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 additional running ability. These quarterbacks are dubbed dual-threats for their potential to attack opposing defenses through the air or on the ground.
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 Josh Allen holds the record for most career rushing touchdowns (79) by a quarterback, while Lamar Jackson holds the record for most rushing yards (6,522). In the Canadian Football League (CFL), Damon Allen holds the rushing yards (11,920) and rushing touchdowns (93) record among quarterbacks.
Note: stats are accurate as of the 2025 NFL season regular season.
Note: stats are accurate as of the end of the 2025âÂÂ26 NFL playoffs.
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. 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. 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' 20âÂÂ16 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 102nd Grey Cup.
Note: stats are accurate as of the 2025 CFL season regular season.
Career totals for college quarterbacks listed on this page generally reflect official NCAA recorded statistics, which, per NCAA policy, do not include bowl game statistics for seasons prior to 2002. Bowl game stats began to count toward single-season and career totals starting with the 2002 season, and this change was not applied retroactively to earlier careers. As a result, many prolific dual-threat quarterbacks from earlier eras â including Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch, whose official NCAA career totals omit his bowl performances â may appear lower on all-time statistical lists than they would if those bowl games were included. Bowl game performances prior to 2002 are documented separately but are not part of the NCAAâÂÂs official career statistical totals used for the records on this page.
Note: stats are accurate as of the 2025 NCAA Division I FBS football season regular season.