Compared to previous decades, it’s a lot harder for today’s NFL running backs to play their ways towards gold jackets.
Adrian Peterson, currently a free agent, is the only active NFL running back who’s a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In regards to running backs currently signed to a team, Derrick Henry of the Tennessee Titans and Ezekiel Elliott of the Dallas Cowboys easily have the best Hall of Fame cases.
Each player has two rushing titles under their belts (Elliott in 2016 and 2018, Henry in 2019 and 2020), and they’re both past the 8,000 career rushing yard marks.
Former NFL running back and current NFL analyst Maurice Jones-Drew dove into the careers of both RBs to decide if either of them are Hall of Fame worthy. Here’s what the former Jacksonville Jaguars star said on Henry:
“To me, Henry has done enough to earn a gold jacket. He’s been The Guy at the position for half a decade, with the production and awards to prove it. Another 2,000-yard campaign (or close to it) and/or some postseason moments would only be icing on the cake.”
But in regards to the 27-year-old Elliott, MJD believes he hasn’t done enough up to this point to earn a call:
“Zeke hasn’t done enough. At this point in his career, he needs a string of big postseason moments (SEE: Terrell Davis’ path) to ensure his spot in Canton. He’ll have a chance to do just that next month, with the Cowboys securing a postseason berth last week.”
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Henry had a magical postseason run for the Titans in 2019, leading them to an AFC Championship Game appearance; they ultimately fell to Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs. But the Titans have gone one-and-done in the last two postseason tournaments, and if they don’t win at least one playoff game this season (if they even qualify), it will be another wasted opportunity for Henry to strengthen his Hall of Fame case.
Elliott has seen his production decline over the last three years, and with Tony Pollard seeing his fair share of carries in the Dallas Cowboys’ offense, it will be hard for “Zeke” to put up Pro Bowl-caliber numbers from here.
Running backs in this day and age usually decline once they turn 30, but Henry (he turns 29 on Jan. 4) easily surpassed 1,000 yards this season, and Elliott (28 on July 28) is still an effective play-maker in the Dallas offense. So both men still have considerable time to strengthen their cases for calls to Canton.
