Sports

The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time 

Ranker NFL
Updated February 6, 2020 4.4k votes 972 voters 25.3k views 24 items

Big fan of Chicago football? Then check out this list of Chicago Bears running backs with photos and seasons as starters. It includes every starting running back from throughout Chicago Bears history, including current running backs and past ones. Featuring 2018-2019 Chicago Bears and some of the greatest NFL running backs of all time, the best Bears RBs include Matt Forte, Walter Payton, Neal Anderson, and Thomas Jones, among other NFL greats.

Who are the best running backs in Chicago Bears history? Here is every player who has ever held the position of Chicago Bears starting running back.

list ordered by
1
Walter Payton is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975

More Walter Payton ❯

#470 of 925 People We Wish Were Still Alive #564 of 2,166 The Best Athletes Of All Time #2 of 221 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time

2
Gale Sayers is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971

More Gale Sayers ❯

#1,620 of 2,166 The Best Athletes Of All Time #9 of 221 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Timelisted on Athletes You Didn't Know Were Conservative

3
Matt Forté is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008

More Matt Forté ❯

#41 of 221 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time #227 of 1,537 The Best Football Players Ever #14 of 147 The Greatest Chicago Bears of All Time

4
Neal Anderson is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Neal Anderson

Bears career: 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988
5
Thomas Jones is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Thomas Jones

Bears career: 2006, 2005, 2004
6
Jordan Howard is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Jordan Howard

Bears career: 2018, 2017, 2016
7
Tarik Cohen is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 2018, 2017
8
Matt Suhey is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Steve Y added

Bears career: 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980

More Matt Suhey ❯

#131 of 221 The Best NFL Running Backs of All Time #1,093 of 1,537 The Best Football Players Ever #39 of 147 The Greatest Chicago Bears of All Time

9
Willie Galimore is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957
10
Rick Casares is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Jon Anderson added

Bears career: 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961, 1960, 1959, 1958, 1957, 1956, 1955
11
Roland Harper is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Steve Y added Roland Harper

Bears career: 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977, 1976, 1975
12
Anthony Thomas is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 2003, 2002, 2001
13
Raymont Harris is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1997, 1996
14
Dave Williams is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Steve Y added Dave Williams

Bears career: 1981, 1980, 1979
15
Lewis Tillman is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Lewis Tillman

Bears career: 1994
16
James Allen is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
James Allen

Bears career: 2000
17
Rashaan Salaam is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1995
18
Cedric Benson is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Cedric Benson

Bears career: 2007
19
Don Shy is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Don Shy

Bears career: 1971
20
Cyril Pinder is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Cyril Pinder

Bears career: 1972
21
Carl Garrett is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Carl Garrett

Bears career: 1973
22
Ken Grandberry is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time
Ken Grandberry

Bears career: 1974
23
Edgar Bennett is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1998
24
Curtis Enis is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Chicago Bears Running Backs of All Time

Bears career: 1999