X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Top 10 Greatest Rushing Quarterbacks In NFL History

Who are the best rushing quarterbacks in NFL history? Jackson Sparks dives into the top ten signal-callers throughout history who cause or caused nightmares for defenses with their legs.

The quarterback position has never been more dynamic and made up of high-level runners and the game is getting to the point where having a stationary QB is a significant disadvantage. Many modern NFL signal-callers are capable of being elite runners on scrambles or designed-run play calls, while most QBs can move inside the pocket to avoid pressure at a minimum.

There are also plenty of quarterbacks who were ahead of the time as rushers before the "modern era", so it's time to compare them all and build power rankings of the best rushing QBs. These power rankings will be focused primarily on rushing prowess and dominance on the ground, so it's worth noting a player being ranked ahead of another doesn't mean they are a better "all around" quarterback.

Read ahead to see where some of the game's greatest-ever dual-threat QBs land on our top-10 list!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

Honorable Mention- Justin Fields: Chicago Bears

Career Rushing Stats: 232 attempts, 1,563 rushing yards, 10 rushing touchdowns (27 games)

Fields' career is just getting started, but after becoming just the third quarterback in NFL history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in a season, he deserves a quick mention.

There's a chance his big-time rushing season was an outlier, but there's also a possibility he skyrockets up this list in the next couple of seasons.

 

#10. Donovan McNabb: Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings

Career Rushing Stats: 616 attempts, 3,459 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns (167 games)

McNabb is one of the most underrated quarterbacks in recent history, but before players like Josh Allen and Cam Newton, he was one of the first 240-plus-pound quarterbacks with real wheels. There are just 17 signal-callers to top 600 yards rushing in a season, and he's one of them.

McNabb led the Eagles to five NFC Championship games and would fit well into modern NFL offenses.

 

#9. Steve McNair: Houston/Tennessee Oiler/Titans, Baltimore Ravens

Career Rushing Stats: 669 attempts, 3,590 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns (161 games)

In 1994, McNair posted 4,863 passing yards and 936 rushing yards for Alcorn State. Despite playing in Division I-AA, he was clearly an NFL talent and was selected with the third overall pick in the 1995 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He earned the starting job in his third season, rushing 674 yards and eight touchdowns on a league-leading 6.7 yards per carry.

He went on to hover around the 400-yard rushing mark for the next five seasons and should be credited as one of the early revolutionaries for QBs with real skill on the ground.

 

#8. Josh Allen: Buffalo Bills

Career Rushing Stats: 546 attempts, 3,087 rushing yards, 38 rushing touchdowns (77 games)

Only five quarterbacks have posted two or more 700-yard rushing seasons, and Allen has already accomplished that just five season into his career. The 2018 No. 7 overall pick struggled as a passer early in his career but he's been a dynamic runner ever since entering the NFL.

Allen is already fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns by the position, so he's inevitably going to finish his career as a top-five rushing QB ever.

 

#7. Russell Wilson: Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos

Career Rushing Stats: 901 attempts, 4,966 rushing yards, 26 rushing touchdowns (173 games)

During his Seattle Seahawks career, Wilson was known for his elite passing and moon balls, so his rushing prowess has been largely underrated. He doesn't have the high-touchdown figure to support his case, but he's already No. 3 all-time in rushing yards by a quarterback.

He is one of just five QBs to post at least five seasons of 500-plus rushing yards and deserves a spot on the list. However, he'll likely transition to more of a pure pocket passer as he gets later into his career, so this might be his ceiling among all-time rushing QBs.

 

#6. Fran Tarkenton: Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants

Career Rushing Stats: 675 attempts, 3,674 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns (246 games)

Tarkenton can be forgotten by modern NFL fans, but he was one of the founding fathers of the mobile quarterback. Playing from the early 1960s to the late 1970s, the longtime Minnesota Viking had rare mobility out of the pocket and downfield as a rusher.

Had he won Super Bowls, he'd be on every top quarterback list and power rankings, but given his seventh-place standing on the all-time rushing list and his revolutionary play-style, he gets his flowers here.

 

#5. Steve Young: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers

Career Rushing Stats: 722 attempts, 4,239 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns (169 games)

Following in the footsteps of Joe Montana was a daunting task, but Young added a new element to the high-powered San Francisco 49ers' offense with his legs. He continued the Niners' dynasty as a dynamic passer and rusher, and again, was ahead of his time.

As of the 2023 offseason, he sits in second place for career rushing touchdowns among QBs.

