| Year | Player | Lng | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Chris Johnson (27) | 94 | TEN |
| 2011 | DeMarco Murray (23) | 91 | DAL |
| 2010 | Tim Hightower (24) | 80 | ARI |
| Adrian Peterson (25) | 80 | MIN | |
| Jamaal Charles (24) | 80 | KAN | |
| 2009 | Chris Johnson (24) | 91 | TEN |
| 2008 | Le'Ron McClain (24) | 82 | BAL |
| 2007 | Ahmad Bradshaw (21) | 88 | NYG |
| 2006 | Chester Taylor (27) | 95 | MIN |
| 2005 | Tiki Barber (30) | 95 | NYG |
| 2004 | Ahman Green (27) | 90 | GNB |
| 2003 | Ahman Green (26) | 98 | GNB |
| 2002 | Michael Bennett (24) | 85 | MIN |
| 2001 | Corey Dillon (27) | 96 | CIN |
| 2000 | Brian Mitchell (32) | 85 | PHI |
| 1999 | Derrick Alexander (28) | 82 | KAN |
| 1998 | Garrison Hearst (27) | 96 | SFO |
| 1997 | Napoleon Kaufman (24) | 83 | OAK |
| 1996 | Kordell Stewart (24) | 80 | PIT |
| 1995 | Joey Galloway (24) | 86 | SEA |
| 1994 | Herschel Walker (32) | 91 | PHI |
| 1993 | Reggie Brooks (22) | 85 | WAS |
| 1992 | David Lang (25) | 71 | RAM |
| 1991 | Kenneth Davis (29) | 78 | BUF |
| 1990 | Bo Jackson (28) | 88 | RAI |
| 1989 | Bo Jackson (27) | 92 | RAI |
| 1988 | Neal Anderson (24) | 80 | CHI |
| 1987 | Bo Jackson (25) | 91 | RAI |
| 1986 | Herschel Walker (24) | 84 | DAL |
| 1985 | Jessie Clark (25) | 80 | GNB |
| 1984 | Greg Bell (22) | 85 | BUF |
| 1983 | Eric Dickerson+ (23) | 85 | RAM |
| 1982 | Tony Dorsett+ (28) | 99 | DAL |
| 1981 | Joe Delaney (23) | 82 | KAN |
| 1980 | Kenny King (23) | 89 | OAK |
| 1979 | Ted McKnight (25) | 84 | KAN |
| 1978 | Earl Campbell+ (23) | 81 | HOU |
| 1977 | Tony Dorsett+ (23) | 84 | DAL |
| 1976 | Delvin Williams (25) | 80 | SFO |
| 1975 | O.J. Simpson+ (28) | 88 | BUF |
| 1974 | Terry Metcalf (23) | 75 | STL |
| Sam Cunningham (24) | 75 | NWE | |
| 1973 | O.J. Simpson+ (26) | 80 | BUF |
| 1972 | O.J. Simpson+ (25) | 94 | BUF |
| 1971 | Essex Johnson (25) | 86 | CIN |
| 1970 | John Fuqua (24) | 85 | PIT |
| 1969 | Jess Phillips (22) | 83 | CIN |
| Clint Jones (24) | 80 | MIN | |
| 1968 | Paul Robinson (24) | 87 | CIN |
| Dick Hoak (29) | 77 | PIT |