Russell Wilson's Rare Achievement Won't Be So Rare in a Few Years
Now that Russell Wilson has officially retired from the NFL, the five-year waiting period before he becomes eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has begun. Wilson is not a lock for Canton, but he has a strong case. When he comes up for debate in five years, however, one of his singular accomplishments might not be so singular anymore.
The overall credentials are there. Wilson's 14-year career includes two Super Bowl appearances with one victory, along with 10 Pro Bowl nods. Wilson ranks fifth all-time with a 99.3 passer rating. He's currently 12th all-time with 353 touchdown passes and 16th with 46,966 yards.
Of course, Wilson was an outstanding dual-threat quarterback - a skill set that produced his singular accomplishment. Wilson is currently the only player in NFL history with at least 40,000 passing yards and 5,000 rushing yards.
Wilson will always be known as the first player to accomplish that feat. However, by the time he's eligible for Canton, at least one other quarterback - and possibly three - will have joined that group.
And with the importance of having a dual-threat quarterback these days being greater than ever, along with the incredible athleticism of today's young QBs, this elite fraternity is sure to grow.
Here's a look at where some players currently stand as they chase the 40K/5K milestone:
Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are close
Josh Allen: The Buffalo Bills QB will match Wilson's record in three seasons - maybe two. He should top 5,000 rushing yards this year. He's got 4,721 career rushing yards and has averaged more than 600 yards per season for his career. He's got 30,102 career passing yards, and averages 3,998 yards per season.
Lamar Jackson: The Baltimore Ravens QB has already hit the rushing mark - he's got 6,522 career rushing yards. Jackson has 22,608 passing yards, so he'd need to average 3,479 passing yards per season to reach 40,000 in five years.
Patrick Mahomes: The Kansas City Chiefs star is still working his way back from a torn ACL, so it's no guarantee he plays 17 games this season. But if he does, he's got a shot at reaching 40,000 in 2026: he's currently at 35,939. The rushing mark will be tough to get to in five years, but he should get there eventually. Mahomes has 2,665 rushing yards - he'd need to average 467 to reach 5,000 in five year.
Jalen Hurts, Trevor Lawrence on pace
Jalen Hurts: The Philadelphia Eagles QB likely will reach 5,000 rushing yards within three seasons. He averages 650 yards per season, and he's already got 3,554. He's not halfway to 40,000 passing yards, however (17,891). But if he maintains his current average of 3,270 yards per season, he'll get there in seven years.
Trevor Lawrence: With 17,822 passing yards and 1,442 rushing yards in his five seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars QB is on pace to reach 40,000 in six years. But he would need to average 356 rushing yards for 10 years to reach 5,000. His current average is 318.
It's early, but these four have a shot
There are a few younger dual-threat QBs who look like they can achieve this milestone down the road, though it's too early in their careers to assume they'll get there. Let's consider the averages: In order to reach the 40K/5K plateau, a quarterback would need to average 3,333 passing yards and 417 rushing yards for 12 years.
Jayden Daniels: Let's just look at Daniels' rookie numbers with the Washington Commanders and set aside his injury-shortened second season. In 2024, Daniels threw for 3,568 yards and ran for 891.
Caleb Williams: In two seasons, the Chicago Bears QB is averaging 3,741 passing yards and 438 rushing.
Bo Nix: The Denver Broncos QB is just a little behind in the rushing numbers, averaging 3,853 passing yards and 393 on the ground.
Jaxson Dart: The New York Giants QB only played in 14 games as a rookie, passing for 2,272 yards and running for 487. So he's on pace for the rushing mark but needs to up his passing game.
Related: Like Him or Not, Russell Wilson Is a Hall of Famer
Related: Poll of the Day: Is Russell Wilson a Hall of Famer?
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This story was originally published June 5, 2026 at 4:45 AM.