Cam Newton is taken into account probably the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL historical past, perhaps even the perfect. If pressed, Newton says he is not the GOAT of the dual-threat quarterbacks.
Newton deferred to Lamar Jackson as the best dual-threat quarterback, citing a distinct fashion of play than the quarterback who has essentially the most dashing touchdowns for a participant at his place (75) than any in NFL historical past.
“Lamar’s fashion is totally different than mine,” Newton stated on the 4th-and-1 podcast. “He is acquired massive performs any play. He is acquired pace that I by no means had. And he is only a legend. I performed the sport extra highly effective. I can run, however I will in all probability get caught. Vick, Lamar, they ain’t getting caught.”
Who’s the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL historical past? That is an extended debate, contemplating how a lot the sport has modified and operating quarterbacks are extra prevalent than ever. This checklist might be divided into two components: quarterbacks who principally scrambled to get yards (pre-2000) and the hybrid period of quarterbacks the sport has now (post-2000).
Scrambling period (pre-2000)
1. Steve Younger
Younger wasn’t only a good operating quarterback, he was wonderful. When Younger retired, he was second all time amongst quarterbacks in dashing yards (4,239) and dashing touchdowns (43) — whereas carrying a 5.9 yards-per-carry common.
The place Younger separates himself from the remainder is his excellence as a passer as nicely. Younger led the NFL in completion share 5 occasions, passing touchdowns 4 occasions, yards per try 5 occasions, and passer ranking six occasions. He was a two-time MVP and First Group All-Professional three consecutive years.
Younger led the NFL in passer ranking 4 straight years (1991-1994), completion share 4 straight years (1994-1997), yards per try 4 straight years (1991-1994), and passing touchdowns three straight years (1992-1994). He threw for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns with a passer ranking of 96.8 — first in NFL historical past on the time of his retirement.
Younger was a grasp in throwing and operating, and a first-ballot Corridor of Famer as well.
2. Fran Tarkenton
Rewriting the document books for scrambling quarterbacks in his period, Tarkenton had 3,674 dashing yards on the time of his retirement — essentially the most by a quarterback in NFL historical past. He was fifth in dashing touchdowns (32) by a quarterback on the time of his retirement as nicely.
Tarkenton was additionally the all-time chief in passing yards (47,003) and passing touchdowns (342) on the time of his retirement, the primary participant in NFL historical past to have 45,000 passing yards and 300 touchdowns. He additionally gained one NFL MVP award, made eight Professional Bowls, and led the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns in his ultimate season.
Regardless of not profitable a Tremendous Bowl, the Corridor of Famer is without doubt one of the finest quarterbacks in NFL historical past.
3. Randall Cunningham
Dubbed “The Final Weapon,” Cunningham was forward of his time. He rewrote the document books for quarterbacks, having an NFL-record 4,928 dashing yards for his place by the point he retired in 2002. Cunningham led the NFL in yards per carry twice (1989, 1990) and had 500+ dashing yards in six out of seven seasons (1986-1990, 1992).
When Cunningham retired, he had six seasons of 500+ dashing yards, triple the quantity of the following highest quarterback. He additionally threw for 29,979 yards and 207 touchdowns, main the league in passer ranking and yards per try as soon as (1998, when Cunningham was an All-Professional).
Cunningham set the usual for the dual-threat period that was to come back within the subsequent century.
4. John Elway
Among the finest scrambling quarterbacks of his period, Elway was fourth in NFL historical past in quarterback dashing yards (3,407) and tied for seventh in dashing touchdowns (33). He was a nine-time Professional Bowler and the 1987 NFL MVP, main the league in passing yards in 1993.
Elway was second all time in passing yards (51,475) and third in passing touchdowns by the point of his retirement, additionally incomes two Tremendous Bowls in his ultimate two years. He was additionally tied for second in NFL historical past in fourth-quarter comebacks (31).
Whereas Elway was recognized for his scrambling capability, he is extra recognized for his capability to hold many common Denver Broncos groups over time. He was one of many most-clutch quarterbacks of his period, as his scrambling capability performed an enormous function in that facet of his sport.
5. Tobin Rote
The primary of the scrambling quarterbacks, Rote was the primary quarterback to amass 3,000 dashing yards (had 3,128 on the time of his retirement in 1966). His 37 dashing touchdowns had been fourth in NFL historical past as nicely.
Rote led the NFL in passing touchdowns twice, passing yards as soon as, and passing touchdowns as soon as. He additionally led the AFL in passer ranking as soon as in 1963, the 12 months he was an All-Professional. The 2 time Professional Bowler additionally gained an NFL and AFL championship with the Inexperienced Pay Packers and San Diego Chargers, respectively.
