Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback in NFL History

The most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history leaderboard shows how much the position has changed. Quarterbacks were once judged almost entirely by passing production, but the modern game has made mobility, rushing threat, red-zone running and scramble creation major parts of quarterback value.

This ranking is based on career regular-season rushing yards by quarterbacks. Playoff rushing yards are not included. Lamar Jackson leads the way, followed by Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Randall Cunningham and Josh Allen.

Lamar Jackson now owns the top spot with 6,522 rushing yards, passing Michael Vick and creating a new standard for quarterback rushing dominance. Vick changed how fans viewed athletic quarterbacks. Cam Newton brought power running to the position. Russell Wilson, Randall Cunningham, Josh Allen, Steve Young, Jalen Hurts and Kyler Murray all added their own style to the quarterback rushing legacy.

This is not a ranking of the best quarterbacks overall. It is a rushing leaderboard. Passing numbers, MVPs, Super Bowls and playoff success all matter for legacy, but this post focuses specifically on which quarterbacks gained the most yards on the ground during the regular season.

For more NFL history content, this post connects naturally to our main SOG Sports NFL page, the best quarterbacks of all-time ranking, the best running quarterbacks in NFL history and the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in NFL history.

Quick Answer: Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback

Lamar Jackson has the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history with 6,522 regular-season rushing yards through the end of the 2025 season. Michael Vick ranks second with 6,109, followed by Cam Newton, Russell Wilson, Randall Cunningham and Josh Allen.

How This Ranking Works

This ranking counts regular-season rushing yards by quarterbacks. It does not include playoff rushing yards, preseason numbers or college production.

Quarterback rushing yards can come from designed runs, scrambles, option plays and broken plays. Kneel-downs can slightly reduce a quarterback’s rushing total, but sacks are not counted as rushing attempts in official NFL individual rushing stats.

Era context matters. Older quarterbacks like Tobin Rote, Greg Landry and Bobby Douglass played in a league where quarterback rushing was rare. Modern quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Justin Fields and Patrick Mahomes play in a league where mobility is much more central to offensive design.

The graphic is tiered by yardage ranges. Players inside each tier are grouped by career rushing total, but the overall order follows the rushing yard numbers shown in the graphic.

Why Quarterback Rushing Yards Matter

Quarterback rushing yards matter because they change defensive math. A quarterback who can run forces defenses to account for an extra ball carrier on every snap. That affects edge rushers, linebackers, safeties, red-zone spacing and third-down coverage rules.

The stat also captures different types of rushing value. Lamar Jackson and Michael Vick created explosive open-field rushing. Cam Newton and Josh Allen brought power and short-yardage force. Russell Wilson, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers used mobility to extend plays and punish coverage. Fran Tarkenton, Randall Cunningham and Steve Young helped build the bridge between old-school scrambling and the modern dual-threat quarterback.

Rushing yards are not the same as rushing touchdowns. Lamar Jackson leads the quarterback rushing yards list, while Josh Allen leads the quarterback rushing touchdown list. That difference matters because yards reward open-field rushing volume, while touchdowns often reward goal-line usage and short-yardage trust.

Tier 1: 6,500+ Rushing Yards

Tier 1 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Lamar Jackson.

Tier 1 belongs to Lamar Jackson alone. He is the only quarterback in NFL history above 6,500 regular-season rushing yards.

Lamar Jackson — 6,522 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 6,522 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, 2x NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens franchise icon.

Lamar Jackson is the new standard for quarterback rushing. His speed, acceleration, vision and open-field instincts make him one of the most dangerous ball carriers in NFL history, regardless of position.

What separates Lamar is efficiency and explosiveness. He did not need decades to reach the top of this list. Jackson passed Michael Vick for the quarterback rushing record during the 2024 season, then kept adding to the total in 2025.

Jackson’s rushing threat changes defensive math. Edge rushers must stay disciplined, linebackers hesitate, and defensive backs have to respect his ability to turn a broken play into a long gain. Even when he does not keep the ball, his rushing threat creates space for the rest of Baltimore’s offense.

