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From Steve Van Buren and Wilbert Montgomery to LeSean McCoy, the Philadelphia Eagles have watched many elite running backs take the carry and head off to the end zone.
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But in nearly 100 years of existence, who are the greatest running backs ever to wear an Eagles uniform? While determining our rankings, we factored in counting stats, team success, and the context of their time in Philadelphia.
Did we get these rankings correct?
5. Brian Westbrook (2002-2009)
Given how electric he looked at times, it’s surprising to realize Westbrook only had two 1,000-yard seasons. Granted, he finished with 936 in 2008 because he missed two games.
Regardless, Westbrook had a five-year run where he was incredibly fun to watch and the key to many fantasy football victories.
From 2004 to 2008, Westbrook averaged 71 catches and nearly 640 receiving yards. He might not have had the gaudy rushing totals of other running backs, but his efficiency in the passing game helped him earn All-Pro honors in 2007, when he led the league with 2,104 yards from scrimmage. Not bad for a third-round pick.
4. Saquon Barkley (2024-Present)
Too high for Barkley? Rushing for 2,005 yards and helping the Eagles to a Super Bowl title works wonders when determining lists like this. There’s a reason why we specify the importance of context in the intro.
Barkley rushed for 3,145 yards in his first two Eagles seasons, and only six players have surpassed 4,000 in an Eagles uniform. Can he join the club?
For their sake, the Eagles better hope so, especially amid the growing questions about Jalen Hurts’ long-term viability as a franchise quarterback.
3. Wilbert Montgomery (1977-1984)
A two-time Pro Bowler, Montgomery rushed for nearly 6,800 yards in eight seasons with the Eagles. He also ran for 312 yards and three touchdowns over three playoff games during the 1980-81 season, helping the Eagles to their first playoff appearance.
Montgomery ranks second behind LeSean McCoy in rushing yards, though he actually has one more touchdown than “Shady,” finishing with 45 to McCoy’s 44.
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Neither owns the all-time Eagles rushing touchdown record. Instead, allow us to introduce…
2. Steve Van Buren (1944-1951)
Given that he played during and after World War II, it can be easy to dismiss Van Buren’s final counting statistics. However, he was the first player in league history to rush for double-digit touchdowns and to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Van Buren’s 1,320 attempts, 5,860 rushing yards, and 69 rushing touchdowns were all NFL records when he hung up his cleats.
Oh, and the Eagles won the 1948 and 1949 titles largely thanks to their 6-foot, 200-pound running back. If Barkley earned the No. 4 spot from helping the Eagles win a Super Bowl, how can we not respect Van Buren?
1. LeSean McCoy (2009-2014)
That said, McCoy comes out on top, and not solely because he’s still the Eagles’ all-time leading rusher. If you’re too young to have seen McCoy in his prime, don’t let his last few years with the Chiefs and Buccaneers fool you into thinking he was simply an above-average player back in the day.
Even when the Eagles endured injuries and inconsistency over his six seasons, McCoy was often the reason they stayed competitive. During his time in Philadelphia, he averaged 1,132 rushing yards and 380 receiving yards on 294 touches.
Just imagine what McCoy could have done in a modern Kyle Shanahan or Sean McVay offense.
If not for the 2017 Super Bowl victory to soothe things over, the McCoy-Kiko Alonso trade would easily rank among the worst moves in modern Philadelphia sports history. Chip Kelly should be grateful for Nick Foles (whom he traded) and the Philly Special.
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More Philadelphia Eagles Rankings
- 5 Best Quarterbacks in Eagles History
- 5 Best Wide Receivers in Eagles History
Related: Best NFL Teams at Drafting Running Backs
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This story was originally published July 19, 2026 at 3:49 AM.