Which NFL quarterbacks are the best runners? Here's the top five

In the NFL today, a quarterback’s legs can be as formidable a weapon as his arm. Deep-ball velocity, accuracy under pressure and zone-reads remain vital, but the truly elite dual-threat signal-callers remind us that designed runs, scrambles and escape routes can shift momentum just as dramatically.

Veterans like Lamar Jackson of the Baltimore Ravens and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills have built MVP-contender seasons by threatening defences with both arm and feet.

Meanwhile, rookie Jaxson Dart of the New York Giants has already turned heads – despite a struggling franchise – by pairing 10 passing touchdowns with five rushing scores in just six starts. His legs are a genuine part of his offensive profile.

That parallel evolution matters: defences now must treat the quarterback as part of the run game. When a quarterback can tuck the ball, extend the play or turn a broken pocket into a positive gain, it changes the way an offence operates and the way a defence must deploy.

Here are five of the best rushing quarterbacks in today’s league – those whose legs aren’t just a novelty, but a meaningful dimension of their offence.

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Lamar Jackson – Baltimore Ravens

Jackson remains the gold standard of the running quarterback. Despite defences knowing he’ll run, he still converts designed and improvised plays into significant gains with elite natural speed, suddenness and field-vision.

In 2024, he led all quarterbacks with 915 rushing yards. That kind of production forces linebackers and safeties to stay wary, opens up bootlegs and read-options and liberates the passing game in a way few QBs can replicate.

His threat as a rusher remains a key piece of his offensive identity, even as the two-time MVP has matured into an elite passer.

Justin Fields – New York Jets

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Fields brings a more physical, downhill style to the running game. While his passing game has been inconsistent, his rushing output remains the most compelling feature of his arsenal.

His ability to convert outside the pocket, scramble for chunk yardage or transform broken plays into positive gains sets him apart.

He may not have eclipsed Jackson’s raw totals yet, but his rushing threat affects the way defences rush the edge and allocate containment resources.

Jayden Daniels – Washington Commanders

Daniels is the young, springboard athlete at quarterback with rushing as a centrepiece of his game. He ran for 891 yards in his 2024 rookie season, the second-most among quarterbacks that year and a rookie record.

He has already amassed 1,153 rushing yards in his short career to date – the highest among QBs in that span.

There remains a lingering concern over his ability to withstand the hits absorbed while rushing, however, due to his slight frame, with a rib injury limiting his game time as a rookie and a gruesome dislocated elbow ending his sophomore campaign in Week 9.

Josh Allen – Buffalo Bills

Allen is perhaps the archetype of the modern multi-dimensional quarterback: big arm, willing runner and near-constant rushing threat.

His size and power make his runs less “flashy” than Jackson’s or Daniels’, but arguably more consequential in short-yardage and red-zone scenarios.

His established dual-threat resume and sustained consistency make him one of the most reliable intentional runners at the position in the league.

Jalen Hurts – Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts is often under-emphasised in the “running QB” conversation, but his impact on the ground is both subtle and game-changing.

In 2024, he rushed for 630 yards, placing him among the top QB rushers that year. More tellingly, his rushing-touchdown rate is among the highest for quarterbacks, thanks in large part to the Eagles’ near-unstoppable “tush push”.