Determining the greatest fullback (FB) of all time requires examining the unique blend of punishing blocking, crucial short-yardage power, leadership, and occasional offensive versatility demanded by the position. Stats alone don't tell the whole story, but combining accolades, key metrics, and impact reveals top contenders.
Measuring Greatness: Key Criteria & Candidates
- Larry Csonka (MIA): Embodied power. Key stats: 3x All-Pro (1st Team), 1x Super Bowl MVP, 5x Pro Bowl, HOF. NFL Champion. Career: 8,081 rushing yards, 64 TDs (in run-heavy era). Dominated Super Bowls VII & VIII, defining FB excellence.
- Marion Motley (CLE): Pioneer. Dominated pre/early NFL era. Key stats: Hall of Fame, 2x All-Pro (AAFC & NFL), 4x AAFC Champion, 1x NFL Champion. Career: 4.8 yds/carry (remarkable longevity), impactful LB. Revolutionized position with size/speed.
- Jim Taylor (GB): Packers legend. Key stats: NFL MVP (1962), HOF, 1x All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowl, 4x NFL Champion. Career: 8,597 rushing yards, 83 TDs. Led NFL in rushing (1,474 yds) and TDs (19) in MVP year. Lombardi's offensive engine.
- Emmitt Smith's Lead - Daryl Johnston (DAL): Iconic blocker. Key stats: 2x Pro Bowl. No eye-popping stats, but career paved for Smith's records. Crucial pass protection and underrated receiving threat (294 rec, 2,227 yds, 14 TD). Definition of selfless FB excellence.
- Mike Alstott (TB): "A-Train." Ultimate short-yardage weapon. Key stats: 3x All-Pro (1st), 6x Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XXXVII Champ. Career: 5,088 rush yds, 5.1 yds/carry, 58 rush TD; 305 rec, 2,284 yds, 13 rec TD. Scored critical TDs in Tampa's SB run.
- Lorenzo Neal: Premier modern lead blocker. Key stats: 2x All-Pro (1st), 4x Pro Bowl. Career paved the way for eleven consecutive 1,000-yard rushers (different RBs), including Eddie George, Corey Dillon, LaDainian Tomlinson (MVP), Adrian Peterson. Master technician.
Stat Categories Defining Elite Fullbacks
Blocking Prowess: Impossible to quantify perfectly, but Neal's 11-straight 1,000-yd rushers and Johnston/Moose's role with Smith are unimpeachable evidence.
Short Yardage/Touchdown Efficiency: Alstott's 71 total TDs and Csonka's critical SB/TD production are benchmarks.
Durability & Longevity: Decades of sustained high-level play (Csonka, Taylor, Motley, Neal) separate greats.
Versatility: Receiving (Alstott, Johnston) and rare rushing dominance (Csonka, Taylor, Motley) add significant value. Motley also played LB.
Winning/Championships: Multiple rings and playoff/Super Bowl impact are crucial (Csonka, Taylor, Johnston, Alstott, Motley).
Csonka and Motley often stand atop GOAT conversations due to their era-defining dominance, HOF status, and championships. Johnston and Neal represent the pinnacle of pure, transformative blocking. Alstott is the most prolific modern hybrid scoring threat, while Taylor showcased elite pure rushing excellence. The greatest depends on how one weights pure power versus versatility versus blocking mastery.
