Every NFL team’s greatest running back of all time

There really could be an argument made for Jamal Anderson being the best running back in Atlanta Falcons history. He surely has the most iconic name when it comes to Atlanta running backs and was the driving force behind their 1998 run to the Super Bowl — which was the first in team history.

Anderson had a team-record 1,846 yards on the ground that year and even gave birth to the nickname “Dirty Birds” thanks to his iconic touchdown celebration. Simply put, Anderson was the man — but he wasn’t the best to ever do it for Atlanta.

Instead, that honor goes to Michael Turner who was signed to a lucrative free-agent contract in 2008. After playing four seasons with the then-San Diego Chargers as a backup to LaDainian Tomlinson, Turner got his shot to be the lead back and he ran with it. His first season with Atlanta was his best, as ‘The Burner’ recorded 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns.

Injuries slowed him some the following season, but he bounced back with more than 1,300 yards in 2010 and 2011. In all, Turner finished with 6,081 yards rushing which is second all time in Falcons team history.

He also never had less than 10 touchdowns in a season with the Dirty Birds and scored 60 of them during his Atlanta career. That puts him ahead of everyone who has ever played for the Falcons.

Of course no disrespect to Anderson, who deserves all the love he gets. But Turner just did it for a longer time, which gives him the title.