In a perfect world, there would be a connected Ravens-Colts “Baltimore football history” that tracked all-time stats and records and a franchise based in Indianapolis wouldn’t shamelessly include our city’s football history as its own.
With Derrick Henry on the cover of this month’s PressBox, I thought “The 15” should be a look at the greatest running backs in Baltimore football history. This is imperfect. This is a list of the running backs (and fullbacks), ranked by their career rushing yards during the years they played in Baltimore. Lamar Jackson would be third, but despite being “not bad for a running back,” he’s not actually a running back.
Spare a thought for Randy McMillan, the Havre de Grace native and North Harford graduate who would have certainly made this list had the Colts not moved after his third NFL season.
1. Jamal Lewis (7,801 Yards)
Lewis was the Ravens’ top offensive weapon from 2000-2006. His most spectacular season was his 2,066-yard campaign in 2003, when he fell just short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. His 295-yard effort against the Browns that September established a new single-game NFL rushing record and was one of the most electric moments in franchise history. Lewis was the league’s Offensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Pro in 2003. His 1,364 yards as a rookie (2000) helped pace an otherwise woeful offense en route to the Super Bowl XXXV title, including 102 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl itself.
2. Ray Rice (6,180)
During his six seasons in Baltimore (2008-2013), Rice also chipped in 3,034 receiving yards. That includes his miraculous fourth-and-29 scamper against the Chargers in 2012 to save the game (and perhaps the season) en route to the Super Bowl XLVII title. Rice finished with 43 total touchdowns, made three Pro Bowl appearances and was a two-time All-Pro during his career.
3. Lydell Mitchell (5,487)
“Hey diddle diddle, Lydell up the middle” was a common phrase in Baltimore in the 1970s. The former second-round pick helped the Colts claim three straight AFC East titles during his six seasons (1972-1977). Mitchell was an all-around back, leading the NFL in receptions twice (1974 and 1977) and finishing with 2,523 receiving yards during his Colts career. He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a two-time All-Pro during his time in Baltimore.
4. Lenny Moore (5,174)
The only Pro Football Hall of Famer on our list, Moore was as much a pass-catcher as he was a runner. He actually finished with more receiving yards (6,039) than rushing yards during his career, spent entirely with the Colts (1956-1967). He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team All-Pro. He received the Jim Thorpe Trophy, the Newspaper Enterprise Association’s version of NFL MVP, in 1964. He was a major force on the Colts’ back-to-back NFL title teams in 1958 and 1959. And perhaps the greatest thing that could be said about Lenny Moore’s football career is that it was almost as impressive as Lenny Moore the human being.
5. Tom Matte (4,646)
It is ironic that what is most iconic about one of the greatest running backs in Baltimore history is … the time he played quarterback. The “Garbage Can” was pressed into duty late in 1965 after injuries to Johnny Unitas and Gary Cuozzo and led the team to a win against the Rams. He nearly beat the Packers in the playoffs, too. But his career, spent entirely with the Colts (1961-1972), was much more than that. He finished with 7,515 total yards (including a league high 1.422 in 1969) and 57 total touchdowns. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl. While his only ring (Super Bowl V) came from a season when he was hurt, he had 146 yards of offense in the Colts’ Super Bowl III loss to the Jets.
6. Alan Ameche (4,045)
The 1954 Heisman Trophy winner was the No. 3 overall pick of the Colts the following year. He played just six years (1955-1960) due to an Achilles injury but made the most out of them. Ameche was a four-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and was the league’s Rookie of the Year in 1955, when he led the league in rushing yards and touchdowns. He is most remembered for his 1-yard overtime touchdown plunge to win the 1958 NFL championship game, known as “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”
7. Gus Edwards (3,395)
It’s not easy to go from undrafted to one of the best running backs in Ravens history. But the bruising back was a steady hand during his five seasons in Baltimore (2018-2023). He was particularly reliable in short-yardage situations, scoring 26 touchdowns. Thirteen came during his final season as a Raven. He was part of the 2019 unit that set an NFL record by rushing for 3.296 yards as a team. Oddly, that record has since been broken … by the 1948 49ers. (The NFL chose to incorporate AAFC records into league history earlier this year.)
8. Curtis Dickey (2,933)
Much like McMillan, Dickey would have been higher on the list if not for the timing of the Colts’ move. Still, he was very productive during his four seasons in Baltimore (1980-1983). He posted 1,000 yards of total offense and 13 total touchdowns as a rookie and more than 1,600 total yards during his final season in Baltimore.
9. Willis McGahee (2,802)
The Ravens made a bold trade to acquire McGahee as Jamal Lewis’ replacement. The move immediately paid off. McGahee received his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2007 after rushing for 1,207 yards. He spent four seasons total (2007-2010) with the Ravens, splitting duties with Rice and fullback Le’Ron McClain. His most memorable moment was his 77-yard touchdown run in the final five minutes of a win against the Cowboys in 2008, the final game ever played at Texas Stadium.
10. Jerry Hill (2,668)
Hill became Ameche’s replacement at fullback but was more of a blocking back during his 10 seasons (1961-1970) with the Colts. He scored 25 total touchdowns during his time in Baltimore and added another in the Super Bowl III loss to the Jets. He was part of the Super Bowl V title team and may or may not have been the inspiration for “Colt 45” malt liquor.
11. Don McCauley (2,627)
Selected with the pick the Colts received from the Dolphins for tampering in their hire of Don Shula, McCauley spent his entire career (1971-1981) in Baltimore. He was an effective pass-catcher (3,026 yards and 17 touchdowns) and short-yardage back (40 rushing touchdowns) but never truly became a star after showing flashes early.
12. Joe Washington (2,342)
He was a Baltimore Colt for just three seasons (1978-1980), but he definitely made the most of them. Washington was a dual-threat back, finishing with 1,333, 1,634 and 996 total yards, respectively, during those three years. He had a league-high 82 catches in 1979, the only Pro Bowl season of his career.
13. Priest Holmes (2,102)
While his star grew dramatically after leaving for Kansas City, Holmes was impactful during his four seasons in Baltimore (1997-2000). That included his first 1,000-yard rushing season (1998). He also played vital role as a change-of-pace back to Jamal Lewis during the Super Bowl XXXV run.
14. Justin Forsett (2,005)
Forsett looked like a bit of a scrap-heap pickup when he was signed in 2014. But with Ray Rice released and Bernard Pierce hurt, the journeyman became a stalwart during his short time (2014-2016) in Baltimore. He notched his first (and only) career 1,000-yard season and Pro Bowl nod during the 2014 campaign.
15. Derrick Henry (1,921)
If Henry repeats his 2024 success, he could be seventh on this list by this time next year. Considering he might actually be an alien and could play for another couple of years, who knows how high he’s capable of climbing.
Photo Credits: Courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Sabina Moran and Kenya Allen/PressBox