In this paper, a decision feedback recurrent neural equalization (DFRNE) scheme is proposed for adaptive equalization problems. The proposed equalizer models a nonlinear infinite impulse response (IIR) filter. The modified Real-Time recurrent Learning Algorithm (RTRL) is used to train the DFRNE. The DFRNE is applied to both linear channels with only intersymbol interference and nonlinear channels for digital video cassette recording (DVCR) system. And the performance of the DFRNE is compared to those of the conventional equalizaion schemes, such as a linear equalizer, a decision feedback equalizer, and neural equalizers based on multi-layer perceptron (MLP), in view of both bit error rate performance and mean squared error (MSE) convergence. It is shown that the DFRNE with a reasonable size not only gives improvement of compensating for the channel introduced distortions, but also makes the MSE converge fast and stable.