Honestly, it feels like just yesterday we were debating if a "running quarterback" could actually survive in the NFL without getting folded like a lawn chair. Then Lamar Jackson happened. If you’ve been tracking lamar jackson rushing yards lately, you know we aren't just looking at a hot streak or a fast season. We are looking at the mountaintop.
He did it.
On Christmas Day 2024, in a game against the Houston Texans, Lamar officially hit 6,110 career rushing yards. That single yard—the one that moved him past Michael Vick—changed everything. For years, Vick’s 6,109 was the "unbreakable" ceiling for dual-threat QBs. Lamar didn't just break it; he shattered the timeline, reaching that mark in nearly half the time it took the legends before him.
The Reality of the All-Time Leaderboard
When people talk about the greatest to ever run the ball from the pocket, names like Randall Cunningham and Cam Newton always come up. But the efficiency Lamar brings is actually kind of scary.
As of early 2026, lamar jackson rushing yards sit at a career total of 6,522. Think about that. He’s already gapped Michael Vick by several hundred yards and he’s still in his prime. While Cam Newton still holds the record for rushing attempts (1,118) and Josh Allen is the king of the "quarterback sneak" touchdown, Lamar owns the yardage.
The list currently looks like this:
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- Lamar Jackson: 6,522 yards
- Michael Vick: 6,109 yards
- Cam Newton: 5,628 yards
- Russell Wilson: 5,568 yards
It isn't just about the total number, though. It’s the pace. Vick played 13 seasons to get his 6,109. Lamar blew past him in year seven.
Why the 2025 Season Was Weird
The 2025 season was a bit of a rollercoaster for the Ravens and Lamar’s stat sheet. He finished the year with 2,549 passing yards and 21 touchdowns, but the rushing numbers were "pedestrian" by his standards. He tallied around 349 rushing yards on the season.
Wait. Only 349?
Yeah. Injuries and a shifting offensive scheme under John Harbaugh meant he wasn't tucking it and running as often. In Week 18 against the Steelers, for instance, he only had 9 yards on 4 carries. Compare that to his 2019 MVP season where he put up a record-breaking 1,206 yards on the ground. It’s a different game now. He’s older, he’s smarter, and he’s trying to stay on the field for the playoffs.
What Most People Get Wrong About Lamar Jackson Rushing Yards
There’s this annoying myth that Lamar only runs when he’s panicked. If you actually watch the film, it’s the opposite. Most of those yards come from "designed" runs—plays built specifically for him to exploit a gap.
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In 2025, even in a "down" year for rushing, he was still 7th among QBs in rushing grade according to PFF. He’s not just fast; he’s efficient. He averages roughly 6 yards per carry over his career. That’s higher than most elite running backs.
- 2019: 1,206 yards (The record)
- 2020: 1,005 yards (The "he's still doing it" year)
- 2023: 821 yards (The second MVP year)
- 2024: 755 yards (The record-breaking year)
He is the only quarterback in the history of the National Football League to have multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Just let that sink in.
The Derrick Henry Factor
A lot of fans thought the arrival of Derrick Henry would kill lamar jackson rushing yards forever. I mean, why risk your QB when you have a human semi-truck in the backfield?
Surprisingly, it helped. Having Henry meant defenses couldn't just "spy" Lamar with a linebacker every play. If they did, Henry would go for 150. If they played the run straight, Lamar would pull the ball on a read-option and go for 40. It’s a "pick your poison" scenario that kept his rushing average high even if his total attempts dropped.
Longevity and the "Vick" Comparison
Michael Vick was the prototype. He was the "video game" quarterback. But Lamar is the refined version.
Vick once said that Lamar is way better than he was because Lamar actually knows how to manage the game while being a threat. When Lamar broke the record in Houston, he wasn't even focused on it. He told reporters afterward that he was just "trying to get a Super Bowl."
That’s the nuance. The rushing yards are a tool, not the goal.
What to Watch for in 2026
If you’re a bettor or a fantasy football manager, the days of 1,000-yard Lamar might be over. The Ravens have explicitly tried to protect him by limiting his "scramble" plays. However, he is still the most dangerous player on the field in the red zone.
He currently sits at 35 career rushing touchdowns. He’s likely never going to catch Josh Allen in that category (who has 79+), but he doesn't need to. Lamar wins by moving the chains.
What you should do next:
- Track the 7,000 mark: Lamar is currently less than 500 yards away from being the first QB to ever hit 7,000 rushing yards. If he stays healthy, he’ll hit this mid-way through the 2026 season.
- Watch the "Yards Per Carry": If this drops below 5.0, it’s a sign the league has finally caught up or his explosiveness is waning. As of now, he’s still hovering around 6.0.
- Ignore the "Running Back" Jokes: They were old in 2018, and they’re objectively false in 2026. He is the all-time leader for a reason.
Lamar Jackson has nothing left to prove on the ground. Every yard he gains from here on out is just adding padding to a record that might actually stay unbroken for decades. Unless, of course, Jayden Daniels or someone else starts putting up 100-yard games every week, but even then—Lamar’s head start is massive.