| Year | Player | Lng | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Colin Kaepernick (25) | 56 | SFO |
| 2011 | Aaron Hernandez (22) | 43 | NWE |
| 2010 | Marshawn Lynch (24) | 67 | SEA |
| 2009 | Ray Rice (22) | 83 | BAL |
| 2008 | Willis McGahee (27) | 48 | BAL |
| 2007 | Ryan Grant (25) | 43 | GNB |
| 2006 | Brian Westbrook (27) | 62 | PHI |
| 2005 | Willie Parker (25) | 75 | PIT |
| 2004 | Warrick Dunn (29) | 62 | ATL |
| 2003 | Stephen Davis (29) | 64 | CAR |
| 2002 | Amos Zereoue (26) | 36 | PIT |
| 2001 | Charlie Garner (29) | 80 | OAK |
| 2000 | Edgerrin James (22) | 34 | IND |
| 1999 | Fred Taylor (23) | 90 | JAX |
| 1998 | Adrian Murrell (28) | 74 | ARI |
| 1997 | Terrell Davis (25) | 59 | DEN |
| 1996 | Curtis Martin+ (23) | 78 | NWE |
| 1995 | Zack Crockett (23) | 66 | IND |
| 1994 | Raymont Harris (24) | 29 | CHI |
| 1993 | Rodney Hampton (24) | 51 | NYG |
| 1992 | Marion Butts (26) | 54 | SDG |
| 1991 | Barry Sanders+ (23) | 47 | DET |
| 1990 | Bo Jackson (28) | 34 | RAI |
| 1989 | Greg Bell (27) | 54 | RAM |
| 1988 | Roger Craig (28) | 80 | SFO |
| 1987 | Timmy Smith (23) | 58 | WAS |
| 1986 | Eric Dickerson+ (26) | 65 | RAM |
| 1985 | Earnest Byner (23) | 66 | CLE |
| 1984 | Joe Montana+ (28) | 53 | SFO |
| 1983 | Marcus Allen+ (23) | 74 | RAI |
| 1982 | James Lofton+ (26) | 71 | GNB |
| 1981 | Joe Cribbs (23) | 45 | BUF |
| 1980 | Wilbert Montgomery (26) | 55 | PHI |
| 1979 | Wendell Tyler (24) | 39 | RAM |
| 1978 | Tony Dorsett+ (24) | 53 | DAL |
| 1977 | Clarence Davis (28) | 30 | OAK |
| 1976 | Chuck Foreman (26) | 62 | MIN |
| 1975 | Franco Harris+ (25) | 25 | PIT |
| 1974 | Jim Braxton (25) | 30 | BUF |
| 1973 | Oscar Reed (29) | 46 | MIN |
| 1972 | Larry Csonka+ (26) | 49 | MIA |
| 1971 | Ed Podolak (24) | 32 | KAN |
| 1970 | Dave Osborn (27) | 22 | MIN |
| 1969 | Leroy Kelly+ (27) | 39 | CLE |
| 1968 | Tom Matte (29) | 58 | BAL |
| 1967 | Hewritt Dixon (27) | 69 | OAK |
| 1966 | Elijah Pitts (28) | 32 | GNB |
| 1965 | Paul Lowe (29) | 47 | SDG |
| 1964 | Jim Brown+ (28) | 46 | CLE |
| 1963 | Keith Lincoln (24) | 67 | SDG |