The 7 Most Efficient Seasons By 30-Plus-Year-Old Running Backs Since the Turn of the Century

Tiki Barber, 2004-2006

Seasons: 2005, 2004, 2006
Team: New York Giants
Age: 30-32
Total NEP: 73.68, 52.85, 50.05
Production: 1,860 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. 53 receptions for 530 yards and 2 touchdowns (2005).
1,518 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. 52 receptions for 578 yards and 2 touchdowns (2004).
1,662 rushing yards and 5 touchdowns. 58 receptions for 465 yards (2006).

While Tiki Barber doesn't hold the distinction of owning the single-best season by a 30-plus-year-old back of the past 15 years, he does own arguably the best three-year streak for any tailback in this age group.

Barber's Rushing NEP of 52.85, 73.68, and 50.05 from 2004 through 2006 ranked 3rd, 2nd, and 4th, respectively, since 2000. And over this three-year stretch, he averaged an incredible 1,680 yards on the ground to go along with 54 receptions and 524 yards in the air and a little over 10 total touchdowns per season.

As a testament to his consistent high-level of play, not once did Barber ever record fewer than 1,500 yards rushing or 450 yards receiving in any season in his thirties.

Unfortunately for Barber, the one thing he'll likely best be remembered for won't be his ability to operate at such a high level at an age when most other players are finding their bodies betraying them, but instead, hanging it up a year too soon.

One season after amassing 1,600 rushing and 465 receiving yards and being elected to his third straight Pro Bowl, Barber suddenly chose to walk away from the game. And in the same season that Barber chose to retire, the New York Giants would go on to upset the then-undefeated New England Patriots to win Super Bowl XLII.