I know, I know, just the name of this article will make most football fans at least think twice, and names like Michael Vick, Steve Young, and many others will begin to flash through everyone’s mind. However, if we are to consider both the running ability and passing ability of these mobile quarterbacks, the stats make it very clear that nobody has mastered the “mobile quarterback” role in the way that Russell Wilson has.

Originally considered too small to play quarterback by most NFL teams, the Cincinnati native has proven that his 5’11” stature is nothing to look down upon. With 2 Super Bowl appearances and 1 Super Bowl title now under his belt, Wilson has established himself as one of the league’s premiere performers, and I believe he will go down as the greatest passer-runner that has ever graced the football field.

The first factor to consider is his impact in the running game, alone. Wilson’s feet have been one of his greatest weapons since he entered the league. Whether he’s dancing around in the pocket, or taking off downfield, he has proven that his mobility is to be taken seriously by defenses everywhere. Now nearing the end of his 6^th year in the league, Wilson has notched 3,210 rushing yards on top of 16 touchdowns. Comparatively, take a look at some of the most recent competitors to Wilson at the quarterback position. Cam Newton, for instance, has run for 4,209 yards and 53 touchdowns in his first 7 seasons.

Newton’s stature and overall size have been a benefit to him, in that his team, the Carolina Panthers actually have a larger number of designed runs built into their playbook for him, especially near the goal line, which gives him an increase in opportunities to utilize his legs. For further reference, let’s take a look at Michael Vick as well, seeing as he is regarded by many as the greatest mobile quarterback of the modern era. Over his 13 seasons in the NFL, Vick was able to run for 6,109 yards and 36 touchdowns. This number could definitely be higher if it were not for multiple injuries and legal troubles that caused him to miss playing time, but even so, Wilson has plenty of time to make up the ground on Vick in his career. Wilson’s real advantage on both of these individuals, and many more for that matter, is his passing ability when it is paired with his running game.

Very often, quarterbacks who fall under the “dual-threat” category often aren’t quite as effective with their arms, posting less-than-impressive touchdowns-to-interceptions ratios and quarterback ratings. To expound upon this point, let’s take a look at how the two aforementioned competitors have faired in these categories. In his 7 year career, Cam Newton has thrown for 157 touchdowns and 90 interceptions, posting a quarterback rating of 86.0. Additionally, Michael Vick, who, in his 13 year career, threw for 133 touchdowns and 88 interceptions, giving him a quarterback rating of 80.4.

Now we come to Russell Wilson. In his 6 years in the league, he has thrown for 157 touchdowns and 56 interceptions, bringing his quarterback rating to an impressive 98.6 overall. While a dual-threat quarterback like Cam Newton might be used more as a scoring option on designed runs, Wilson’s effectiveness with his legs lies more in his ability to get himself out of trouble by moving around in the passing pocket or scrambling downfield when his receivers fail to get open. He is a pass-first quarterback who is more than capable of using his feet when he has to. One thing is certain, though, Wilson’s passing stats shine far brighter than nearly every mobile quarterback to have ever played in the NFL.

Barring an unforeseen setback, Russell Wilson is blazing a trail for himself straight into the Pro Football Hall of Fame thus far in his career. His improvisational skills and his raw athletic ability on top of his prowess as a precision passer and field general have made him a lethal enemy to any defense that challenges him. Still early in his career, it seems as though Russell Wilson has only begun to dazzle us with his incredible ability, and the best may be yet to come.