They do have one man: Barry Sanders. Sanders spent his entire career in Detroit and helped put the Lions back on the NFL map.

The Lions had a dominant backfield again in 2023 for the first time in a generation. Do any of their current stars make this list? Keep reading this Betway Insider top 10 to find out.

As usual, all stats and references are courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and are updated through the end of the 2023 regular season.

Who is the Detroit Lions starting Running Back for the 2023 NFL 2023 season?

The Lions’ 2023 starting running back is not one man but actually a timeshare of two players: David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs.

Detroit Lions Running Backs History

Detroit Lions running back history can be summed up by one man: Barry Sanders. He holds literally every single Detroit rushing record and is on the shortlist for the best running back of all time.

Famous Detroit Lions Running Backs

Other famous running backs for the Lions include Billy Sims (a star in the early 1980s) and Doak Walker (a star in the 1950s).

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Detroit Lions Running Backs of all time

  1. Jahmyr Gibbs, 2023-Present

Current Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has spent just one season on the Lions. In that campaign, he didn’t even lead the team in rushing yards. So why is the 2023 first-round pick already on our list?

Part of Gibbs’s inclusion is a projection. He excelled as a rookie in 2023, rushing for 945 yards on an impressive 5.2 yards/attempt in 15 games. He even added 10 scores and an additional 316 receiving yards. A spritely runner with a stunning burst, Gibbs is the future of the Detroit offense.

  1. Joique Bell, 2012-2016

Former Detroit running back Joique Bell was a competent all-around back for the Lions during the QB Matthew Stafford-era. He was both a physical runner and a strong receiver, exemplified by his back-to-back 1,150+ total yard campaigns in 2013 and 2014.

Bell’s play helped the Lions march to a 11-5 record and a playoff berth in 2014, the team’s second of the century. He ranks 18th all-time in franchise history for rushing yards.

  1. Dutch Clark, 1931-1932, 1934-1938

The NFL was almost an entirely different sport in the 1930s to the one it is today. Former Detroit star Dutch Clark was technically the “tailback” for the franchise during that time, but his position today would resemble something along the lines of a duel-threat quarterback. 

However, Clark never topped even 500 passing yards in a season. He did lead the league in rushing touchdowns on three occasions and helped Detroit win the NFL title in 1935. He was heavily accomplished: a 6-time First-team All-Pro, 1930s All-Decade team, and a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

But since he wasn’t technically a “running back,” he can’t rank any higher on this list.

  1. Altie Taylor, 1969-1975

Former Lions running back Altie Taylor was a consistent presence in the Detroit backfield in the early Super Bowl-era days. Though he never passed the 1,000+ yard threshold, the hybrid fullback/running back rarely missed a game as the franchise enjoyed a rare period of success.

Taylor did top 900+ scrimmage yards four straight seasons from 1970-1973 -- he gained 5,846 yards total as a Lion. He ranks fourth on the franchise’s all-time leading rushing list.

  1. Mel Farr, 1967-1973

Former Lions RB Mel Farr formed a dynamic backfield in Detroit with Altie Taylor in the late 1960s/early 1970s. The 2-time Pro Bowler was an immediate hit with the Lions after the team selected him seventh overall in the 1967 Draft, winning NFL Rookie of the Year on the strength of his 1,177 total yards and six scores.

Farr led the league in yards/touch in 1968, also the best figure of his career. His production tailed off in the early 1970s and he was replaced in the starting lineup.

  1. Nick Pietrosante, 1959-1965

Former Detroit running back Nick Pietrosante just missed the NFL title-winning teams of the 1950s. He would have to settle for three Playoff Bowl victories during his Lions’ tenure.

Pietrosante was heavily responsible for dragging Detroit to winning records in the early 1960s.

He came into the league with a bang, leading the way with a stellar 5.9 yards/carry and finishing second in the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

The 2-time Pro Bowler rushed for an impressive 872 yards in just 12 games in 1960, his best mark as a Lion. He retired as the franchise’s leading rusher and currently ranks fifth.

  1. Dexter Bussey, 1974-1984

Dexter Bussey is yet another past Lions running back who didn’t experience a lot of winning. However, he was still a model of consistency in Detroit for over a decade and played both fullback and running back.

Bussey topped 1,000+ total scrimmage yards on three occasions, topping out at 1,199 in 1978. He never played for another franchise and thus racked up some impressive career numbers: his 5,106 career rushing yards rank third in franchise history.

  1. Doak Walker, 1950-1955

Former Lions running back Doak Walker is one of the best and most important football players of all time. Why? For one, the award for the best running back in college football is named the Doak Walker award. Also, he’s a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Walker was a star for the Lions both as a kicker and a running back. Thus, he led the NFL in scoring twice. Walker was also a 5-time Pro Bowler, 4-time First-team All-Pro, the 1960 NFL Rookie of the Year, and a 2-time NFL Champion.

  1. Billy Sims, 1980-1984

The Lions made former RB Billy Sims the first overall pick in the 1980 NFL draft. His selection immediately paid dividends, as Sims won the 1980 NFL Rookie of the Year award.

Sims only lasted five years in the NFL and played more than 10 games in a season just three times. When he played, he was magnificent: Sims averaged 85.1 yards/game. He rushed for 1,303 yards as a rookie and then 1,437 in 1981 (in just 14 games). He topped 1,800+ total yards in both 1980 and 1981, leading the league in total scores in 1980.

Sims ranks second in franchise history for both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

  1. Barry Sanders, 1989-1998

Why is former Detroit running back Barry Sanders the best running back in Lions history? Check these out:

  • 1997 NFL MVP, 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year
  • 6-time First-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowl (every season)
  • 4-time NFL rushing yards leader, 4-time rushing touchdowns leaders
  • 2,053 rushing yards in 1997
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame, NFL 1990s All-Decade team

Lions fans don’t have a lot of pride, but they do have Barry Sanders.

Parameters of Rankings

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

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