The 10 best running backs in the history of the New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are a franchise known for their elite quarterback play, thanks to guys like Drew Brees and Archie Manning. However, throughout the years, the franchise has had elite receivers, dominant defenses, and some really good running backs as well. In fact, the Saints may have a stronger relationship with good running backs than they do elite quarterbacks.

Think about it. One of the biggest trades in NFL history was New Orleans trading its entire draft to select a running back. The Saints have selected four different Heisman-trophy-winning running backs. The team has drafted in the top five seven times in franchise history— four of those picks were used on running backs, including a first-overall selection.

Simply put, New Orleans loves running backs, so let’s rank the 10 best in franchise history.

Criteria

The criteria is simple: production in a Saints uniform. This list is about what the running backs did in New Orleans, not just great running backs that played for the Saints. That means you won’t see names like Earl Campbell or Adrian Peterson, two Hall of Fame running backs that weren’t around in New Orleans long enough to do real damage.

Most of the names on the list were drafted by the Saints, and the bulk of their career production came in New Orleans. With that understood, let’s get into the rankings.

Honorable mention: Reggie Bush

Tenure: 2006-2010

Reggie Bush, one of the Heisman running backs drafted by the Saints, finds himself just outside the top 10. Selected No. 2 overall in the 2006 Draft, he was the first draft pick of the Sean Payton era.

Because of the expectations placed on Bush after his illustrious USC career, people are quick to say he underwhelmed in New Orleans, but make no mistake, he still had an impressive stint with the Saints. Playing with the team for five seasons, he appeared in 60 games, carrying the ball 524 times for 2,090 yards and 17 touchdowns, while catching 294 passes for 2,142 yards and 12 more touchdowns.

Bush was the perfect running back for Sean Payton and Drew Brees, and he played a big role in bringing the franchise its only Super Bowl.

10. Tony Galbreath

Tenure: 1976-1980

Tony Galbreath was a part of a dominant two-man backfield, and his running mate will appear later on the list. But for him, he was selected in the second round of the 1976 Draft, and immediately started to produce as a runner and a receiver out of the backfield.

In his five seasons in New Orleans, he appeared in 75 games, carrying the ball 760 times for 2,865 yards and 27 touchdowns, while catching 284 passes for 2,221 yards and six receiving touchdowns.

9. Ricky Williams

Tenure: 1999-2001

The history of the Saints can’t be told without Ricky Williams. After a Hall of Fame career at the University of Texas, New Orleans head coach Mike Ditka traded all remaining 1999 Draft picks, and two picks from the 2000 Draft, to move up from 12 to No. 5 for Williams. In total, eight picks were sent to Washington.

Unfortunately, the historic gamble didn’t pay off. Williams was good, but he didn’t become the Hall of Fame running back in New Orleans that everyone thought he would be. In actuality, he only played three seasons with the Saints before being traded to the Miami Dolphins.

In those three seasons, Williams played in 38 games, carrying the ball 814 times for 3,129 yards and 16 touchdowns, while catching 132 passes for 1,092 yards and two additional touchdowns.

8. Chuck Muncie

Tenure: 1976-1980

Chuck Muncie was the running mate of No. 10-ranked Tony Galbreath. While Galbreath was making noise as a runner and a receiver, Muncie did the majority of his damage out of the backfield.

Also playing five seasons in New Orleans, he appeared in 59 games, recording 788 carries for 3,393 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also caught 125 passes for 1,086 yards and one more touchdown. In 1979, Muncie’s last full season in New Orleans, he made his first Pro Bowl.

7. Rueben Mayes

Tenure: 1986-1990

Rueben Mayes was a third-round pick for New Orleans in the 1986 Draft but he quickly exceeded expectations. As a rookie, Mayes rushed for 1,353 yards and eight touchdowns, making the Pro Bowl in his first year. He returned to the Pro Bowl a year later, starting his career with two straight appearances.

Unfortunately, those were his only two Pro Bowl appearances, as injuries slowed him down, forcing him to miss the entire 1989 season. In total, he played four season with the Saints, appearing in 59 games and carrying the ball 837 times for 3,408 yards and 23 touchdowns.