The most impressive part is that Lamar’s rushing production is not just volume. He has averaged 6.0 yards per carry for his career through 2025, which is outrageous for a quarterback with more than 1,000 rushing attempts.

Tier 2: 5,750+ Rushing Yards

Tier 2 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Michael Vick.

Tier 2 belongs to the former record holder. Michael Vick changed how fans, coaches and defenses viewed quarterback athleticism.

Michael Vick — 6,109 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 6,109 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 4x Pro Bowl selection and former all-time quarterback rushing leader.

Michael Vick changed the way people viewed quarterback athleticism. His speed, arm strength and highlight-reel running ability made him one of the most exciting players in NFL history.

Before Lamar Jackson passed him, Vick was the quarterback rushing standard. His 6,109 rushing yards were not just a number. They represented a shift in what the position could look like.

Vick’s rushing style was electric. He could turn a small crease into a 40-yard gain, and defenses had to treat him like a running back with elite quarterback arm talent.

He also became the first quarterback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, finishing with 1,039 rushing yards in 2006. That season helped prove quarterback rushing could be more than a scramble-only bonus.

Tier 3: 5,000+ Rushing Yards

Tier 3 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.

Tier 3 includes two quarterbacks above 5,000 rushing yards. Cam Newton got there through power and designed usage, while Russell Wilson got there through scrambling and play extension.

Cam Newton — 5,631 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 5,631 rushing yards, 75 rushing touchdowns, 2015 NFL MVP, 2015 Offensive Player of the Year and 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Cam Newton brought a different kind of quarterback rushing dominance. While Vick and Lamar were known for speed and space, Newton punished defenses with size, power and goal-line force.

Newton was not just a scrambler. Carolina built real offensive structure around his legs. Quarterback power, option looks, short-yardage keepers and red-zone runs all became part of the Panthers’ identity.

His 75 rushing touchdowns are a major part of his legacy. Newton was one of the best short-yardage quarterbacks ever, and he gave Carolina the ability to play power football without removing the quarterback from the run game.

At his peak, Newton gave Carolina an offense that could function like a physical rushing team and a quarterback-driven passing attack at the same time. That combination helped him win MVP in 2015 and carry the Panthers to a 15-1 regular season.

Russell Wilson — 5,568 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 5,568 rushing yards, 31 rushing touchdowns, Super Bowl champion and multiple Pro Bowl selections.

Russell Wilson built his rushing résumé differently than many quarterbacks on this list. He was not always a designed-run quarterback, but his scrambling, pocket escape ability and play-extension skills created massive rushing value.

Wilson’s early Seattle years were built around mobility, deep passing and off-script playmaking. He could avoid pressure, reset the pocket and turn coverage wins into scramble gains.

His rushing yards were often situationally valuable. Wilson could steal first downs when defenses played man coverage, punish overaggressive pass rush lanes and keep plays alive long enough for deep routes to uncover.

Wilson’s 5,568 rushing yards show how important movement was to his overall quarterback profile. He was not a Lamar-style designed rushing centerpiece, but his legs were central to his prime.

Tier 4: 4,250+ Rushing Yards

Tier 4 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Randall Cunningham and Josh Allen.

Tier 4 features one of the original modern dual-threat icons and one of the most powerful active rushing quarterbacks.

Randall Cunningham — 4,928 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 4,928 rushing yards, 35 rushing touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowl selections and one of the most dynamic quarterbacks of his era.

Randall Cunningham was ahead of his time. Long before quarterback movement became a normal part of offensive design, Cunningham was creating explosive rushing plays and extending snaps with rare athleticism.

He had a huge arm, a long stride and the creativity to make defenses look unprepared. His rushing production helped open the door for future dual-threat quarterbacks.

Cunningham’s Eagles years were especially important because he often had to create outside of structure. His legs were not just an added weapon. They were part of how the offense survived pressure and generated explosives.

His later Vikings peak also proved he was more than a runner. Cunningham could operate as a high-level passer, which makes his rushing résumé even more impressive in full context.

Josh Allen — 4,721 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 4,721 rushing yards, 79 rushing touchdowns, 2024 NFL MVP and Buffalo Bills franchise quarterback.

