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<p>Big fan of Los Angeles football? Then check out this list of Los Angeles Rams running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-los-angeles-rams-kickers-ever/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Los Angeles Rams history</a> (and St. Louis), including current running backs and past ones. Featuring&nbsp;some of the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time" target="_blank">greatest NFL running backs of all time</a>,&nbsp;the best Rams&nbsp;RBs include Marshall Faulk, Eric Dickerson, Jerome Bettis, Todd Gurley, Steven Jackson,&nbsp;and Elroy Hirsch, among other football greats.</p>

<p>Who are the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-nfl-running-backs-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best running backs</a> in both St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams history? Vote below, and help decide the greatest Rams RB of all time!</p>


The 20+ Best Los Angeles Rams Running Backs, Ranked

The Best Los Angeles Rams Running Backs of All Time

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FREEFORM

Eric Dickerson

Eric Demetric Dickerson (born September 2, 1960) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for eleven seasons. Dickerson played college football for the SMU Mustangs of Southern Methodist University and was recognized as an All-American. He was selected in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft and played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Raiders, and Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. During his NFL career, he rushed for over 13,000 yards. He holds the NFL's single-season rushing record with 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Dickerson was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1999. He wore prescription goggles throughout his career due to myopia.

Marshall Faulk

Marshall William Faulk (born February 26, 1973) is a former American football player who was a running back in the National Football League (NFL) for twelve seasons. He played college football for San Diego State University, and was a two-time consensus All-American. He was selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the second overall pick in the 1994 NFL Draft, and he also played professionally for the NFL's St. Louis Rams. Faulk is one of only three NFL players (Marcus Allen and Tiki Barber being the others) to reach at least 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards; he is the only one to amass 12,000 yards rushing and 6,000 yards receiving.  Faulk was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He was an analyst for various programs on the NFL Network until December 2017.

Steven Jackson

Steven Rashad Jackson (born July 22, 1983) is a former American football running back. He played college football for Oregon State and was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the first round with the 24th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots.
Jackson holds the Rams franchise record for most rushing yards, and is a member of the 10,000 yard rushing club.

Dick Bass

Richard Lee Bass (March 15, 1937 – February 1, 2006) was an American football running back from who played for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL) from 1960 to 1969.

Lawrence McCutcheon

Lawrence McCutcheon (born June 2, 1950) is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972 to 1980, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in 1980, and 1981 with the Buffalo Bills, reuniting with former Rams head coach Chuck Knox.

Paul "Tank" Younger

Paul Lawrence "Tank" Younger (June 25, 1928 – September 15, 2001) was a fullback and linebacker in the National Football League from 1949 through 1958. He played college football for Grambling State University, was the first NFL player from a predominantly black college, and was the first African American to become an NFL front-office administrator (scout and executive with the Rams until 1975).

Todd Gurley

Todd Jerome Gurley II (born August 3, 1994) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Georgia where he earned All-SEC honors in 2012 and 2013. Gurley was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the tenth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. Despite missing three games due to a torn ACL suffered during his junior year at Georgia, Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards in his rookie season and was voted Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press. He was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated Press following the 2017 season after gaining 19 offensive touchdowns.

Les Josephson

Les Josephson (born July 29, 1942) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League for the Los Angeles Rams. He played college football at Augustana College.

Jerome Bettis

Jerome Abram Bettis Sr. (born February 16, 1972), nicknamed The Bus, is a former American football halfback who played for the Los Angeles Rams/St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Bettis is seventh on the list of NFL rushing yards leaders. He retired in 2006 after the Steelers won Super Bowl XL in his native Detroit, Michigan, beating the Seattle Seahawks. Bettis was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Ollie Matson

Ollie Genoa Matson II (May 1, 1930 – February 19, 2011) was an American Olympic medal winning sprinter and professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) from 1952 to 1966. Drafted into the NFL by the Chicago Cardinals, Matson was traded to the Los Angeles Rams for nine players following the 1958 season.
Matson was named to the Pro Bowl six times during the course of his career and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.

