List of the most famous (American) football halfbacks in the history of the sport, listed by popularity with photos of the players when available. There have been many legendary halfbacks in the NFL and NCAA, and you'll find all of them on this list below. Some of these men are considered to be the best halfbacks to ever play the game, and if you're looking for a specific football player you can look for them by using the "search" function on this list. These amazing halfbacks may currently be active while others have been retired for quite sometime. This list of the top halfbacks in American football includes all the greats from both the NFL and college football.
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This list answers the questions, "Who is the greatest halfback of all time?" and "Who are the best halfbacks of all time?"1
Floyd Little
HalfbackBirthplace: New Haven, Connecticut
Age: 73
Teams: Denver Broncos, Syracuse Orange football
Floyd Douglas Little (born July 4, 1942 - January 1, 2021) was an American football halfback,... more2
Frank Gifford
Running back, CornerbackBirthplace: Santa Monica, California, United States of America
Age: 90
Teams: USC Trojans football, New York Giants
Francis Newton Gifford (August 16, 1930 – August 9, 2015) was an American football player,... more3
Ollie Matson
Running back, Return specialistBirthplace: Trinity, Texas
Age: Dec. at 81 (1930-2011)
Ollie Genoa Matson II (May 1, 1930 – February 19, 2011) was an American Olympic medal winning... more4
Doak Walker
Running back, Return specialistBirthplace: Dallas, Texas
Age: Died at 71 (1927-1998)
Teams: Southern Methodist University Mustang football, Southern Methodist University Mustangs football, Detroit Lions
Ewell Doak Walker II (January 1, 1927 – September 27, 1998) was an American football player. ... more5
Mercury Morris
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Age: 68
Teams: Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers
Eugene Edward "Mercury" Morris (born January 5, 1947) is a former American football running... more6
Bobby Mitchell
Running back, Return specialistBirthplace: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Age: 85
Robert Cornelius Mitchell (born June 6, 1935) is a former American football halfback and... more7
Mike Tolbert
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Douglasville, Georgia
Age: 30
Teams: Coastal Carolina Chanticleers football, Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers
William Michael Tolbert (born November 23, 1985) is an American football fullback who is... more8
Johnny Lattner
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Age: 87
John Joseph Lattner (October 24, 1932 – February 12, 2016) was an American football player. ... more9
Charley Trippi
Running back, Return specialistBirthplace: Pittston, Pennsylvania
Age: 98
Charles Louis Trippi (born December 14, 1921) is a former American football player. He played... more10
Billy Vessels
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Cleveland, Oklahoma
Age: Died at 70 (1931-2001)
Billy Dale Vessels (March 22, 1931 – November 17, 2001) was a gridiron football player. He... more11
Jim Kiick
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Lincoln Park, New Jersey
Age: 69
James Forrest Kiick (born August 9, 1946) is a former professional American football player, a... more12
Vic Janowicz
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Elyria, Ohio
Age: Dec. at 66 (1930-1996)
Victor Felix "Vic" Janowicz (February 26, 1930 – February 27, 1996) was an American football... more13
George Gipp
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Laurium, Michigan
Age: Dec. at 25 (1895-1920)
Teams: Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
George Gipp (February 18, 1895 – December 14, 1920), nicknamed "The Gipper", was a college... more14
Clem Daniels
Running back, Return specialistBirthplace: McKinney, Texas
Age: 83
Clemon C. Daniels Jr. (October 3, 1937 – March 23, 2019) was an American professional football... more15
Alex Webster
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Kearny, New Jersey
Age: Dec. at 81 (1931-2012)
Alexander "Red" Webster (April 19, 1931 – March 3, 2012) was an American football fullback and... more16
John Kuhn
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Dover, Pennsylvania
Age: 38
Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers
John Allen Kuhn (born September 9, 1982) is a former American football fullback. After playing... more17
Emil Sitko
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Fort Wayne, Indiana
Age: Dec. at 50 (1923-1973)
Emil "Red" Sitko (September 7, 1923 – December 15, 1973) was an American football player. Born... more18
Jack Concannon
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Dorchester, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
Age: Dec. at 62 (1943-2005)
John Joseph "Jack" Concannon, Jr. (February 25, 1943 – November 28, 2005) was an American... more19
Kyle Rote
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: San Antonio, Texas
Age: Dec. at 75 (1927-2002)
William Kyle Rote, Sr. (October 27, 1928 – August 15, 2002) was an American football player, a... more20
Harry Gilmer
Halfback, QuarterbackBirthplace: Birmingham, Alabama
Age: 94
Harry Vincent Gilmer Jr. (April 14, 1926 – August 20, 2016) was an American football halfback... more21
Johnny Morris
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Long Beach, California
Age: 85
Johnny Edward Morris (born September 26, 1935) is a former American football running back/wide... more22
Johnny Cain
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Montgomery, Alabama
Age: Dec. at 69 (1908-1977)
John Lewis "Hurri" "Sugar" Cain (November 17, 1908 – August 18, 1977) was an American football... more23
Howard Cassady
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Columbus, Ohio
Age: 86
Howard Albert "Hopalong" Cassady (born March 2, 1934) is a former professional American... more24
Bruce Smith
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Faribault, Minnesota, United States of America
Age: Died at 47 (1920-1967)
Bruce Phillip Smith (February 8, 1920 – August 28, 1967), nicknamed "Boo", was an American... more25
Jim Crowley
Running back, HalfbackBirthplace: Chicago, Illinois
Age: Dec. at 84 (1902-1986)
James Harold "Sleepy Jim" Crowley (September 10, 1902 – January 15, 1986) was an American... more
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