Green Bay’s Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung highlighted in analytical all-time running back countdown

A popular all-time player list this week shifted from quarterbacks to running backs, and it still drew a strong line back to Green Bay. In a new ranking of the top running backs of all time, Windy City Gridiron contributor Bill Zimmerman used a more analytical approach to evaluate the position, and two Packers legends, Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung, were singled out as Green Bay’s top backs within the larger countdown.

The project ties together Zimmerman’s broader methodology with Green Bay’s historical identity at the position. According to the framework outlined in the report, the ranking system awards points based on cumulative production (one point for every 1,000 yards from scrimmage), then adds separate bonuses for major resume markers such as selection to the All-Decade team, MVP seasons, Offensive Player of the Year seasons, All-Pro recognition, and Pro Bowl appearances.

Zimmerman has previously applied the same type of structure to the quarterback position, and the report notes that his earlier top-100 quarterbacks list included former Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, ranked seventh on that board. That matters here because it indicates the author’s intent: to standardize how different careers are compared, rather than relying purely on narrative weight or era-based reputation.

The running back list also frames how the author decides who rises to the top. Rather than viewing accolades and statistics in isolation, the point totals are built to reflect both longevity and peak accomplishments. That combination tends to favor backs who maintained high involvement in the offense over multiple seasons while also capturing award seasons, league-wide recognition, and recurring honors.

For Packers fans, Taylor and Hornung’s inclusion is not just another name in an all-time database. They represent the franchise’s most recognizable production in the postwar era, when Green Bay’s rushing attack and playmaking were central to its identity. The list’s emphasis on scrimmage yards and major awards aligns closely with how those careers are generally remembered, and it offers a structured explanation for why those two stand out even when the dataset is expanded across the league’s entire history.

There is, however, a caveat to keep in view. Because this is a point system created by a specific voter, it inevitably reflects the assumptions built into the formula, such as the relative value of different achievements and the way scrimmage-yard totals translate into points. Other ranking approaches might weight playoffs, efficiency, era strength, or receiving contributions differently, which could reshuffle the order even if the same players still appear near the top.

What to watch next is whether Zimmerman’s running back framework gains traction as a reference point for other media countdowns. If his system continues to be used or echoed, it could become a useful shorthand for comparing careers across eras, especially for franchises like Green Bay whose history has clear statistical anchors and a small set of universally cited stars at the position.