Rush to Greatness: Eagles Jalen Hurts can inch closer to NFL history on MNF

Ryan OLeary

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Rush to Greatness: Eagles Jalen Hurts can inch closer to NFL history on MNF image

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, now in his fifth season, has already entered the pantheon of dual-threat quarterbacks in NFL history. He’s on the doorstep of adding to that history on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons.

Hurts enters his team’s Week 2 game just two rushing touchdowns shy of tying San Francisco 49ers legend Steve Young for No. 4 all-time by a quarterback. With double-digit rushing TDs in each of his last three seasons, Hurts should climb all the way to No. 3 on the list entering 2025:

Most rushing touchdowns by QB — NFL History

  1. Cam Newton 75
  2. Josh Allen 55
  3. Otto Graham 44
  4. Steve Young 43
  5. Jalen Hurts 41
  6. Jack Kemp 40
  7. Y.A. Tittle 39
  8. Kordell Stewart 38
  9. Steve McNair 37
  10. Tobin Rote 37

The most notable player on this list is Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, who’s racked up his 55 career rushing TDs in a remarkable six-plus seasons. Hurts and Allen both broke the NFL record for single-season rushing scores by a quarterback with 15 apiece in 2023. Allen continues to pad his total, rushing for a pair of scores in Buffalo’s Week 1 win over the Arizona Cardinals. 

At this meteoric pace, both Hurts and Allen should catch Touchdown King Cam Newton in short order. Newton burst onto the scene in 2011 with 14 rushing scores, but only hit double digits two other times over his 11-year career. In that regard, Hurts is in elite company. He’s the first quarterback in NFL history to have three consecutive seasons of 10-plus rushing touchdowns.

Hurts is still looking for his first rushing score of 2024. Even with a special running back in Saquon Barkley in the backfield, Hurts could get more opportunities on the ground Monday night with No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown ruled out with a hamstring injury. Hurts hasn’t faced the Falcons since the 2021 opener, his first season as Philly’s full-time starting quarterback. He rushed seven times for 62 scoreless yards in that game.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.