Josh Allen has become one of the most powerful rushing quarterbacks in NFL history. His rushing style is built around strength, size, contact balance and short-yardage dominance.

Allen’s rushing touchdowns are especially important. He passed Cam Newton during the 2025 season and now owns the quarterback rushing touchdown record, which separates his scoring profile from nearly everyone on this list.

His rushing yards come from multiple sources. Buffalo can use Allen on designed keepers, quarterback power, sneaks, scrambles and red-zone runs. That versatility makes him one of the hardest quarterbacks to defend near the sticks or goal line.

Allen is also still active, which makes his final place on this leaderboard wide open. If he keeps producing on the ground, he can push into the top five and possibly beyond.

Tier 5: 3,500+ Rushing Yards

Tier 5 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Steve Young, Fran Tarkenton, Aaron Rodgers, Steve McNair, and Jalen Hurts.

Tier 5 is one of the most interesting groups on the leaderboard. It includes Hall of Fame passers, early scrambling legends, a physical MVP quarterback and an active rushing touchdown machine.

Steve Young — 4,239 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 4,239 rushing yards, 43 rushing touchdowns, 2x NFL MVP, Super Bowl MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

Steve Young was one of the best passing quarterbacks ever, but his rushing ability made him even more difficult to defend. He could operate in rhythm, extend plays and punish defenses when they left lanes open.

Young’s blend of efficiency, accuracy and mobility helped make him one of the most complete quarterbacks in NFL history. He was not simply a scrambler. He was an elite passer who also had legitimate rushing value.

His 43 rushing touchdowns are still one of the best quarterback totals ever, and for years he was the benchmark for combining passing efficiency with rushing production.

Fran Tarkenton — 3,674 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,674 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, NFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

Fran Tarkenton was one of the original scrambling quarterbacks. In an era when quarterbacks were expected to stay in the pocket, Tarkenton made movement part of his identity.

He extended plays, created chaos and used his legs to buy time before modern spread concepts made that style more common. His scrambling often looked improvised, but it consistently stressed defenses.

Tarkenton’s rushing production is more impressive when adjusted for era. He produced major quarterback rushing numbers before designed quarterback runs became normal and before modern passing rules opened the field.

Aaron Rodgers — 3,634 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,634 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, 4x NFL MVP, Super Bowl champion and Super Bowl MVP.

Aaron Rodgers is not usually described as a rushing quarterback, but his mobility has always been an underrated part of his game. He used movement to escape pressure, extend plays and pick up important first downs.

Rodgers’ rushing total shows how much athleticism supported his passing greatness, especially during his prime years in Green Bay. He was never a designed-run centerpiece, but he consistently punished defenses that ignored his legs.

His 36 rushing touchdowns are also notable because they tie him with Michael Vick on the quarterback rushing touchdown leaderboard. Rodgers did not look like a classic runner, but his production was real.

Steve McNair — 3,590 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,590 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns, 2003 NFL co-MVP, three Pro Bowl selections and Tennessee Titans franchise icon.

Steve McNair was one of the toughest quarterbacks of his generation. His rushing ability came with power, physicality and a willingness to fight through contact.

McNair was not just a scrambler. He was a true dual-threat quarterback who could lead a physical offense and still beat teams through the air.

His rushing value fit perfectly with Tennessee’s identity. The Titans could play tough, run-heavy football with Eddie George while still having a quarterback who could create with his legs when plays broke down.

Jalen Hurts — 3,554 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,554 rushing yards, 63 rushing touchdowns, Super Bowl LIX champion and MVP, multiple Pro Bowl selections and 2022 NFL MVP runner-up.

Jalen Hurts has quickly become one of the most productive rushing quarterbacks ever. His rushing touchdown total is already historic, and Philadelphia’s offense has used his strength as a major short-yardage weapon.

Hurts is especially dangerous near the goal line. His combination of lower-body power, patience and offensive line support makes him one of the best quarterback runners in high-leverage situations.

His rushing profile is more physical than flashy. Hurts can scramble, but his greatest value comes from designed runs, short-yardage control, red-zone production and the way he forces defenses to account for quarterback power.

