The Bears' best running backs since 1966
Walter Payton has the most rushing yards of the 138 running backs who played with the Bears since 1966, 16,726 in 190 games. Matt Forte is 2nd with 8,595.
The Bears' running backs this season
- D'Andre Swift8 games, 68.1 a game2,591 with the Bears. 356 more puts him past Matt Suhey for 10th since 1966.545rushing yards
- Kyle Monangai4 games, 81.0 a game1,107 with the Bears.324rushing yards
- Roschon Johnson6 games, 17.2 a game622 with the Bears.103rushing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1966–69
Compare with in · side by side
| Place | Player | rushing yards | rushing TDs | scrimmage yards |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walter Payton1975 – 1987 · 190 games | 16,726 | 110 | 21,264 |
| 2 | Matt Forte2008 – 2015 · 120 games | 8,595 | 45 | 12,718 |
| 3 | Neal Anderson1986 – 1993 · 116 games | 6,166 | 51 | 8,929 |
| 4 | Gale Sayers1966 – 1971 · 54 games | 4,089 | 25 | 4,889 |
| 5 | David Montgomery2019 – 2022 · 60 games | 3,609 | 26 | 4,849 |
| 6 | Thomas Jones2004 – 2006 · 45 games | 3,488 | 22 | 4,212 |
| 7 | Jordan Howard2016 – 2018 · 47 games | 3,370 | 24 | 3,938 |
| 8 | Anthony Thomas2001 – 2004 · 51 games | 3,332 | 21 | 3,841 |
| 9 | Roland Harper1975 – 1982 · 89 games | 3,044 | 15 | 4,057 |
| 10 | Matt Suhey1980 – 1989 · 148 games | 2,946 | 20 | 5,059 |
| 11 | D'Andre Swift2024 – 2026 · still playing | 2,591 | 25 | 3,438 |
| +545 this season · passes Matt Suhey for 10th in 6 games at his pace | ||||
| 12 | Raymont Harris1994 – 1997 · 42 games | 2,245 | 15 | 2,896 |
| 13 | Brad Muster1988 – 1992 · 75 games | 2,014 | 20 | 3,637 |
| 14 | James Allen1998 – 2001 · 48 games | 1,978 | 4 | 2,640 |
| 15 | Khalil Herbert2021 – 2024 · 45 games | 1,791 | 9 | 2,082 |
| 16 | Rashaan Salaam1995 – 1997 · 31 games | 1,682 | 13 | 1,802 |
| 17 | Cedric Benson2005 – 2007 · 35 games | 1,597 | 10 | 1,777 |
| 18 | Curtis Enis1998 – 2000 · 35 games | 1,497 | 4 | 1,925 |
| 19 | Ronnie Bull1966 – 1970 · 53 games | 1,367 | 3 | 2,087 |
| 20 | Adrian Peterson2002 – 2009 · 87 games | 1,283 | 8 | 1,948 |
| 21 | Kyle Monangai2025 – 2026 · still playing | 1,107 | 8 | 1,310 |
| +324 this season | ||||
| 22 | Tarik Cohen2017 – 2020 · 51 games | 1,101 | 5 | 2,676 |
| 23 | Jim Harrison1971 – 1974 · 38 games | 1,099 | 4 | 1,385 |
| 24 | Carl Garrett1973 – 1974 · 20 games | 1,001 | 6 | 1,425 |
| 25 | Don Shy1970 – 1972 · 32 games | 989 | 4 | 1,410 |
rushing yards by decade
2020s
- David Montgomery2020 – 2022 · 44 games2,720
- › D'Andre Swift2024 – 2026 · 41 games2,591
- Khalil Herbert2021 – 2024 · 45 games1,791
- › Kyle Monangai2025 – 2026 · 21 games1,107
- › Roschon Johnson2023 – 2026 · 40 games622
2010s
- Matt Forte2010 – 2015 · 88 games6,435
- Jordan Howard2016 – 2018 · 47 games3,370
- Tarik Cohen2017 – 2019 · 48 games1,027
- David Montgomery2019 · 16 games889
- Jeremy Langford2015 – 2016 · 27 games737
2000s
- Thomas Jones2004 – 2006 · 45 games3,488
- Anthony Thomas2001 – 2004 · 51 games3,332
- Matt Forte2008 – 2009 · 32 games2,160
- Cedric Benson2005 – 2007 · 35 games1,597
- James Allen2000 – 2001 · 32 games1,589
1990s
- Neal Anderson1990 – 1993 · 59 games3,053
- Raymont Harris1994 – 1997 · 42 games2,245
- Rashaan Salaam1995 – 1997 · 31 games1,682
- Brad Muster1990 – 1992 · 43 games1,490
- Curtis Enis1998 – 1999 · 24 games1,413
1980s
- Walter Payton1980 – 1987 · 117 games9,800
- Neal Anderson1986 – 1989 · 57 games3,113
- Matt Suhey1980 – 1989 · 148 games2,946
- Thomas Sanders1985 – 1989 · 75 games909
- Calvin Thomas1982 – 1988 · 78 games672
1970s
- Walter Payton1975 – 1979 · 73 games6,926
- Roland Harper1975 – 1978 · 54 games2,527
- Jim Harrison1971 – 1974 · 38 games1,099
- Carl Garrett1973 – 1974 · 20 games1,001
- Don Shy1970 – 1972 · 32 games989
1966–69
- Gale Sayers1966 – 1969 · 50 games3,999
- Ronnie Bull1966 – 1969 · 41 games1,153
- Brian Piccolo1966 – 1969 · 38 games927
- Ralph Kurek1966 – 1969 · 32 games410
- Jon Arnett1966 · 14 games178
Also with the Bears: quarterbacks · receivers · tight ends · Chicago Bears record book
Method
- Every running back who played with the Bears since 1966, ranked by rushing yards over his games there. Regular-season games only.
- The numbers here start in 1966, so a running back who played with the Bears before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his rushing yards with the Bears in its seasons.