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<p>Big fan of New York football? Then check out this list of New York Giants running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-new-york-giants-quarterbacks/ranker-nfl?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">New York Giants history</a>, including current running backs and past ones. Featuring&nbsp;some of the greatest NFL&nbsp;running backs&nbsp;of all time, the best Giants&nbsp;RBs include Tiki Barber, Saquon Barkley, Ahmad Bradshaw, Rodney Hampton, Joe Morris, and Brandon Jacobs.</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 New York Giants history? Vote below, and help decide who is the greatest Giants&nbsp;RB of all time!</p>


The 25+ Best New York Giants Running Backs, Ranked

The Best New York Giants Running Backs of All Time

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Frank Gifford

Francis Newton Gifford (August 16, 1930 – August 9, 2015) was an American football player, actor, and television sports commentator. After a 12-year playing career as a halfback and flanker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL), he was a play-by-play announcer and commentator for 27 years on ABC's Monday Night Football.
Gifford won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award from United Press International in 1956, the same season his team won the NFL Championship. During his career, he participated in five league championship games and was named to eight Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. After retiring as a player, Gifford was an Emmy Award-winning sportscaster, known for his work on ABC's Monday Night Football, Wide World of Sports and the Olympics. He was married to television host Kathie Lee Gifford from 1986 until his death.

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Ottis Anderson

Ottis Jerome "O.J." Anderson (born January 19, 1957) is a former American football running back who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL).  He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press (AP) with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1979, and the MVP of Super Bowl XXV in 1991 when playing with the New York Giants.  He played college football at the University of Miami.

Joe Morris

Joseph Edward Morris (born September 15, 1960) is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played for the New York Giants from 1982 to 1988.  Initially noted for his diminutive stature — 5' 7", Morris was a key member of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXI in 1987.  He rushed for 67 yards, caught four passes for 20 yards, and scored a touchdown in the game.

Tiki Barber

Atiim Kiambu "Tiki" Barber (; born April 7, 1975) is an American former football running back who played for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL) for ten seasons. He played college football for the University of Virginia. Barber was drafted by the Giants in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft, and played his entire professional career for them. Barber retired from the NFL at the end of the 2006 NFL postseason as the Giants' all-time rushing and reception leader.  Barber was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.
Following his playing career, Barber became a national media presence, notably joining NBC's The Today Show as a correspondent in 2007  and Football Night in America/Sunday Night Football.  He has published multiple books.
He is the identical twin brother of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber.

Dave Meggett

David Lee Meggett (born April 30, 1966) is a former professional American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants (1989–1994), New England Patriots (1995–1997), and the New York Jets (1998). He played college football at Morgan State University and Towson University.

Rodney Hampton

Rodney Craig Hampton (born April 3, 1969) is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1990 NFL Draft. He was a starting running back for the 1990 New York Giants who finished the year at 13-3 during the regular season while winning Super Bowl XXV on January 27, 1991.



Ahmad Bradshaw

Ahmad Bradshaw (born March 19, 1986) is a former American football running back. He was drafted in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He played college football at Marshall. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion, winning Super Bowls XLII and XLVI as a member of the New York Giants, defeating the New England Patriots in both Super Bowls. He was the leading rusher in each game, becoming one of eight running backs in NFL history to be the leading rusher in two Super Bowls.

Brandon Jacobs

Brandon Christopher Jacobs (born July 6, 1982) is a former American football running back, who spent the majority of his career with the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Giants in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He won two Super Bowl rings with the Giants, both against the New England Patriots. He also played one season for the San Francisco 49ers before returning to New York for his final season. He played college football at Coffeyville, Auburn, and Southern Illinois.
Jacobs was larger and heavier than most NFL running backs, standing 6'4" tall and weighing 264 pounds. He also runs the 100 meters in 10.82 seconds and the 200 meters in 21.59 seconds. He won two Super Bowls in seven seasons with the New York Giants, and holds the franchise record for most career rushing touchdowns, as well as ranking fourth-most in career rushing yards.

Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley (born February 9, 1997) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Penn State for three seasons, running for 3,843 yards with 43 rushing touchdowns, while garnering 1,195 receiving yards with 8 touchdown receptions. He totaled 5,557 all-purpose yards in his three-year collegiate career. Barkley received national attention and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting with 304 total votes and third in Maxwell Award voting. He also received multiple national and Big Ten Conference awards and recognition. During Barkley's three-year collegiate career, he broke and set numerous Penn State records including most rushing touchdowns in a career, most rushing yards by a freshman and sophomore as well as most total yards in a single game. Barkley was drafted with the second overall pick by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Mel Triplett

Melvin C. Triplett (December 24, 1930 – July 26, 2002) was an American football running back in the National Football League who played for eight seasons for the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. He played high school football at Girard High School in Girard, Ohio. He graduated from Girard in 1951 and was inducted into the Girard Hall of Fame in 1997. He played college football at the University of Toledo and was drafted by the Giants in the 1955 NFL Draft, where he played for six seasons.  He scored the opening touchdown against the Chicago Bears in the 1956 championship game, won by the Giants 47-7. He was named New York's outstanding offensive player in the game. He left the Giants for the Minnesota Vikings, where he played in 1961 and 1962. Including both teams, he totaled 2,857 yards and 14 touchdowns in his NFL career.
Among the fans of Mel Triplett during his days on the New York Giants was a young basketball player in New York named Lew Alcindor, later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.  Abdul-Jabbar says in his 1983 memoir Giant Steps that it was largely Triplett's wearing of uniform #33 that made Abdul-Jabbar adopt #33 as well, a number he made famous.

Tucker Frederickson

Ivan Charles "Tucker" Frederickson (born January 12, 1943) is a former American football running back for the New York Giants of the NFL. Frederickson attended South Broward High School then moved on to Auburn University, and was a two-way player with the Tigers football team (averaging 4.4 yards per carry on offense and leading the team in interceptions as a safety on defense). In 1964, he won the Jacobs Award as the best blocking back in the Southeastern Conference and was a runner up in the Heisman Trophy race. Coach Shug Jordan called him "the most complete football player I've ever seen". He was an All-American in 1964. Frederickson was the first overall pick in the 1965 NFL Draft having been selected by the New York Giants, with whom he played until a knee injury forced his retirement in 1971 (six total playing seasons). Frederickson was inducted in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1994.

Alex Webster

Alexander "Red" Webster (April 19, 1931 – March 3, 2012) was an American football fullback and halfback in the National Football League for the New York Giants.  He was also the head coach of the Giants from 1969 to 1973.

Rob Carpenter

Robert Joseph Carpenter, Jr. (born April 20, 1955 in Lancaster, Ohio) is a former American football running back. He is the father of linebacker Bobby Carpenter, former University of Cincinnati linebacker Johnathan Carpenter, former Marshall University linebacker George Carpenter, and former Ohio defensive back Nathan Carpenter.  He currently resides in Lancaster, Ohio and is a teacher and head coach of the Lancaster High School football team.  He is a graduate of Miami University. He was best known for playing in the National Football League where he rushed for 4,363 yards in a ten-year career with the Houston Oilers, New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams. His son Bobby noted on his radio show in Columbus, Ohio, he was once offered a car in return for signing with Purdue for college football.

Maurice Carthon

Maurice Carthon (born April 24, 1961) is an American former football player and coach.  Carthon was a fullback in the United States Football League (USFL) and National Football League (NFL) for a total of 11 seasons.  After his playing career ended, he became a coach, and served as the offensive coordinator for three NFL teams.



Lewis Tillman

Lewis Darnell Tillman (born April 16, 1966) is a former professional American football running back in the National Football League.  He played for seven seasons for the New York Giants and the Chicago Bears.  He played college football at Jackson State University and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1989 NFL Draft.
On January 31, 2012, it was announced that Lewis will be the new Running Backs coach for the Texas Southern Tigers.

Charles Way

Charles Christopher Way, also known as (born December 27, 1972) is a former professional American football fullback in the National Football League for five seasons for the New York Giants.

Derrick Ward

Derrick LaRon Ward (born August 30, 1980) is a former American football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft and played for the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans.  He played college football at Fresno State University and Ottawa University.
Ward earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, beating the New England Patriots. He is the cousin of former Patriots running back J.R. Redmond.

Wayne Gallman

Wayne Gallman Jr. (born October 1, 1994) is an American football running back for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Clemson and contributed to win the CFP National Championship (2017).

Ken Strong

Elmer Kenneth Strong (April 21, 1906 – October 5, 1979) was an American football halfback and fullback who also played minor league baseball. Considered one of the greatest all-around players in the early decades of the game, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1957 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967 and was named to the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team.
A native of West Haven, Connecticut, Strong played college baseball and football for the NYU Violets. In football, he led the country in scoring with 162 points in 1928, gained over 3,000 yards from scrimmage, and was a consensus first-team selection on the 1928 College Football All-America Team.
Strong played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) for the Staten Island Stapletons (1929–1932) and New York Giants (1933–1935, 1939, 1944–1947), and in the second American Football League for the New York Yankees (1936–1937). He led the NFL in scoring in 1934 and was selected as a first-team All-Pro in 1930, 1931, 1933, and 1934. He also played minor league baseball from 1929 to 1931, but his baseball career was cut short by a wrist injury.

Kink Richards

Elvin C. "Kink" Richards (December 27, 1910 – July 21, 1976) was an American football running back in the National Football League for the New York Giants.  He first played college football at the former Baptist school known as Des Moines University (not to be confused with the unrelated current school of the same name) before transferring to Simpson College.

Ward Cuff

Ward Lloyd Cuff (August 12, 1913 – December 24, 2002) was an American football halfback and placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers. He played college football at Marquette University and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1937 NFL Draft.
As a fullback at Marquette, Cuff played in the first Cotton Bowl game, in 1937, losing to TCU. He was also Marquette's heavyweight boxing champion and held the school record in the javelin throw. Cuff played for the Giants from 1937 to 1945, won the NFL championship in 1938, and became the team's career scoring leader with 319 points before being traded to the Cardinals. He played one season with the Cardinals and one with the Packers. He led the NFL in field goals made four times. After his NFL career, Cuff coached high school football in Green Bay, was an assistant coach for the Oregon State Beavers football team, and later worked for The Boeing Company.His number 14 was retired by the Giants, although owner Wellington Mara gave Y. A. Tittle permission to wear it during his time with the Giants from 1961 to 1964. It was retired again in honor of both players.

Joe Scott

Joseph Oscar Scott, Jr. (March 17, 1926 – June 30, 2016) was an American football player who played running back for six seasons for the New York Giants. He was born in Murchison, Texas and died in Athens, Texas where he lived in 2016.

Ron Johnson

Ronald Adolphis Johnson (October 17, 1947 – November 10, 2018) was an American football running back.
Johnson played college football at the halfback position for the University of Michigan from 1966 to 1968. He set a Michigan school record in 1967 by rushing for 270 yards in a game. In 1968, he became the first African-American to serve as the captain of a Michigan football team.  He set an NCAA record by rushing for 347 yards in a game and set Big Ten Conference records with 92 points scored and 1,017 rushing yards in seven conference games. He also set Michigan records with 2,524 career rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns in a season, and 139.1 rushing yards per game in 1968.
He played seven seasons in the National Football League (NFL) from 1969 to 1975 and became the first player in New York Giants history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, accomplishing the feat in both 1970 and 1972. He also led the NFL in rushing attempts in both 1970 and 1972.  Johnson retired as a player in 1976, was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992, and became chairman of the National Football Foundation in 2006.  He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2008, and died in 2018. He is the brother of 1970 American League batting champion Alex Johnson.

Joe Morrison

Joseph R. Morrison (August 21, 1937 – February 5, 1989) was an American football player and coach.  He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants from 1959 to 1972.  Morrison served as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga from 1973 to 1979, at the University of New Mexico from 1980 to 1982, and at the University of South Carolina from 1983 to 1988, compiling a career college football coach record of 101–72–7.

Orleans Darkwa

Orleans Opoku-Darkwa (born February 28, 1992) is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also played for the New York Giants. He played college football at Tulane. He is of Ghanaian descent. Darkwa attended The Ensworth School, where he played high school football. He played college football at Tulane University from 2010 to 2013.

Big fan of New York football? Then check out this list of New York Giants running backs.&nbsp;It includes every starting running back from throughout New York ...