Because he is still active, Hurts has a real chance to climb well beyond Tier 5. If Philadelphia keeps using his legs as a weekly weapon, his rushing yards and touchdowns can keep rising quickly.

Tier 6: 2,750+ Rushing Yards

Tier 6 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Donovan McNabb, John Elway, Kyler Murray, Tobin Rote, Justin Fields, and Jim Harbaugh.

Tier 6 includes mobile passers from multiple eras. Some were designed rushing threats, while others used mobility to extend plays and support their passing careers.

Donovan McNabb — 3,459 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,459 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 6x Pro Bowl selection and Philadelphia Eagles franchise legend.

Donovan McNabb was one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks of the 2000s. He could extend plays, attack defenses vertically and use his legs when coverage broke down.

McNabb’s rushing production was a major part of his early-career value and helped Philadelphia become one of the NFC’s most consistent teams.

He was also difficult to categorize. McNabb was not as run-heavy as Vick or Lamar, but he was much more mobile than a traditional pocket passer. That middle ground made him dangerous in Andy Reid’s offense.

John Elway — 3,407 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,407 rushing yards, 33 rushing touchdowns, 2x Super Bowl champion, 1987 NFL MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame member.

John Elway had one of the strongest arms in NFL history, but his mobility was also a huge part of his game. He could scramble, extend plays and deliver in clutch moments.

Elway’s rushing total reflects his athleticism and competitive style. He was willing to use his legs when the game demanded it, especially in critical late-game situations.

His famous helicopter run came in the playoffs and is not counted in this regular-season table, but it captured the same mentality behind his career rushing value.

Kyler Murray — 3,186 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,186 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, 2019 Offensive Rookie of the Year and multiple Pro Bowl selections.

Kyler Murray is one of the quickest quarterbacks the league has seen. His acceleration and open-field movement make him dangerous whenever the pocket breaks down.

Murray’s rushing value comes from suddenness. He can turn a collapsing play into a chunk gain before defenders even reset their angles.

The long-term question is health and usage. Murray has the athletic traits to climb, but his final ranking depends on how often Arizona uses him as a runner and how many full seasons he adds.

Tobin Rote — 3,128 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 3,128 rushing yards, 37 rushing touchdowns, NFL champion and AFL champion.

Tobin Rote was one of the earliest quarterbacks to put up major rushing production. His numbers stand out because they came in an era when quarterbacks were rarely used as rushing threats.

Rote’s placement on this list is a reminder that quarterback rushing did not begin with the modern spread era. He was willing to run, absorb contact and finish drives on the ground at a time when that was unusual for the position.

His 37 rushing touchdowns are also historically important. That total remains ahead of many modern quarterbacks who are discussed more often as runners.

Justin Fields — 2,892 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,892 rushing yards, 23 rushing touchdowns and one of the most explosive rushing quarterbacks of the modern era.

Justin Fields has already produced one of the most explosive rushing résumés by a quarterback. His speed, long-stride acceleration and home-run ability make him dangerous from anywhere on the field.

Fields’ 2022 rushing season showed how quickly he can change games with his legs. He became only the third quarterback ever to rush for 1,000 yards in a regular season, joining Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson.

Fields’ future ranking depends on role and opportunity. If he remains a starting quarterback or gets packages that feature his legs, he can climb quickly. If his role shrinks, this total may become more of a peak-flash résumé.

Jim Harbaugh — 2,787 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,787 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns, Pro Bowl quarterback and longtime NFL starter.

Jim Harbaugh was not the flashiest rushing quarterback, but he was tough, competitive and willing to use his legs when needed.

His rushing total reflects a long career built around toughness, improvisation and steady quarterback play.

Harbaugh’s rushing production can get overlooked because he is now better known as a coach. As a player, he was mobile enough to extend plays and physical enough to survive in a much less quarterback-friendly era.

Tier 7: 2,500+ Rushing Yards

Tier 7 of the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history ranking, featuring Patrick Mahomes, Greg Landry, Bobby Douglass, Daunte Culpepper, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Kordell Stewart, and Alex Smith.

