years in the NFL, adding 345 carries for 1,635 yards and 12 touchdowns to the stat sheet. It's a performance that earned him Comeback Player of the Year votes and his fourth Pro Bowl honors.

Dillon's postseason performances will be fondly remembered. He totaled over 500 yards and 4 touchdowns in 8 games. Although his time in Foxboro was short, his production has been hard to match for all those who have come after him.

4. Jim Nance

As the first great running back since the team's inception in 1960, Jim Nance set the NFL on fire throughout his seven years as a Patriot. He was a dominating player at 6-foot-1 and 235 pounds, setting an early precedent for what the team would utilize out of the backfield early on.

After a decent rookie campaign in 1965, Nance broke free the following season by recording league highs in every category: 299 carries for 1,458 yards and 11 touchdowns, all while averaging 104 yards per game. It earned him the AFL and AP's Player of the Year Awards, as well as his first Pro Bowl and First-Team All-Pro honors.

He nearly replicated that season the following year, adding 1,216 more yards to his resume. And by the time he initially retired in 1972, Nance totaled 1,323 carries for 5,401 yards and 45 touchdowns, plus 129 catches for 844 yards and a touchdown.

Because of his legendary career, Nance was named to the Boston Patriots All-1960s Team, the Patriots 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams, and inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2009.

3. Sam Cunningham

Before there was a big running back like LeGarrette Blount dominating out of the backfield, there was Sam "Bam" Cunningham wreaking havoc on opposing defenses. At 6-foot-3 and 226 pounds, he was a frightening figure for defenders to line up against and nearly impossible to take to the ground.

Making matters worse for the competition, Cunningham was also a solid weapon as a receiver, racking up 210 receptions for 1,905 yards and 6 touchdowns during his ten-year career.

The high expectations of a first-round draft pick were not too high for him. He lived up to those standards and then some despite dealing with several injuries over the years, only playing an entire season just three times in ten years, and missing an entire year due to a contract dispute in 1980.

Regardless, Cunningham solidified his legacy amongst the best Patriots by recording 1,385 carries for 5,453 yards and 43 touchdowns, plus 210 receptions for 1,905 yards and 6 touchdowns. This earned him a spot on the Patriots All-1970s team, the 35th and 50th Anniversary Teams, and the Patriots Hall of Fame in 2010.

1B. James White

Naming the best running back in Patriots history is a lot more difficult than most might think, but when it comes down to Kevin Faulk and James White, it seems best to make them a 1A and 1B at the top of the list.

At first glance, White's stats might not be the most impressive, as he recorded 319 carries for 1,278 yards and 11 touchdowns. However, his clutch gene and outstanding talent in the passing game made him one of the most invaluable pieces of the Patriots offense during his eight-year career.

He became Tom Brady's go-to back on third down, recording 165 first downs through those eight seasons (in comparison, Kevin Faulk totaled 172 through 13 years.) But he was also as solid as they come as a receiver, recording 381 receptions for 3,278 yards and 25 touchdowns.

While that's all impressive, White will forever be remembered as the hero of Super Bowl LI, a night in which he was the leading receiver in the team's effort to overcome a 28-3 lead. At the end of the game, which he so famously won with a rushing touchdown in overtime, White recorded 14/16 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown. That was on top of 6 carries for 29 yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

His efforts in the biggest games of all earn him a top spot among the best running backs in Patriots history and perhaps a high spot on the list of the best players in team history as well.

1A. Kevin Faulk

When it comes to deciding the pillars of the Patriots Dynasty, it's clear Kevin Faulk is among the greatest of all. He was Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady's favorite backfield weapon, beginning his career in New England in 1999 and remaining with the team until 2011.

During his career, he recorded 864 carries for 3,607 yards and 16 touchdowns. But because of his dual-threat skill set, Faulk set a precedent by being utilized in the passing game as well, recording 431 receptions for 3,701 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging an impressive 8.6 yards per catch.

He became the blueprint for the type of running back Bill Belichick wanted on the team during his tenure, creating a long line of versatile players still prioritized on the roster tp this day.

Faulk was the offensive weapon the team needed throughout his career, even more so during the start of the dynasty. He helped the team win three Super Bowls and has become a legend, remaining among the top five rushing leaders of all time in Patriots history.

The top 10 running backs in Patriots history by rushing yards

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