While arm power, accuracy, and pocket presence – the ability to successfully operate from within the "pocket" formed by his blockers – are still the most important quarterback virtues, the ability to elude or run past defenders creates an additional threat that allows greater flexibility in the team's passing and running game.
[2] In the 2010s, quarterbacks with dual-threat capabilities became increasingly more common and sought after, with more recent ones such as Cam Newton, Lamar Jackson, and Jayden Daniels citing Vick's influence on their playing styles.
CFL quarterbacks such as Russ Jackson and Damon Allen ran the ball commonly during the 20th-century, and offenses have continued to utilize dual-threats in more recent history.
[12] Florida State's Charlie Ward was successful both through the air and on the ground, with NFL.com writer Chase Goodbread calling him the "most dynamic dual-threat quarterback of the decade".
[15] Heisman.com writer Chris Huston wrote that Tebow's emergence in the 2007 season "marked a clear demarcation point between past and present" for college football.
[17] Post-Tebow, the 2010s saw Cam Newton (Auburn), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M), Lamar Jackson (Louisville), and Kyler Murray (Oklahoma) all enjoying success as dual-threats; each quarterback passed for over 2,000 yards and rushed for over 1,000 during their Heisman Trophy-winning seasons.
[18][19][20][21] Robert Griffin III of Baylor and Marcus Mariota of Oregon were also noted by sports media writers for their dual-threat success.
"[26] Jayden Daniels, who played college football at Arizona State (2019–2021) and LSU (2022–2023), finished his collegiate career as the only FBS quarterback to pass for over 12,000 yards and rush for over 3,000.
[45] The Lions' head coach Joe Schmidt "installed option plays—the heart of the old split-T formation, the granddaddy of the Wishbone—to take advantage of Landry's running ability.
[49] Drafted by the New England Patriots in 1975, Grogan scored 12 rushing touchdowns (TDs) in the 1976 season, a record for quarterbacks which stood for 35 years.
"[55] As for Cunningham, NFL media reporter Jeff Darlington wrote "Steve Young had legs that merited the respect of defenders.
"[57] Darlington added to his point by referring to an anecdote from Robert Griffin III, a 2010s rushing quarterback, who would watch Cunningham's highlights with his father.
"[57] In addition to Cunningham and Young, John Elway, Steve McNair, and Kordell Stewart were also considered dynamic running quarterbacks of the 1980s and 1990s.
ESPN writer Sheldon Spencer questioned "Can Tebow succeed in his transition from Florida's run-option, shotgun offense to taking snaps under center in Denver's pro-style attack?
"[75] In general, for much of the NFL's half-century history prior, "the running quarterback was limited to one player per generation, an exception to the rule of pocket passers.
[78] In addition to Newton and Tebow, notable dual-threat quarterbacks in the early 2010s included Robert Griffin III, Colin Kaepernick, Andrew Luck, Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson.
Carr is not considered a dual-threat quarterback, though his "mindset, athleticism, pocket presence, quick release and strong arm" have all been praised by executives, coaches and analysts.
[87][88] During the season, Bill Polian, a former Indianapolis Colts president, stated, "What we're seeing this year is the incredible erosion of the running quarterback.
[94] Writing for ESPN in 2024, Bill Barnwell retrospectively opined that the early 2010s "could be argued" as the period in which the "tide shifted" towards a higher acceptance and utilization of dual-threats.
[97][98] Local Bay Area media described Kaepernick's run as the 49ers' starter as "flashy" and cited a league source predicting his release following the 2015 season.
[99][100] Cam Newton also had a resurgent season, scoring 10 rushing touchdowns en route to an MVP selection and a Super Bowl berth.
"[102] Dual-threat quarterbacks continued to rise in significance in the NFL during the late 2010s; Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson, among others, emerged as dynamic starting options during their rookie seasons (2017 and 2018, respectively).
[106][107] In addition to Jackson and Watson, Josh Allen, Daniel Jones, Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, and Dak Prescott emerged as mobile threats from the late 2010s NFL draft classes.
[n 1] By 2022, the budding rivalry between Allen and Mahomes, who had met in the playoffs in consecutive years, began to see comparisons to the Tom Brady–Peyton Manning rivalry, though Gary Gramling of Sports Illustrated noted that detractors would claim that the mobile style of play used by Allen and Mahomes was "less sustainable" than that of Brady and Manning, two classic pocket quarterbacks.
[114] Around the time of these quarterbacks entering the league, NFL offenses began to increasingly adopt run-pass option (RPO) plays during games.
[115][116][117][118] The Philadelphia Eagles are often credited with popularizing RPOs in the NFL, due to their success running them late in 2017, en route to a Super Bowl LII victory.
[119][120][121] The presence of two dual-threat quarterbacks as starters in Super Bowl LVII (Mahomes and Hurts) was cited as the style being able to succeed at a high level in the NFL.
"[26] Brooks added that quarterback prospects would struggle to find a roster spot if they are "unable to pick up yardage on a designed QB run or an impromptu scramble".
"[132] In 2018, The Undefeated writer Jeff Rivers commented: "Even in recent years, the term 'dual-threat' (running and passing) has been used as a barrier in the final goal-line stand between black athletes and equal access to the NFL quarterback position, its glory and all its risks and rewards.
[136] The superintendent criticized a late-game mistake by Watson, commenting, "When you need precision decision making you can't count on a black quarterback.