8. Tony Dorsett (1977-88)
He was known as TD – how’s that for a set of initials for a running back? – and he made a career out of taking seemingly innocent handoffs and turning them into huge plays with his impressive combination of speed, agility, surprising power between the tackles and the acceleration of a top-of-the-line sports car. When the galloping Cowboy did just that on Jan. 3, 1983 against the Vikings in a nationally televised Monday night game, it was the longest run in NFL history – 99 yards – and put an exclamation point on a career punctuated by them.

Dorsett gained 12,739 yards in 12 years, including 1,007 as a rookie in 1977 when he convinced stoic, old-school coach Tom Landry that it was perfectly OK for a first-year player to assume major responsibilities. He led America’s Team to a Super Bowl victory that season, the last NFL title for the franchise until 1993. Dorsett is the only member of the college and pro football halls of fame to win an NCAA championship (at Pittsburgh in 1976), a Super Bowl title and a Heisman Trophy.

Noteworthy stat: In addition to the 99-yard touchdown on Monday Night Football, Dorsett had runs of 84, 77 (twice) and 75 yards during his distinguished career.

9. Marion Motley (1946-53, 55)
As one of the first black players in modern pro football, Motley was a pioneer for his sport, much like his baseball contemporary, Jackie Robinson. And like Robinson, Motley had to endure far more physical and verbal abuse than white ballplayers of his era. The Cleveland Browns’ fullback often took extra shots to his head or hands on the bottom of the pile after being tackled. However, that pile was usually several yards beyond the line of scrimmage because Motley, a bruiser at 6-1, 240, was very hard to tackle. “If you didn’t stop him at the line of scrimmage, you were in trouble,” Baltimore Colts’ Hall of Fame defensive tackle Art Donovan said.

Motley, along with quarterback Otto Graham, helped Cleveland win the All-American Football Conference title for four straight seasons. The Browns joined the NFL in 1950 and Motley, at age 30, led his new team to a championship and his new league in rushing with 810 yards and a gaudy 5.8 yards-per-carry average. In 1968, Motley became the first black player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Noteworthy stat: On Oct. 29, 1950, Motley needed only 11 carries to gain 188 yards against Pittsburgh. The fantastic 17.09 yards-per-carry average remains an NFL single-game record.

10. Bronko Nagurski (1930-37, ’43)
The mere mention of his distinctive name conjures up images of hard-nosed, old-time football, replete with leather helmets and black cleats. Yes, Nagurski was one of the early legends of a sport that hadn’t yet gained the nation-wide popularity it would later in the 20^th Century.

He wouldn’t be considered a big back today, but at 6-2, 225 pounds, Nagurski was as big as many of the linemen who tried – often unsuccessfully – to tackle him. He was stronger than most players, having built up his body while working on a farm as a youngster.

He led the Chicago Bears to NFL championships in 1932 and ’33. His blocking helped Beattie Feathers gain 1,004 yards in 1934 to become the NFL’s first 1,000-yard runner. Then, after being retired for five years, Nagurski came back in 1943 at age 35 to help the Bears win the title again. He was named All-Pro six times in nine years and became a folk hero.

“His name is like Paul Bunyan,” said Joe Horrigan of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. “You couldn’t have played in the 1930s and not mention it. It was as if you’d played against Babe Ruth.”

Noteworthy stat: Yardage statistics were not carefully kept during most of Nagurski’s career, but he is credited with a total of 4,301 yards rushing for a 4.9 average.

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