6. Pierre Thomas

Tenure: 2007-2014

Pierre Thomas is the only undrafted player on this list, but that didn’t hold him back in his career. After signing with the Saints as an undrfated free agent, he put together an extremely productive career in New Orleans.

Playing eight years with the Saints, Thomas never received any individual accolades, but he amassed a ton of yards and helped New Orleans win the only Super Bowl in franchise history. In 105 games, Thomas carried the ball 818 times for 3,745 yards and 28 touchdowns. He also caught 327 passes for 2,608 yards and 12 more touchdowns.

5. Dalton Hilliard

Tenure: 1986-1993

Dalton Hilliard was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 1986 Draft, the same year they took seventh-ranked Rueben Mayes in the the third round. While it was enough carries to go around for both of them early, Hilliard really emerged as a star once Mayes missed a season with injury, and ultimately stayed in New Orleans much longer.

He spent his entire eight-year career with the Saints, carrying the ball 1,126 times for 4,164 yards and 39 touchdowns. He also caught 249 passes for 2,233 yards and 14 more touchdowns. Hilliard was also a Pro Bowler in 1989, the lone Pro Bowl of his career.

4. George Rodgers

Tenure: 1981-1984

The Saints have had one No. 1-overall pick in franchise history and that was in 1981 when they selected George Rodgers. Rodgers was fresh off a Heisman-winning season at South Carolina, and he didn’t miss a step going into the NFL. In his rookie season, he led the league with 1,674 rushing yards and also had 13 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl that season and was named First-team All-Pro.

Rodgers only played three more seasons in New Orleans before going to Washington and winning a Super Bowl, but before leaving the Saints, he played in 51 total games, recording 995 Carrie’s for 4,267 yards and 23 touchdowns. He also caught 44 passes for 292 yards.

3. Mark Ingram

Tenure: 2011-2018 and 2021-2022

The fan-favorite Mark Ingram is undoubtedly one of the best running backs in franchise history. Drafted with the 28th-overall pick in the 2011 Draft, Ingram became a staple for the Saints over the 2010s decade, having two different stints with the team.

He played a total of 123 games across 10 seasons for New Orleans, carrying the ball 1,451 times for 6,500 yards and 52 touchdowns. He also caught 264 passes for 1,804 yards and five more touchdowns.

Ingram was a two-time Pro Bowler while in New Orleans and retired as the franchise’s leading rusher. What’s most impressive is the fact that he often split carries, and played during Drew Brees’ pass-heavy era, and still put up the production he did.

2. Deuce McAllister

Tenure: 2001-2008

Despite the infamous trade package New Orleans sent to Washington for Ricky Williams in 1999, the franchise knew early that things weren’t going to work out with Williams. That’s why, two years later, the Saints selected Deuce McAllister in the first round of the 2001 Draft. This time, things went according to plan, as McAllister became arguably the best running back in franchise history.

He spent his entire eight-year career in New Orleans, putting together four 1000-yard seasons, with two of those coming during Pro Bowl years. McAllister played 97 total games for the Saints, carrying the ball 1,429 times for 6,096 yards and 49 touchdowns. He also added 234 receptions for 1,720 yards and five more touchdowns. When he retired, he had the most rushing yards in franchise history.

1. Alvin Kamara

Tenure: 2017-present

The best running back in Saints history is the team’s current running back Alvin Kamara. Selected in the third round of New Orleans’ All-Time great 2017 Draft class, Kamara has been one of the best running backs in the NFL since he entered the league.

He started his career with five-straight Pro Bowls, and has been a production machine for the Saints. Oddly enough, Kamara has never has never rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season, but his all-purpose production is enough to overlook that. Kamara has surpassed 600 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards in all eight of his seasons.

So far in his Saints career, he has played 101 games, carrying the ball 1,315 times for 5,829 yards and 54 touchdowns, while also catching 505 passes for 4,219 yards and 23 more touchdowns. All things considered, he’s the best running back in franchise history.

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