Putting Up Numbers· NFL

The Cardinals' best running backs since 1966

Ottis Anderson has the most rushing yards of the 146 running backs who played with the Cardinals since 1966, 7,999 in 99 games. Stump Mitchell is 2nd with 4,649.

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The Cardinals' running backs this season

By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1966–69

Compare with in · side by side

The Cardinals' best running backs since 1966
PlacePlayerrushing yardsrushing TDsscrimmage yards
1Ottis Anderson1979 – 1986 · 99 games7,9994610,494
2Stump Mitchell1981 – 1989 · 116 games4,649326,604
3Jim Otis1973 – 1978 · 80 games3,863194,131
4James Conner2021 – 2025 · 60 games3,763385,055
5Johnny Roland1966 – 1972 · 95 games3,608274,848
6Terry Metcalf1973 – 1977 · 65 games3,438245,300
7Wayne Morris1976 – 1983 · 110 games3,375374,545
8David Johnson2015 – 2019 · 61 games3,128335,347
9Earl Ferrell1982 – 1989 · 110 games2,950244,578
10Edgerrin James2006 – 2008 · 45 games2,905163,403
11Chris Wells2009 – 2012 · 51 games2,471242,764
12Johnny Johnson1990 – 1992 · 41 games2,326152,895
13Marcel Shipp2001 – 2007 · 81 games2,197113,134
14Ronald Moore1993 – 1997 · 37 games1,973132,041
15Michael Pittman1998 – 2001 · 56 games1,945112,984
16Andre Ellington2013 – 2017 · 59 games1,750103,046
T17MacArthur Lane1968 – 1971 · 41 games1,736152,460
T17Larry Centers1990 – 1998 · 126 games1,736106,275
19Tim Hightower2008 – 2010 · 48 games1,733232,527
20Kenyan Drake2019 – 2020 · 23 games1,598181,906
21Adrian Murrell1998 – 1999 · 31 games1,59582,099
22Chase Edmonds2018 – 2021 · 56 games1,55192,472
23Donny Anderson1972 – 1974 · 42 games1,531172,354
24Garrison Hearst1993 – 1995 · 30 games1,50331,813
25Willis Crenshaw1966 – 1969 · 49 games1,49491,896

rushing yards by decade

2020s

  1. James Conner2021 – 2025 · 60 games3,763
  2. Chase Edmonds2020 – 2021 · 28 games1,040
  3. Kenyan Drake2020 · 15 games955
  4. Emari Demercado2023 – 2025 · 36 games819
  5. Michael Carter2023 – 2025 · 22 games613

2010s

  1. David Johnson2015 – 2019 · 61 games3,128
  2. Andre Ellington2013 – 2017 · 59 games1,750
  3. Chris Wells2010 – 2012 · 35 games1,678
  4. Chris Johnson2015 – 2017 · 19 games1,023
  5. Kerwynn Williams2014 – 2017 · 31 games971

2000s

  1. Edgerrin James2006 – 2008 · 45 games2,905
  2. Marcel Shipp2001 – 2007 · 81 games2,197
  3. Michael Pittman2000 – 2001 · 31 games1,565
  4. Thomas Jones2000 – 2002 · 39 games1,264
  5. Emmitt Smith2003 – 2004 · 25 games1,193

1990s

  1. Johnny Johnson1990 – 1992 · 41 games2,326
  2. Ronald Moore1993 – 1997 · 37 games1,973
  3. Larry Centers1990 – 1998 · 126 games1,736
  4. Adrian Murrell1998 – 1999 · 31 games1,595
  5. Garrison Hearst1993 – 1995 · 30 games1,503

1980s

  1. Ottis Anderson1980 – 1986 · 83 games6,394
  2. Stump Mitchell1981 – 1989 · 116 games4,649
  3. Earl Ferrell1982 – 1989 · 110 games2,950
  4. Wayne Morris1980 – 1983 · 56 games1,404
  5. Tony Jordan1988 – 1989 · 22 games371

1970s

  1. Jim Otis1973 – 1978 · 80 games3,863
  2. Terry Metcalf1973 – 1977 · 65 games3,438
  3. Wayne Morris1976 – 1979 · 54 games1,971
  4. Ottis Anderson1979 · 16 games1,605
  5. MacArthur Lane1970 – 1971 · 27 games1,569

1966–69

  1. Johnny Roland1966 – 1969 · 54 games2,524
  2. Willis Crenshaw1966 – 1969 · 49 games1,494
  3. Prentice Gautt1966 – 1967 · 26 games943
  4. Cid Edwards1968 – 1969 · 22 games718
  5. Roy Shivers1966 – 1969 · 43 games368

Also with the Cardinals: quarterbacks · receivers · tight ends · Arizona Cardinals record book

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Method

  • Every running back who played with the Cardinals 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 Cardinals before then isn't here.
  • A decade counts his rushing yards with the Cardinals in its seasons.