 

#4. Randall Cunningham: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens

Career Rushing Stats: 775 attempts, 4,928 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns (161 games)

While some other players on this list are tactical rushers or were simply too big to tackle, Cunningham had legit speed and was often the fastest player on the field.

Among the 15 quarterbacks with at least 600 career rushing attempts, his 6.4 yards per carry ranks second all-time. That said, he's one of the most efficient and explosive runners in NFL history, regardless of position.

 

#3. Cam Newton: Carolina Panthers, New England Patriots

Career Rushing Stats: 1,118 attempts, 5,628 rushing yards, 75 rushing touchdowns (148 games)

Newton is No. 1 on the all-time rushing TDs list by a QB -- and has 32 more than the next closest signal-caller (Steve Young). Not only is he the best red zone and goal line rusher at the QB spot, but he's arguably the best short-yardage runner among all positions.

Super-Cam burst onto the scene as a rookie, setting the QB record for rushing touchdowns in a single season (14). He has the most seasons of 500-plus rushing yards (7), the most multiple rushing-TD games (8), and is one of the few players on this list with an MVP. Injuries and aging slowed Newton down late in his career, but he still added 12 rushing scores at 31 years old.

 

#2. Michael Vick: Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers

Career Rushing Stats: 873 attempts, 6,109 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns (143 games)

Vick is the first name that comes to mind when discussing rushing quarterbacks. After posting a 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2001 NFL Combine, Vick rushed for 777 yards in his first full season as a starter in Atlanta. Over the next few years, he posted seasons of 902 and 1,039 rushing yards -- becoming the first QB ever to eclipse those figures.

After a two-year absence from the NFL, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles and would rush for 676 yards in 2010 (12 games) and 589 yards in 2011 (13 games). Vick holds the quarterback record for career rushing yards and yards per carry (7.0), making him an easy choice in the top two rushing gunslingers ever.

 

#1. Lamar Jackson: Baltimore Ravens

Career Rushing Stats: 727 attempts, 4,437 rushing yards, 24 rushing touchdowns (70 games)

Some might argue it's too early for Jackson to top Vick in the rankings, but since he's the only quarterback to ever post two seasons of 1,000-plus rushing yards, he's the top dog. Among all QBs with at least 30 games played, Jackson has averaged the most rushing yards per game (63.4) and broke Vick's single-season rushing record with 1,206 yards in his first year as a starter in 2019.

Jackson eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards again in 2020 and was on pace to do it in 2021 and 2022, but played in just 12 games in both seasons due to injury. In four seasons as a starter, Jackson has never rushed for fewer than 764 yards, and even as a rookie in seven starts, he rushed for 685 yards. If Jackson can stay healthy moving forward, he'll likely demolish all of Vick's records.

Based on his resume thus far, he's already the best rushing QB ever.



Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App

Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Griffin Conine

To Have Shoulder Surgery On Tuesday
Luke Keaschall

Twins Prospect Luke Keaschall Suffers Broken Forearm
Logan Gilbert

Leaves Friday's Start With Forearm Tightness

Vikings Select Tai Felton To Finish Day 2

Seahawks Select Quarterback Jalen Milroe With The 92nd Pick Overall

Browns Select Dillon Gabriel 94th Overall

Packers Pick Savion Williams At No. 87 overall

Steelers Snag Kaleb Johnson In Round 3

Broncos Select Wide Receiver Pat Bryant With The 74th Overall Pick

Texans Select Jaylin Noel With 79th Pick

Lions Select Wide Receiver Isaac TeSlaa With The 70th Overall Pick
Jack Leiter

To Start On Sunday

Patriots Add Wide Receiver Kyle Williams In Round 3

Browns Draft Harold Fannin Jr. With 67th Pick
Garrett Mitchell

Makes Early Exit
Luke Keaschall

Removed Early On Friday
Blake Snell

Likely Avoids Major Injury
Cole Ragans

Dealing With Mild Groin Strain

Broncos Add RJ Harvey To Backfield With 60th Pick

Raiders Select Jack Bech With 58th Pick

Chargers Add Wide Receiver Tre Harris In Round 2
Detroit Lions

Lions Acquire 57th Pick From Broncos

Seahawks Draft Elijah Arroyo 50th Overall
Carolina Panthers

Panthers Acquire 51st Pick From Broncos
Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals Snag Will Johnson At No. 47

Jets Add A Pass-Catcher With Mason Taylor At No. 42

Rams Select Terrance Ferguson With 46th Pick
Houston Texans

Texans Acquire 48th Pick From Raiders, Draft Aireontae Ersery

Saints Snag Tyler Shough At No. 40
Brenton Doyle

Out For Personal Reasons On Friday
Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF