In gridiron football, the quarterback position is often defined by a player passing the football within the pocket. However, over the sport's history the position has evolved to feature quarterbacks with elite running ability. These quarterbacks are dubbed "dual-threat" or "running" quarterbacks for their potential to attack opposing defenses through the air or on the ground.[1]
Dual-threat quarterbacks have historically been more prolific at the college level. In the National Football League (NFL), Cam Newton is the NFL's all-time leader in rushing attempts (1,118) and rushing touchdowns (75) for a quarterback, while Michael Vick holds the record for most rushing yards (6,109). In the Canadian Football League (CFL), Damon Allen holds the rushing yards (11,920) and rushing touchdowns (93) record among quarterbacks.
NFL statistical leaders
Cam Newton is the NFL's all-time leader in career rushing attempts and touchdowns by a quarterback
Career records (regular season)
Note: stats are accurate as of the end of Week 15 of the 2024 NFL season.
The width of the CFL's field at 65 yards and the length at 110 yards has allowed quarterbacks to find openings to run the ball, implementing improvisation by a quarterback as a beneficial trait in Canadian football.[17][18]Quarterback sneaks or other runs in short yardage situations tend to be successful as a result of the distance between the offensive and defensive lines being one yard. Drew Tate, a quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders, led the CFL in rushing touchdowns during the 2014 season with ten scores as the backup to Bo Levi Mitchell.[19][20] He was primarily used in short yardage situations due to his speed and running ability. Tate scored two one-yard rushing touchdowns in the Stampeders' 20–16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 102nd Grey Cup.[19]
Statistical CFL leaders
Damon Allen is the CFL's all-time leader in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns for a quarterback.
^ abcdefYoung's USFL stats with the Los Angeles Express are not counted.
^Tom Matte and Charley Trippi have 1,200 and 687 rushing attempts, respectively, enough for placement within the top 10. However, they are not included in this listing as Matte was primarily used as a running back, having only attempted 42 passes in his career,[3] while Trippi played in the pre-modern era of the NFL, in which players were more commonly versatile in terms of position. Trippi was also primarily used as a halfback rather than a quarterback, logging more rushing than passing attempts,[4] and earning All-Pro honors as a running back.
^Tom Matte and Charley Trippi have 4,646 and 3,506 rushing yards, respectively, enough for placement within the top 10. However, they are not included in this listing as Matte was primarily used as a running back, having only attempted 42 passes in his career,[3] while Trippi played in the pre-modern era of the NFL, in which players were more commonly versatile in terms of position. Trippi was also primarily used as a halfback rather than a quarterback, logging more rushing than passing attempts,[4] and earning All-Pro honors as a running back.
^Kemp's CFL statistics are not included in his official NFL stats
^Rote's CFL statistics are not included in his official NFL stats
^Although Pro Football Reference lists Tom Matte with 45 touchdowns, Matte is not included in this listing as he was used primarily as a running back, only attempting 42 passes in his career.[3]
^Otto Graham and Y. A. Tittle recorded 44 and 39 rushing touchdowns, respectively, enough for a top 10 placement. However, they recorded several of their touchdowns during their time in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), whose stats are not officially recognized by the NFL, despite the 1950 NFL–AAFC merger.[7] From the 1950 NFL season onward, both Graham and Tittle recorded 33 rushing touchdowns each.[8][9]
^Flutie's USFL stats are not accounted into his official CFL stats
^Flutie's NFL stats are not accounted into his official CFL stats
^Otto Graham played for the Cleveland Browns from 1946 through 1955. The Browns were a part of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) from 1946 through 1949; despite the AAFC–NFL merger, the NFL does not officially count AAFC statistics and records, and as such Graham's one rushing touchdown with the Browns pre-1950 is not included for this list.
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