Top 15 Dual-Threat Quarterbacks in Football History

These fifteen quarterbacks changed the way we think about mobility in football, each in their own way, and all with highlight reels that still drop jaws.

Alyana Aguja
June 18, 2025
5 min read

Top 15 Dual-Threat Quarterbacks in Football History — Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The evolution of the dual-threat quarterback reflects the shifting demands and creativity in football strategy. From early innovators like Fran Tarkenton and Bobby Douglass to modern-day wizards like Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen, mobility has become a weapon, not just a bonus. These quarterbacks didn’t just adapt to the game — they forced the game to adapt to them.

15. Bobby Douglass

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Before dual-threat quarterbacks were in fashion, Douglass was a freight train in cleats. In 1972, he rushed for 968 yards — a record for QBs at the time — playing on a bad Bears team that needed him to do everything. He was raw as a passer but dangerous on the move, a reminder of how far ahead of his time he was.

14. Tobin Rote

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Back in the 1950s, when QBs mostly stayed in the pocket, Rote was a surprising outlier. He led the NFL in rushing touchdowns twice as a quarterback and even played in the AFL later in his career. Rote wasn’t flashy, but he was gritty and mobile before mobility was cool.

13. Daunte Culpepper

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Big enough to run over linebackers and accurate enough to bomb it deep, Culpepper was a walking mismatch in the early 2000s. His 2004 season, with 39 passing touchdowns and over 400 rushing yards, was a peak of dual-threat excellence. Injuries slowed him down, but for a time, he was nearly unstoppable.

12. Donovan McNabb

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He wasn’t always flashy, but McNabb consistently delivered as both a passer and a runner during his years with the Eagles. He rushed for over 3,400 yards in his career and extended plays like few others could in his prime. His blend of arm talent and mobility made him one of the most versatile QBs of the 2000s.

11. Russell Wilson

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Wilson’s magic isn’t just in the stats — it’s in the improvisation. He has over 5,000 rushing yards and still throws a gorgeous deep ball, making him a nightmare to scheme against. Whether dodging sacks or winning Super Bowl XLVIII, Wilson’s mobility has always been the X-factor.

10. Kordell Stewart

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Nicknamed “Slash” for his ability to play quarterback, receiver, and even running back, Stewart was a weapon before positionless football took off. In 1997, he threw for 3,000 yards and ran for 500 more — something almost no one else was doing at the time. His career may have been inconsistent, but his potential was thrilling.

9. Cam Newton

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At his peak, Cam was a superhero in cleats. In 2015, he won MVP by passing for 35 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more — unmatched production from a QB. His blend of size, speed, and flair made him a cultural and athletic phenomenon.

8. Fran Tarkenton

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Long before scrambling became part of the QB toolkit, Tarkenton made a career out of it. He wasn’t the fastest, but his elusiveness was legendary, buying time to make plays when everything broke down. He retired with more than 3,600 rushing yards and changed the position forever.

7. Randall Cunningham

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Cunningham was the prototype — tall, fast, with a cannon arm and the instincts of a point guard. He rushed for 4,928 yards and had multiple seasons with highlight-reel plays that made defenders look foolish. In an era of statues in the pocket, he moved like jazz.

6. Josh Allen

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Allen might be the most physically gifted quarterback playing today. He hurdles linebackers, breaks tackles, and still throws 70-yard lasers across his body. Already over 3,500 rushing yards into his career, he’s redefining what toughness and talent look like at the position.

5. Michael Vick

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No quarterback has ever been faster. Vick was electric from the first snap he took, setting the single-season rushing record for QBs (1,039 yards in 2006) and changing what coaches thought was possible. He was a video game come to life, making defenders miss with ease and flicking bombs off his back foot.

4. Steve Young

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A lefty with legs and smarts, Young could slice you up any way he chose. He rushed for over 4,200 yards in his career and still led the league in passer rating multiple times. In the ‘90s, he was the total package — efficient, mobile, and deadly accurate.

3. Lamar Jackson

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Lamar moves like a running back and throws like a sniper. In 2019, he became the first QB to throw 30 TDs and rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season, earning a unanimous MVP. He doesn’t just escape pressure — he turns it into a 60-yard touchdown run.

2. Patrick Mahomes

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He’s not a run-first QB, but his legs change games. Mahomes has rushed for over 1,800 yards in his career, often converting back-breaking third downs with ease, and his arm remains the most creative in football. He doesn’t just scramble — he manipulates the field like a magician.

1. John Elway

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Before the modern era of QB mobility, Elway was the blueprint. He could outrun defenders and had a howitzer for an arm, making impossible throws look routine. His 4,000+ rushing yards and legendary comeback ability defined what a dual-threat QB could become at the highest level.