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Justin Fields declares himself one of top 5 running QB's in NFL history

profilephotocropby:Suzanne Halliburton•07/18/23•

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justin fields
Michael Reaves/Getty Images

We have another list! Justin Fields, the Bears quarterback, believes he’s among the best five runnings QBs in the league, ever.

Lists are big this time of year as we all gear up for training camp, then the regular season. Fields appeared on the All Things Covered podcast and gave his opinion on the five best running quarterbacks.

“I’m definitely in the top five,” Fields said.

But who else does Just Fields include in his top five? That would be Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson and Steve Young.

Who else is on the rushing list with Justin Fields?

So if Fields has you curious, we’ve got the top five best rushing seasons for a quarterback.

  • Lamar Jackson (2019) 1,209
  • Justin Fields (2022) 1,143
  • Michael Vick (2006) 1,039
  • Lamar Jackson (2020) 1,005
  • Bobby Douglass (1972) 968
Justin Fields stretches for the end zone against the Bills. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Surely, Fields is aware of Douglass. After all, he broke his team rushing record last season. Now, let’s move onto the top five career rushing totals. It’ll reveal another couple of quarterbacks Justin Fields didn’t mention.

  • Michael Vick 6,109
  • Cam Newton 5,628
  • Russell Wilson 4,966
  • Randall Cunningham 4,928
  • Lamar Jackson 4.437

Yes, Russell Wilson can run the ball and can still pad those rushing totals. And Randall Cunningham, the former Eagle great, also was a multi-threat quarterback in the 1980s and 90s. Fields mentioned Steve Young. And Young’s career rushing total of 4,239 ranks sixth all-time.

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Justin Fields named Michael Vick as one of the top five running quaterbacks ever to scramble in the NFL. (Getty Images)

Bears QB enjoyed amazing 2022 of rushing. But to thrive, he needs to improve passing game

Justin Fields did enjoy an incredible season running the ball in 2022. His 1,143 were the second-best for a quarterback in NFL history. He was at his dazzling best against Miami. He ran for 178 yards to smash the single-game QB rushing record previously owned by Michael Vick.

Plus, there was a stretch last season that saw Fields rush for touchdowns of at least 60 yards in consecutive games. According to STATS Research, no other NFL quarterback ever accomplished back to back 60s. In his final game of the season, Fields rushed for 132 yards, with 105 coming in just the first quarter.

But this needs to be said. Although NFL coaches are loosening up a bit, they don’t want a ton of called quarterback runs. Those quarterbacks get smashed downfield. And, if you’re doing some freelance scrambling, it may mean the offensive line is porous. Since quarterbacks are the highest-paid players in the NFL, you don’t subject them to extra hits.