In 2016 the Kansas City Chiefs will have four running backs that have shown that they are more than capable of being the starting running back for the team. The running backs are led by Jamaal Charles, the Chiefs all-time leading rusher in franchise history. Charles is in good company in the Chiefs franchise when it comes to running backs. Before the season starts it is time to take a look at the top five running backs in Chiefs history and see where Charles stacks up.
Top 5 All-Time Kansas City Chiefs Running Backs
Honorable Mention. Joe Delaney and the career that could have been.
Delaney had a good start with the Chiefs but would later drown trying to save the life of three kids that were drowning. He was only 24 years old.
5. Larry Johnson
Johnson is definitely not the most loved person on this list in Kansas City. However, he definitely deserves a spot on the list. The former Penn State standout was drafted by the Chiefs in 2003 for insurance. Johnson would finish his career only 55 yards away from tying the Kansas City rushing record.
4. Marcus Allen
The former Los Angeles Raider came to the Chiefs in 1993 and was considered washed up at the time. 1993 would be his 12th season in the NFL and most running backs don’t even make it that far. Allen was frustrated with Al Davis and wanted to prove he was still a top back in the league. He rushed for 3,698 yards as a Chief. For his career he rushed for over 12,000 yards but the good majority of that amount with the Raiders. With quarterback Joe Montana handing off the ball to Allen they both had something to prove to their former teams.
3. Christian Okoye
Okoye was nicknamed “The Nigerian Nightmare” and was a force to be reckoned with in the NFL. At 6’1 and 260 pounds the Nigerian born star was a monster of a back. The two-time pro bowler had a short NFL career of only 6 years but made himself known through that time. When he retired from the NFL, Okoye held the Chiefs record for rushing yards. The former Azusa Pacific standout averaged 3.9 yards per carry, scored 40 touchdowns, and rushed for a total of 4,897 yards in his career.
2. Jamaal Charles
The Chiefs all-time leading rusher and still active on the Chiefs roster makes the list at number two. Kansas City selected Charles in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The former Texas Longhorn didn’t become the main back until 2010 but proved he should be the number one back in Kansas City. Throughout his career he averages 5.5 yards per carry which is an absurd stat. This is a better average than Jim Brown the legendary hall of famer.
1. Priest Holmes
Another former Texas Longhorn Priest Holmes originally started his career off for the Baltimore Ravens. Holmes would win a Super Bowl with the Ravens but in 2001 came to the Kansas City Chiefs as a free agent. The former Longhorn rushed for 8,172 total yards in his NFL career, 6,070 of those yards were with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2003 Holmes would set a record for most games with two or more touchdowns with 10 games. This record would later be tied by LaDanian Tomlinson. Holmes still holds the Chiefs record for most career rushing touchdowns with 76 and most career total touchdowns with 83.
