The NFC South’s all-decade running back list for the 2000s starts with two names that defined the division’s early years: Warrick Dunn and Deuce McAllister.
Those two anchor the first team, while Carolina and Tampa Bay each place one back on the second team. The division was home to plenty of productive rushers in its first decade, and all four franchises are represented here.
Dunn tops the group with the strongest overall score, and his case is built on longevity, production, and the fact that his NFC South story actually stretches back before the division existed. His career began in Tampa Bay, where he earned two Pro Bowls and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors before the NFC South was formed.
He then spent six years split between the Buccaneers and Falcons, including three 1,000-yard rushing seasons in Atlanta and five seasons with at least 1,000 yards from scrimmage. Even his “down” year in 2007 still ended at 958 scrimmage yards.
Dunn finished by returning to Tampa Bay in 2008 at age 33 and still produced 1,116 yards and two touchdowns.
McAllister’s resume is the one that sits at the center of Saints history. He set the franchise’s career rushing yards and touchdown marks, and those numbers stood until Mark Ingram II and Alvin Kamara came along a decade after he retired.
Over his Saints run from 2001 to 2008, he logged four 1,000-yard rushing seasons, including the comeback year in 2006 after a serious knee injury. The Saints later brought him back as an honorary captain for the 2009 playoffs, a sign of how much he meant inside the building.
He remains a favorite in New Orleans and later found success as a radio analyst.
Carolina’s spot goes to DeAngelo Williams, who only had four seasons in the window but made them count. He settled into the Panthers’ backfield quickly and then erupted in 2008 with 1,515 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns without a fumble.
The following season brought a Pro Bowl trip even though his numbers dropped to 1,117 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a big-play threat throughout and, as the source notes, has since become the all-time rushing yards leader against New Orleans with 1,176.
Tampa Bay’s second-team selection is Michael Pittman Sr., a physical runner on good Buccaneers teams. He led Jon Gruden’s Super Bowl-winning club in rushing yards during the regular season with 718, then added 182 more across three playoff games.
He also had a standout 2004 season, even if it did not translate into many wins. The article notes that Mike Alstott, a fan favorite and Pro Bowler in 2002, missed the cut because his workload fell sharply after the NFC South was created and he simply did not have the volume to climb higher.
In Other News...
Steve Gleasons Message To Chris Johnson Will Hit Saints Fans Hard
Chris Johnsons recent ALS diagnosis has already sent a wave through the football world, and for Saints fans, Steve Gleasons response carries a particular weight. Gleason has lived with the disease since 2011 and has become one of the most visible advocates in the fight against it, so when he publicly showed support for Johnson, it was more than a passing gesture. It was a reminder of how quickly ALS can reshape a life, and how much the former Saints safety has turned his own battle into a source of help for others.
Gleason also pointed back to the work being done through his foundation, which has long focused on supporting people living with ALS and their families. For Johnson, the path ahead is still unfolding, and the disease has already progressed far enough that everyday tasks are becoming harder. In a sport built on toughness, the message from Gleason lands with extra force: the fight is bigger than football, and nobody going through it should have to face it alone. [Read more 🡒]
5 Saints Veterans Enter Camp With Everything To Prove
Training camp is about to put a few familiar Saints names under a brighter spotlight, and the pressure is not spread evenly. Cesar Ruiz, Carl Granderson, Isaac Yiadom and Davon Godchaux all enter with reasons to feel the heat, whether it is contract value, performance expectations or the simple reality that New Orleans has added enough bodies to make every snap matter.
Ruizs standing looks less secure after the front office used a draft pick on Jeremiah Wright, a sign that nothing is guaranteed at his spot. Granderson is also trying to justify a deal that has not yet been matched by the kind of production the Saints need, while Yiadom faces a numbers game in a secondary where younger and cheaper options are pushing hard. Godchaux still gives New Orleans a proven presence against the run, but the competition behind him is real, which is exactly why this camp feels like a referendum on how much margin these veterans still have. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Still Have One Big Quarterback Decision Behind Tyler Shough
Tyler Shough is set to open the 2026 season as the Saints starter, but the quarterback room is still carrying one important question behind him. Spencer Rattler and Zach Wilson are both on the roster, giving New Orleans two different kinds of insurance as it sorts out the depth chart and tries to settle the position beyond the top spot.
Rattler remains under contract for two more seasons, which gives him a longer runway in the building, while Wilson is on a one-year deal and arrives with the kind of pedigree that still invites a closer look. The Saints have not yet locked in who will sit behind Shough, and for a team trying to stabilize the position, the backup job could end up mattering almost as much as the starters seat. [Read more 🡒]