Tier 7 closes the graphic with quarterbacks above 2,500 career rushing yards. This group includes active stars, old-school rushing outliers and quarterbacks whose mobility was more valuable than people remember.

Patrick Mahomes — 2,665 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,665 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, multiple-time NFL MVP and multiple-time Super Bowl MVP.

Patrick Mahomes is not a run-first quarterback, but his rushing value is massive because of timing. He often runs in the biggest moments, especially on third downs and playoff-style scramble situations.

Mahomes’ legs make his passing even more dangerous. Defenses can cover everything correctly and still lose if he escapes the pocket.

His rushing total is not about designed volume. It is about leverage. Mahomes saves many of his runs for moments when defenses are spread out, coverage is deep and the lane is worth taking.

Greg Landry — 2,655 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,655 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns and Pro Bowl quarterback.

Greg Landry was one of the better rushing quarterbacks from an earlier era. His athleticism helped him create offense when quarterback rushing was not as common.

Landry’s rushing total remains impressive because it came before modern quarterback-run schemes became normal.

He played in a time when quarterbacks were not protected or designed around the way they are now, which makes his placement on this leaderboard historically meaningful.

Bobby Douglass — 2,654 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,654 rushing yards, 22 rushing touchdowns and former single-season quarterback rushing record holder.

Bobby Douglass was one of the NFL’s first true quarterback rushing outliers. His 1972 season was especially important because it showed how productive a quarterback could be on the ground.

Douglass rushed for 968 yards in 1972, which stood as a quarterback single-season record for decades. That number was massive for its era and remains one of the most important rushing seasons by a quarterback.

Even decades later, Douglass still appears on this list because his rushing production was so unusual for the time.

Daunte Culpepper — 2,652 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,652 rushing yards, 34 rushing touchdowns and 3x Pro Bowl selection.

Daunte Culpepper combined size, arm strength and mobility. At his best, he was one of the most physically talented quarterbacks in the league.

His rushing production added a powerful dimension to Minnesota’s offense and helped make him one of the most dangerous quarterbacks of the early 2000s.

Culpepper was not built like a small scrambling quarterback. He was big, strong and capable of punishing defenses as both a passer and runner when healthy.

Ryan Fitzpatrick — 2,625 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,625 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns and longtime NFL starter across multiple franchises.

Ryan Fitzpatrick’s rushing total may surprise some fans, but his mobility was always part of his game. He was fearless, creative and willing to scramble when plays broke down.

Fitzpatrick played for many teams, but everywhere he went, he brought toughness and improvisation.

His rushing production was not built around elite speed. It came from awareness, toughness and a willingness to take the open lane when defenses gave it to him.

Kordell Stewart — 2,617 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,617 rushing yards, 32 rushing touchdowns, Pro Bowl quarterback and one of the NFL’s original multi-role offensive weapons.

Kordell Stewart was nicknamed “Slash” because he could line up in multiple roles and create offense in different ways. As a quarterback, his rushing ability was a major part of his value.

Stewart helped preview the kind of multi-dimensional quarterback offenses that became more common later.

His career rushing total does not fully capture his versatility because he also contributed as a receiver earlier in his career. That made him one of the more unusual offensive weapons of his era.

Alex Smith — 2,604 Rushing Yards

Career stats/accolades: 2,604 rushing yards, 15 rushing touchdowns, 3x Pro Bowl selection and NFL Comeback Player of the Year.

Alex Smith was usually known for efficiency and decision-making, but his mobility was underrated. He could extend plays, move the chains and protect the football while still creating with his legs.

Smith’s rushing total shows how athletic he was during his career, especially before injuries changed the way he moved late in his playing days.

His running was rarely reckless. Smith usually used mobility to keep the offense on schedule, avoid negative plays and take safe yards when defenses gave them away.

Biggest Takeaways

Lamar Jackson has separated from every quarterback in NFL history

Lamar Jackson is the only quarterback in the graphic above 6,500 rushing yards. His combination of speed, efficiency and rushing volume makes him the most productive running quarterback ever.

Michael Vick changed the position before Lamar broke the record

Michael Vick held the quarterback rushing record for years and changed what fans believed a quarterback could do as an athlete. His 6,109 rushing yards remain one of the most important marks in quarterback history.

