5 Best Running Backs in Buffalo Bills History

Initially, I fully expected to list Fred Jackson, but the context box is enough for McCoy to win out here. 

Jackson’s 5,646 rushing yards rank third in Bills history, and he’s fifth in touchdowns. The caveat, though, is that Jackson never felt like a true No. 1 running back the way that McCoy did. 

Jackson was always sharing carries with the likes of Marshawn Lynch and C.J. Spiller. That’s not his fault, by any means. But when you have a two-running back system, you benefit most when it’s a 1A and 1B rather than a rotational system. 

McCoy rushed for over 1,000 yards in two of his four Bills seasons, reaching the playoffs in 2017. We’re going with Shady. 

4. Joe Cribbs (1980-1985)

An All-SEC standout at Auburn, Cribbs quickly impressed upon joining the Bills in 1980. He earned Rookie of the Year and Pro Bowl honors with a 1,185-yard, 11-touchdown campaign for the AFC East-winning Bills. 

Cribbs had another two 1,000-yard seasons, both of which landed him a Pro Bowl spot. His nephew, Josh Cribbs, later turned heads as a dynamic kick returner for the Browns. 

3. James Cook (2022-Present)

Is this too high for Cook? Given that he has already rushed for 4,445 yards and 21 touchdowns through four seasons, we’re willing to give him the nod. He’s played a pivotal role in Buffalo’s recent stretch of AFC East dominance, leading the league with 1,621 yards in 2025 and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024.

Cook, the younger brother of four-time Pro Bowl back Dalvin Cook, has also turned 130 catches into 1,174 yards and nine touchdowns en route to making three Pro Bowls.

He signed a four-year, $46 million contract extension in August 2025, so he has at least a couple of seasons remaining to solidify his case among Buffalo's greatest.

2. Thurman Thomas (1988-1999)

Thomas, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, defined consistency throughout his first decade in Buffalo, rattling off eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons at one point. During that stretch, Thomas rushed for 10,762 yards and 62 touchdowns, earning five All-Pro selections along the way. 

Perhaps Thomas' best season came in 1991, when he earned MVP honors after tallying 2,038 yards from scrimmage (1,407 rushing and 631 receiving) for the AFC East champions. He’s still the Bills’ all-time leading rusher, and he ranks 17th on the all-time list.

1. O.J. Simpson (1969-1977)

From a pure football perspective, O.J. Simpson is one of the best running backs in league history. He’s also the greatest running back in the Bills’ nearly 70 years of existence, and a Hall of Fame talent.

Simpson was arguably the first “modern” running back, in the sense that he dominated as professional football — both the AFL and NFL — began truly taking over the national consciousness. 

There’s something to be said about Simpson rushing for over 2,000 yards in a 14-game season. We’ve only seen one running back accomplish the feat since the league adopted a 17-game format in 2021. 

When the NFL assembled its 100th Anniversary Team in 2019, Simpson cracked the list. He’s topping our rankings, too.

More Buffalo Bills Rankings

• 5 Best Quarterbacks in Buffalo Bills History
• 5 Best Wide Receivers in Buffalo Bills History