Former NFL running back Warrick Dunn has been eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for over a decade, but he's yet to receive the coveted gold jacket. Having played 11 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons, Dunn amassed 10,967 rushing yards, placing him 23rd on the NFL's all-time rushing list. This mark appears to be a key benchmark for Hall of Fame consideration.
Since 1970, only two players with fewer rushing yards than Dunn have been enshrined in Canton: Earl Campbell and Terrell Davis. Dunn acknowledges the challenges he faced throughout his career, particularly given his size. "Being a 5-foot-8, 185-pound running back, I constantly had to prove myself," Dunn shared in a recent interview. He often split carries with other talented backs like Mike Alstott in Tampa Bay and T.J. Duckett in Atlanta, which impacted his overall rushing totals.
Despite the shared workload, Dunn believes his impact and performance warrant Hall of Fame recognition. "I watch highlights, and I'm amazed at what I accomplished," he admitted. "I believe I belong among the best to ever play the game." Dunn's desire for induction goes beyond personal accolades; he wants to inspire younger generations of undersized athletes. "I want to be an example for kids who may not be the biggest, showing them they can overcome the odds," he explained.
Beyond his rushing yards, Dunn accumulated over 15,000 all-purpose yards, surpassing several Hall of Fame running backs, including Jerome Bettis, Franco Harris, and O.J. Simpson. He finished with just 105 fewer all-purpose yards than Eric Dickerson. Among eligible players who primarily played running back, Dunn's all-purpose yardage total is the third highest among those not yet inducted, trailing only Herschel Walker and Tiki Barber. This statistic further strengthens his argument for Hall of Fame consideration.