Cam Newton and Josh Allen show the power-running QB path

Cam Newton and Josh Allen are different from the pure speed quarterbacks. Both used size and strength to become elite short-yardage and red-zone rushing threats.

Older quarterbacks deserve context

Fran Tarkenton, Tobin Rote, Greg Landry and Bobby Douglass posted big rushing totals in eras when quarterback rushing was far less common. Their rankings are historically important.

Active quarterbacks can keep changing the list

Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Justin Fields, Patrick Mahomes, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert can still add to their rushing totals. This leaderboard could keep shifting as mobile quarterbacks continue to define the modern NFL.

Full Top 50 Quarterback Rushing Yards Table

Note: This table ranks career regular-season rushing yards by quarterbacks. Playoff rushing yards are not included.

FAQ: Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback in NFL History

Which quarterback has the most rushing yards in NFL history?

Lamar Jackson has the most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history with 6,522 regular-season rushing yards through the end of the 2025 season.

Who did Lamar Jackson pass for the quarterback rushing record?

Lamar Jackson passed Michael Vick, who finished with 6,109 regular-season rushing yards.

How many rushing yards did Michael Vick have?

Michael Vick had 6,109 regular-season rushing yards, which ranks second among quarterbacks in NFL history.

Which quarterbacks have over 5,000 rushing yards?

Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson are the quarterbacks in the graphic with more than 5,000 regular-season rushing yards.

Is this ranking regular season only?

Yes. This ranking is based on regular-season career rushing yards by quarterbacks and does not include playoff rushing yards.

Do sacks count against quarterback rushing yards?

No. In official NFL individual rushing stats, sacks are not counted as quarterback rushing attempts. Kneel-downs can reduce rushing totals, but sacks do not count as rushing attempts.

Who has the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback?

Josh Allen has the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 79 through the end of the 2025 regular season. That is why the quarterback rushing yards and rushing touchdown leaderboards look different.

Which active quarterbacks can climb this list?

Active quarterbacks who can climb this list include Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, Jalen Hurts, Kyler Murray, Justin Fields, Patrick Mahomes, Marcus Mariota, Tyrod Taylor, Daniel Jones, Deshaun Watson, Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert.

Is Lamar Jackson the best running quarterback ever?

Lamar Jackson has the strongest rushing-yardage case ever because he owns the quarterback rushing yards record and has averaged 6.0 yards per carry through 2025. Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Josh Allen, Steve Young, Randall Cunningham and Jalen Hurts also have major arguments depending on whether the focus is explosiveness, power, touchdowns, era or overall quarterback value.

Conclusion: Most Rushing Yards by a Quarterback in NFL History

The most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history leaderboard shows the evolution of the position. Lamar Jackson now stands alone at the top, while Michael Vick remains one of the most influential rushing quarterbacks ever.

Cam Newton brought power and touchdown dominance. Russell Wilson mastered scrambling and play extension. Randall Cunningham and Fran Tarkenton were ahead of their time. Josh Allen and Jalen Hurts show how modern offenses can use quarterback rushing as a weekly weapon.

This list also proves that quarterback rushing is not one style. Lamar wins with speed and vision. Vick won with explosiveness. Newton and Allen win with power. Mahomes wins with timing and improvisation. Young, Rodgers, Elway and McNabb used mobility to support elite passing careers.

As the NFL keeps moving toward more athletic quarterbacks, this ranking will continue to change. But right now, Lamar Jackson is the clear leader in career rushing yards by a quarterback.

More NFL All-Time Rankings

For more NFL history content, check out more SOG Sports all-time rankings, franchise legend lists and statistical leaderboards below.

• Best Quarterbacks of All-Time
• Best Running Quarterbacks in NFL History
• Most Rushing Touchdowns by a Quarterback in NFL History
• Most Rushing Yards in NFL History
• Best Running Backs of All-Time
• Best Wide Receivers of All-Time
• NFL Team All-Time Player Rankings Hub
• SOG Sports NFL

This quarterback rushing yards ranking is part of a larger all-time NFL rankings series built around player legacy, production, peak dominance and era context. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history content.