Rote wasn’t talked about a lot till the dual-threat quarterbacks remodeled the sport, however he deserves his recognition in NFL historical past.
Twin-threat period (post-2000)
1. Michael Vick
Vick modified the sport for what was to come back on the quarterback place. The primary quarterback to hurry for 1,000 yards in a season (2006), Vick set the document for dashing yards by a quarterback that season with 1,039. He led the NFL in yards per carry 5 occasions and retired because the league’s all-time main rusher for quarterbacks with 6,109 (the primary quarterback to have 6,000 profession dashing yards).
A four-time Professional Bowler, Vick leads all quarterbacks in NFL historical past with a 7.0 yards-per-carry common (additionally the primary quarterback to hurry for 900+ yards in a season twice). He additionally threw for 22,464 yards and 133 touchdowns, whereas being a spotlight reel each week.
The quarterback place modified due to what Vick was capable of do on the bottom. He set the usual.
2. Cam Newton
A former MVP, Newton performed a major function within the transformation of the fashionable quarterback. Among the many NFL data Newton owns, he has essentially the most dashing touchdowns ever by a quarterback (75) and essentially the most video games with a passing and dashing landing (32). Newton is second solely to Vick (6,109) in profession dashing yards by a quarterback (5,628).
Newton is the one participant in NFL historical past with 30+ landing passes and 10+ dashing touchdowns in a season. He was additionally the primary participant in NFL historical past with 4,000+ passing yards and 10+ dashing touchdowns in a season and the primary quarterback in NFL historical past with a number of seasons of 20+ passing touchdowns and 10+ dashing touchdowns. He additionally rushed for 10+ touchdowns in a number of seasons, the primary in NFL historical past to perform the feat.
The primary rookie quarterback to throw for 4,000 yards in a season, Newton threw for 32,382 yards and 194 touchdowns in his profession. He additionally transcended the sport for this present technology.
3. Lamar Jackson
Primed to rewrite the document books within the subsequent few years, Jackson is already probably the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. Hs 5,258 dashing yards are fourth-most by a quarterback in NFL historical past, whereas his 13 100-yard dashing video games and 61.8 dashing yards per sport are the perfect for a quarterback in league historical past.
Jackson recorded his third profession 800-yard dashing season in 2023, breaking a tie with Vick (two) for essentially the most such seasons by a quarterback in NFL historical past. He’s the one quarterback for the reason that 1970 merger to succeed in 700 dashing yards in 5 consecutive seasons (2019-2023) and is the one quarterback for the reason that 1970 merger to succeed in 600 dashing yards in every of the primary six years of a profession (2018-2023). No different quarterback in NFL historical past has greater than 4 such seasons in a profession.
Jackson is one among 4 quarterbacks for the reason that 1970 merger with a number of seasons posting a minimum of 25 passing touchdowns and 5 dashing touchdowns in a profession, becoming a member of Josh Allen (4), Deshaun Watson (two) and Steve Younger (two). He has led the league in landing passes as soon as and has 125 landing passes with a profession ranking of 98.6. There’s additionally the 2 NFL MVP awards.
The data are able to be reset with Jackson, who’s simply 852 yards away from passing Vick for essentially the most dashing yards by a quarterback in NFL historical past.
4. Josh Allen
One other quarterback who’s rewriting the document books, Allen is turning into probably the greatest dual-threat quarterbacks the league has ever seen. Allen burst into second on the all-time dashing landing checklist by a quarterback (53), tying Jalen Hurts with a single-season-record 15 dashing touchdowns final season.
Allen is eighth on the all-time dashing checklist for quarterbacks (3,611) and is the primary participant in NFL historical past to document 40+ whole touchdowns in 4 straight seasons. He set a single-season document for many video games with a passing and dashing landing in a season (11) and his 221 whole touchdowns are essentially the most ever after a participant’s first six seasons.
The one participant to throw 30+ passing touchdowns and 5+ dashing touchdowns in a season 3 times, Allen is writing his personal chapter within the document books. He is simply 22 dashing touchdowns away from Newton’s all-time dashing landing mark.
Wilson is third on the all-time checklist for dashing yards by a quarterback (5,307), which should not be shocking given his longevity on the place. The nine-time Professional Bowler led the league in yards per carry as soon as (2014) and rushed for 500+ yards in a season 5 occasions.
Additionally a prolific passer, Wilson led the league in passer ranking (2015) and passing touchdowns as soon as (2017). He is thrown for 334 touchdowns and has a profession passer ranking of 100.0 (fourth all time). He is fifth all time in yards per carry (5.4) and tenth in game-winning drives (39).
The numbers add up for Wilson, who additionally has a Tremendous Bowl title to his identify. He could have a spot within the Corridor of Fame when all is claimed and carried out.