Pound for pound, the best NFL running back of all time was Jim Brown of the Cleveland Browns. While Brown didn't play during the heightened era of media coverage and television, he is widely running is the greatest combination of speed and power to ever carry the football. Throw into the mix his ability to catch the ball and run, and he was the perfect versatile back.

Running backs must possess a unique combination of skills. They need speed, power, vision to see opening, agility, intelligence, good hands, elusiveness, toughness, leaping ability and more. Jim Brown characterized the best combination of these skills that was ever seen in the NFL. Barry Sanders is likely the most agile and elusive. Gale Sayers was fluid and fast, as was Walter Payton. There have been track star running backs like Robert Smith. Jerome Bettis was powerful. Marshall Faulk was a great combination of agility, quickness and pass catching ability. But, most defenders would say the combination of athletic ability and power the Brown displayed when carrying the ball made him the toughest guy to tackle.

Jim Brown could get throw small creases in the defense. He could run over defenders that got in the way. Once in the open field, he had breakaway speed to pull away and outrun would be tacklers. While Emmitt Smith was a consistent and reliable back and became the all time leading rusher in the NFL. Jim Brown was the epitomy of dominance during his short 9 year career.

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