Wendell Tyler

Wendell Avery Tyler (born May 20, 1955) is a former professional American football player who was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the 3rd round of the 1977 NFL Draft. A 5'10", 198 lbs. running back from UCLA, Tyler played in 10 NFL seasons from 1977 to 1986 for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers.In 1979, he helped lead the Rams to Super Bowl XIV, where they were defeated 31-19 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. In 1984, he rushed for a 49er team record 1,262 yards during the regular season, and also caught 28 passes for 230 yards,  was selected to the Pro Bowl, and played in Super Bowl XIX in which the 49ers defeated the Miami Dolphins 38-16. Tyler was the first player ever to lead two teams in rushing in two Super Bowls.

Jon Arnett

Jon Dwane "Jaguar Jon" Arnett (born April 20, 1935 - January 16, 2021) was a former American football player.  He was a first-team All-American out of USC and played 10 years in the NFL. Arnett was a 5x Pro Bowler with the Los Angeles Rams from 1957 to 1963 and joined the Chicago Bears from 1964 to 1966. He was known by the popular nickname of Jaguar Jon Arnett.

Joe Marconi

Joseph George Marconi (February 6, 1934 – August 23, 1992) was an American football fullback who played professionally for the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL).
Marconi was born in the Pittsburgh area city of Fredericktown, Pennsylvania. He played football in high school and was offered an athletic scholarship at the University of Maryland, but he didn't like the school and found himself at West Virginia University.
He was first used on defense, but was found to be too productive on offense in the running game and was part of the backfield. As a running back, he piled up 998 career yards on 181 carries for an impressive 5.5 average and 18 touchdowns.
Marconi helped West Virginia to a 31–7 record during his four-year tenure. He was selected to play in the College Football All-Star Game and the Blue–Gray Football Classic after his senior season and he ended up being the Los Angeles Rams first pick in the 1956 draft. He accumulated impressive yardage as a Ram with 1,769 yards and 21 touchdowns. He was traded to the Bears before the 1962 season.
He played five years with the Bears organization and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 1964. In 1966, he retired from football to become a sales representative in the steel business. He died in Downers Grove, Illinois, his home.

Skeets Quinlan

Volney Ralph "Skeet" Quinlan (June 22, 1928 – January 18, 1998) was an American football halfback in the National Football League. He played  five seasons for the Los Angeles Rams (1952–1956) and the Cleveland Browns (1956). Quinlan was one of the first star running backs to emerge from Texas.  He was a college star at San Diego State, though these teams did not experience much success, often overshadowed by the more prestigious larger programs at USC and UCLA. However, these teams were known for having some of the early forebears of the spread passing attack frequently seen today, using a variety of medium- to long-range passes that would create running lanes for Quinlan. He was regarded as a "speed" back, frequently jukeing between defenders in a distinctive motion known as "skeeting." This term has since gone into disuse.

Dan Towler

Daniel Lee "Deacon" Towler (March 6, 1928 – August 1, 2001) was an American football player.  He played in the National Football League (NFL) as a fullback for the Los Angeles Rams from 1950 through 1955. He was the NFL leading rusher in 1952 and ranked among the top four rushers each year from 1951 to 1954. He graduated from Washington & Jefferson College.The football statistics website Football Nation calls Towler "the greatest running back you don't know," and "a bright, shining star who lit up the NFL for an oh-so-brief but spectacular three-year period unlike any before or since." "[F]or a three-year period in the early 1950s," says Football Nation, "Towler was the closest thing the NFL has ever produced to an unstoppable ball carrier."The Professional Football Researchers Association named Towler to the PRFA Hall of Very Good Class of 2006 After retiring from football, Towler was named pastor of the Lincoln Avenue Methodist Church in Pasadena, California. He was also a chaplain at California State University, Los Angeles and president of the Los Angeles County Board of Education.

Cullen Bryant

William Cullen Bryant (May 20, 1951 – October 13, 2009) was a professional American football player who spent thirteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back and return specialist for the Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks. He played college football at Colorado.

