6. Gale Sayers (1965-71)
He is the Sandy Koufax of pro football, compiling such astounding numbers in an injury-shortened career that no one quibbles with his place in the Hall of Fame or on any list of all-time greats at his position. Sayers broke in with a bang for Chicago, scoring a then-record 22 touchdowns in his rookie season.  On Dec. 12, 1965 against the San Francisco 49ers, he amassed six of them, a single-game record that still stands. “This is the greatest football exhibition I have ever seen by one man in a game,” legendary Bears coach George Halas said afterward.

Sayers played only 68 games, posting five spectacular All-Pro seasons and two in which he made only token appearances after suffering two serious knee injuries. When healthy, he could cut and run with the greatest backs of all time, changing direction and slicing through the smallest of openings. He exceeded 1,000 yards twice, winning rushing titles each time. For his career, he averaged 5.0 yards per carry. He was also the most dangerous kick returner of all time, scoring once on a punt and three times on kickoffs in 1967.

Noteworthy stat: Sayers is the NFL’s all-time leading kickoff returner with a 30.56-yard career average and is tied with three other players for the most career touchdowns with six.

7. Eric Dickerson (1983-93)
As an announcer, let’s just say he was a terrific runner, whose greatest Monday Night Football moment came between the sidelines while carrying a football, not strolling them while carrying a microphone. On Oct. 31, 1988, Dickerson repeatedly tricked the Denver Broncos while delivering treats to the Indianapolis fans in the first Monday night game for the Colts since the franchise moved to Baltimore. He set team and MNF records with four touchdowns, gained 159 yards and sparked a 55-23 victory. “The one (touchdown) that stands out the most is my 41-yard run,” Dickerson recalled. “I hit the hole so fast, like I was in a track meet. I felt like I could have had eight touchdowns that night.”

He sprinted and hurdled his way through an 11-year career that produced 13,259 yards, the fourth-highest total in history. He led the league in rushing three times and had three 200-yard games. Many fans don’t realize that Dickerson held the all-time single-season record for yards rushing in a season with 2,105 set in 1984 when he played for the Los Angeles Rams. He averaged 5.6 yards and scored 14 TDs.

Noteworthy stat: On Jan. 4, 1986, Dickerson established a playoff record of 248 yards rushing in the Rams’ 20-0 victory over Dallas. He carried 34 times and on scored on runs of 55 and 40 yards.

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