Washington Redskins: 15 greatest running backs in franchise history

Running backs, by nature, have inherently shorter primes. They seek contact more on every carry and they get more than they seek, more often than not.

Such a truth makes taking a chance on any running back a risky proposition and it makes taking a risk on an injury-prone running back absurd. But that’s exactly what the Redskins did when they signed Terry Allen in the 1995 NFL offseason.

And Allen broke the mold.

Previously let go by the Minnesota Vikings because of his ACL concerns, Allen would go on to have his best years with the Redskins. He peaked in 1996 when he amassed 1,353 yards and an otherworldly 21 touchdowns on 347 carries.

It was an unprecedented workload for a running back with knee concerns, but Allen took it in stride and his strides often found him waltzing into the end zone.

Allen’s brief, yet fruitful stint with the Redskins makes him one of the team’s best free-agent signings in history. But being remembered as a great running back doesn’t hurt, either.