T-Shirts

History of Football

Top 20 - Combined Net Yards

At the Start of the 2004 NFL Season

Main Story | Top 20 Potpourri | Top 20 Passers | All-time passer ratings | Passing Statistics |
Top 20 Receivers | Top 20 Rushers | Top 20 Scorers | Top 20 Coaches

Brian Mitchell became the NFL's all-time career leader in combined net yards during the 2003 season. The return specialist has amassed more than 23,000 yards in his 14-year career.

Five other active players rank in the Top 20 in combined net yards including Curtis Martin who joined the list in 2003. 

Four of the top five spots in the Top 20 are held by players who were active during this past season.

At the Start of the 2004 Season
 
Rank   Player
Yrs.
Rush
Rec.
Int.
PR
KOR
FR
Total
1 (2) BRIAN MITCHELL
14
1,967
2,336
-
4,999
14,014
14
23,330
2 (1) JERRY RICE
19
645
22,466
-
-
6
-
23,117
3 (3) Walter Payton *
13
16,726
4,538
-
-
539
-
21,803
4 (4) EMMITT SMITH
14
17,418
3,119
-
-
-
-
20,537
5 (5) TIM BROWN
16
190
14,734
-
3,272
1,235
3
19,434
6 (6) Barry Sanders *
10
15,269
2,921
-
-
118
-
18,308
7 (7) Herschel Walker
12
8,225
4,859
-
-
5,084
-
18,168
8 (8) Marcus Allen *
16
12,243
5,411
-
-
-
-6
17,648
9 (11) MARSHALL FAULK
10
11,213
6,274
-
-
18
18
17,523
10 (9) Eric Metcalf
13
2,392
5,572
-
3,453
5,813
-
17,230
11 (10) Thurman Thomas
13
12,074
4,458
-
-
-
-
16,532
12 (12) Tony Dorsett *
12
12,739
3,554
-
-
-
33
16,326
13 (13) Henry Ellard
16
50
13,777
-
1,527
364
-
15,718
14 (14) Irving Fryar
17
242
12,785
-
2,055
505
7
15,594
15 (15) Jim Brown *
9
12,312
2,499
-
-
648
-
15,459
16 (16) Eric Dickerson *
11
13,259
2,137
-
-
-
15
15,411
17 (17) Glyn Milburn
9
817
1,322
-
2,984
9,788
-
14,911
18 (18) James Brooks
12
7,962
3,621
-
565
2,762
-
14,910
19 (19) Ricky Watters
10
10,643
4,248
-
-
-
-
14,891
20 (--) CURTIS MARTIN
9
11,669
2,966
-
-
-
-
14,635
 
2003 Notes:
CURTIS MARTIN entered the Top 20 combined net yards in 2003. Franco Harris* (14,622) was displaced from the Top 20.
Next in Line:
Players active in 2003 who rank closest to a Top Twenty ranking: JEROME BETTIS (13,718).
 
ACTIVE IN 2003
* Pro Football Hall of Fame Member
( ) - indicates rank at the start of the 2003 season