Cam Akers

Cam Akers (born June 22, 1999) is an American football running back for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State, and was drafted by the Rams in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Sony Michel

Sony Michel (born February 17, 1995) is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted 31st overall by the New England Patriots of the 2018 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia. Michel's parents emigrated from Haiti a year after his older sister Lamise was born. Michel attended American Heritage School in Plantation, Florida. Michel was the starting running back for the American Heritage Patriots, beginning in his eighth grade year there. As a senior, he rushed for 1,833 yards and 24 touchdowns. Over three years playing on varsity, he rushed for 4,758 yards and 63 touchdowns. He was rated by Rivals.com as a five-star recruit and was ranked as the third best running back and 13th best player overall.

Barry Redden

Barry Redden (born July 21, 1960) is a former American football running back who played for the Los Angeles Rams, the San Diego Chargers, and the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected in the 1982 NFL Draft as the 14th overall pick. He spent much of his career with the Rams as a back-up for Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson.
Redden is currently the president of the NFLPA Retired Players-Houston Chapter.

John Cappelletti

John Cappelletti (born August 9, 1952) is a former American football running back.  He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) with the Los Angeles Rams and the San Diego Chargers.
Prior to his professional career, he attended Penn State, where he won the Heisman Trophy in 1973. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said that Cappelletti was "the best football player I ever coached." Cappelletti's relationship with his younger brother Joey, who was stricken with leukemia, was chronicled into a book and made-for-TV movie.

Ron Waller

Ron Waller (February 14, 1933 – December 16, 2018) was an American football player and coach.  He played in the National Football League (NFL) as a running back for the Los Angeles Rams from 1955 through 1958 and for the American Football League's Los Angeles Chargers in 1960. He was the interim head coach of the NFL's San Diego Chargers for the final six games of the 1973 season, and held the same position with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974. Waller was also the head coach of the Wilmington Clippers and the Norfolk Neptunes of the Atlantic Coast Football League. 
Prior to his professional career, Waller played for Laurel High School in Laurel, Delaware and the University of Maryland, College Park.  He was inducted into the Delaware Sports Museum and Hall of Fame in 1977. Waller died in Delaware on December 16, 2018 at the age of 85.

Dick Hoerner

Lester Junior "Dick" Hoerner (July 25, 1922 – December 11, 2010) was an American football player.  He played fullback for the University of Iowa in 1942 and 1946 and for the Los Angeles Rams from 1947 to 1951.  He helped lead the Rams to three consecutive National Football League championship games from 1949 to 1951, played for the 1951 Los Angeles Rams team that won the 1951 NFL Championship Game, and was selected to play in the inaugural 1951 Pro Bowl.  He was the Rams' all-time leading rusher at the end of his playing career with the team.  He concluded his professional football career as a member of the Dallas Texans in 1952.

Parker Hall

Linus Parker "Bullet" Hall (December 10, 1916 – February 8, 2005) was a professional American football player for the Cleveland Rams and the San Francisco 49ers. In his rookie season, Hall led the league in passing, was second in passing yardage, and fifth in rushing yards.  He was named the league's Most Valuable Player in 1939 and was the first professional player to complete over 100 passes in a single season.
He spent four seasons with the Rams, and after returning from military service during World War II, Hall played with the AAFC's San Francisco 49ers during their inaugural season.  He moved to Memphis, Tennessee, after retiring from football and worked in the lumber business.

Benny Cunningham

Benjamin Corey Cunningham is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He played college football for Middle Tennessee State. He was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Cunningham attended Goodpasture Christian School in Madison, Tennessee, where he was a letterman in football, basketball, and track. In football, he rushed for 721 yards and 16 touchdowns on offense, while collecting 62 tackles and an interception on defense. As a senior, he rushed for a new school record 1,744 yards and 2,357 all purpose yards to go along with 29 touchdowns, leading Goodpasture to the state semifinals. He was named the Tennessee Titans Mr. Football Class 2A Back for 2008, the TSWA All-State and the Region Player of the Year and was voted to the All-Southern Football Team by the Orlando Sentinel.

Trung Canidate

Trung Jered Canidate (born March 3, 1977) is a former American football running back in the NFL.  Drafted out of Arizona, Canidate was selected with the 31st overall pick of the 2000 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams.

Big fan of Los Angeles football? Then check out this list of Los Angeles Rams running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout Los ...