| 2024 |
Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles 2005 yds |
| 2023 |
Christian McCaffrey San Francisco 49ers 1459 yds |
| 2022 |
Josh Jacobs Las Vegas Raiders 1653 yds |
| 2021 |
Jonathan Taylor Indianapolis Colts 1811 yds |
| 2020 |
Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans 2027 yds |
| 2019 |
| Derrick Henry Tennessee Titans 1540 yds |
| 2018 |
Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys 1434 yds |
| 2017 |
Kareem Hunt Kansas City Chiefs 1327 yds |
| 2016 |
| Ezekiel Elliott Dallas Cowboys 1631 yds |
| 2015 |
Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1485 yds |
| 2014 |
| DeMarco Murray Dallas Cowboys 1845 yds |
| 2013 |
| LeSean McCoy Philadelphia Eagles 1607 yds |
| 2012 |
| Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 2097 yds |
| 2011 |
Maurice Jones-Drew Jacksonville Jaguars 1606 yds |
| 2010 |
Arian Foster Houston Texans 1616 yds |
| 2009 |
| Chris Johnson Tennessee Titans 2006 yds |
| 2008 |
| Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings 1760 yds |
| 2007 |
LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1474 yds |
| 2006 |
| LaDainian Tomlinson San Diego Chargers 1815 yds |
| 2005 |
Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks 1880 yds |
| 2004 |
Curtis Martin New York Jets 1697 yds |
| 2003 |
Jamal Lewis Baltimore Ravens 2066 yds |
| 2002 |
Ricky Williams Miami Dolphins 1853 yds |
| 2001 |
| Priest Holmes Kansas City Chiefs 1555 yds |
| 2000 |
| Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1709 yds |
| 1999 |
| Edgerrin James Indianapolis Colts 1553 yds |
| 1998 |
Terrell Davis Denver Broncos 2008 yds |
| 1997 |
Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 2053 yds |
| 1996 |
| Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1553 yds |
| 1995 |
| Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1773 yds |
| 1994 |
| Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1883 yds |
| 1993 |
| Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1486 yds |
| 1992 |
| Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1713 yds |
| 1991 |
| Emmitt Smith Dallas Cowboys 1563 yds |
| 1990 |
| Barry Sanders Detroit Lions 1304 yds |
| 1989 |
| Christian Okoye Kansas City Chiefs 1480 yds |
| 1988 |
| Eric Dickerson Indianapolis Colts 1659 yds |
| 1987 |
Charles White Los Angeles Rams 1374 yds |
| 1986 |
| Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 1821 yds |
| 1985 |
| Marcus Allen Los Angeles Raiders 1759 yds |
| 1984 |
| Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 2105 yds |
| 1983 |
| Eric Dickerson Los Angeles Rams 1808 yds |
| 1982 |
| Freeman McNeil New York Jets 786 yds |
| 1981 |
George Rogers New Orleans Saints 1674 yds |
| 1980 |
Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1934 yds |
| 1979 |
| Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1697 yds |
| 1978 |
| Earl Campbell Houston Oilers 1450 yds |
| 1977 |
Walter Payton Chicago Bears 1852 yds |
| 1976 |
O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1503 yds |
| 1975 |
| O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1817 yds |
| 1974 |
| Otis Armstrong Denver Broncos 1407 yds |
| 1973 |
| O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 2003 yds |
| 1972 |
| O.J. Simpson Buffalo Bills 1251 yds |
| 1971 |
| Floyd Little Denver Broncos 1133 yds |
| 1970 |
Larry Brown Washington Redskins 1125 yds |
| 1969 |
| Gale Sayers (NFL) Chicago Bears 1032 yds |
| Dickie Post (AFL) San Diego Chargers 873 yds |
| 1968 |
Leroy Kelly (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1239 yds |
Paul Robinson (AFL) Cincinnati Bengals 1023 yds |
| 1967 |
| Leroy Kelly (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1205 yds |
Jim Nance (AFL) Boston Patriots 1216 yds |
| 1966 |
| Gale Sayers (NFL) Chicago Bears 1231 yds |
| Jim Nance (AFL) Boston Patriots 1458 yds |
| 1965 |
| Jim Brown (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1544 yds |
| Paul Lowe (AFL) San Diego Chargers 1121 yds |
| 1964 |
| Jim Brown (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1446 yds |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL) Buffalo Bills 981 yds |
| 1963 |
| Jim Brown (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1863 yds |
| Clem Daniels (AFL) Oakland Raiders 1099 yds |
| 1962 |
Jim Taylor (NFL) Green Bay Packers 1474 yds |
| Cookie Gilchrist (AFL) Buffalo Bills 1096 yds |
| 1961 |
| Jim Brown (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1408 yds |
| Billy Cannon (AFL) Houston Oilers 948 yds |
| 1960 |
| Jim Brown (NFL) Cleveland Browns 1257 yds |
| Abner Haynes (AFL) Dallas Texans 875 yds |
| 1959 |
| Jim Brown Cleveland Browns 1329 yds |
| 1958 |
| Jim Brown Cleveland Browns 1527 yds |
| 1957 |
| Jim Brown Cleveland Browns 942 yds |
| 1956 |
| Rick Casares Chicago Bears 1126 yds |
| 1955 |
| Alan Ameche Baltimore Colts 961 yds |
| 1954 |
| Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers 1049 yds |
| 1953 |
| Joe Perry San Francisco 49ers 1018 yds |
| 1952 |
| Dan Towler Los Angeles Rams 894 yds |
| 1951 |
Eddie Price New York Giants 971 yds |
| 1950 |
| Marion Motley Cleveland Browns 810 yds |
| 1949 |
| Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles 1146 yds |
| 1948 |
| Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles 945 yds |
| 1947 |
| Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles 1008 yds |
| 1946 |
Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers 604 yds |
| 1945 |
| Steve Van Buren Philadelphia Eagles 832 yds |
| 1944 |
| Bill Paschal New York Giants 737 yds |
| 1943 |
| Bill Paschal New York Giants 572 yds |
| 1942 |
| Bill Dudley Pittsburgh Steelers 696 yds |
| 1941 |
| Clarence "Pug" Manders Brooklyn Dodgers 486 yds |
| 1940 |
| Byron White Detroit Lions 514 yds |
| 1939 |
| Bill Osmanski Chicago Bears 699 yds |
| 1938 |
| Byron White Pittsburgh Pirates 567 yds |
| 1937 |
| Cliff Battles Washington Redskins 874 yds |
| 1936 |
| Tuffy Leemans New York Giants 830 yds |
| 1935 |
Doug Russell Chicago Cardinals 499 yds |
| 1934 |
| Beattie Feathers Chicago Bears 1004 yds |
| 1933 |
| Jim Musick Boston Redskins 809 yds |
| 1932 |
| Cliff Battles Boston Braves 576 yds |