Cam Newton becomes fourth quarterback with 4,000 career rushing yards

Posted by Michael David Smith on November 14, 2017, 5:32 AM EST
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When Cam Newton ran through the Dolphins’ defense for a 69-yard gain on Thursday night, it was one of the best runs of his career — and put him in some exclusive company.

That run put Newton over 4,000 career rushing yards, making him just the fourth quarterback in NFL history to reach that mark.

Newton now has 4,002 career rushing yards. Only Michael Vick (6,109), Randall Cunningham (4,928) and Steve Young (4.239) have more.

The 28-year-old Newton is also the youngest quarterback to reach 4,000 rushing yards. Vick topped 4,000 yards in his age-30 season, Cunningham also did it at 30 and Young did it at 37. If Newton keeps playing the way he is now into his mid-30s, he should top Vick for the most rushing yards ever by a quarterback.

Newton’s 436 rushing yards this year are the most for any quarterback in the NFL, and he joins Vick and Cunningham as the only quarterbacks with six 400-yard rushing seasons. And Newton’s 5.9 yards per carry average is the best of his career.

Newton’s 95 yards last night were the fourth most in any game of his career, and his 86 yards last week against the Falcons were the fifth most. He’s running as well now as he ever has.

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38 responses to “Cam Newton becomes fourth quarterback with 4,000 career rushing yards”

  1. It wont occur to everyone until after his career is finished, but this is one of the best QBs of the modern era. I know he doesn’t have the super bowls and that’s a fair criticism, but it doesn’t negate how many records he’s openly broken. This guy plays with wreckless abandoned, and I knot there’s a super bowl fumble video that somehow disproves him endangering his body every single game for 7 years but I swear to god those people are liars and idiots and without that one occurrence they’d have nothing at all. The truth is he both should have dived on that ball in the super bowl and he’s a ridiculous beast who takes more hits and puts himself at risk more than any other QB in the history of the game. Cam is an absolute warrior, and any true blue collar fan should should appreciate that about him…at least when his career is over and you can be objective.

  2. If I was a Carolina fan, I’d hope that Newton never passes Vick for the top spot. Vick only played two or three full seasons in his career as a result of all those hits he took (albeit at a smaller frame than Newton), despite his incredible running ability. Eventually he got to be a much better passer in Philly under Andy Reid, but the problem with being a running QB is how hits and age eventually take a toll. Newton already has a shoulder issue that could flare up on a bad hit, and his O-line (while not the worst) is not the best, either. Being a big QB, he also doesn’t get the same kind of calls that the other guys get, and he does have great arm talent. His legs will always be part of his game, but his arm and decision making need to be how Carolina stays on the map in the future if they want to keep Cam at the top of his game.

  3. Uh…Randall Cunningham did it in 1993, at age 30.

    Young wasted much of his 20’s in the USFL and sitting behind Montana and got most of his yardage after age 30. Cunningham didn’t run much after 29, and Vick slowed way down after 31 (after losing 2 years to prison…).

    Newton is unique among this group in that he is a more of a power runner rather than a blur like Vick and Cunningham or a bootleg master like Young. His style is much more physical and it’s fair to wonder if that will play a factor in how he ages.

  4. Kind of a different time when quarterback sat on the bench for three or four years before they ever saw the field.

    This is apples and oranges.

    What’s more is the rushing records are great for running backs maybe not so much for quarterbacks.

    Would you consider Randall Cunningham or Mike Vick one of the greatest quarterbacks in history? Are they even close to the top 20?

    For most quarterbacks the idea is to have to run as little as possible because the actual play is working and not breaking down.

  5. I have a long-standing bias against Cam Newton (I am a Ducks fan). Running QBs can be exciting, but throwing QBs win Super Bowls. I didn’t watch the game yesterday, but I did catch the highlights this morning. Cam had a good game, but he was right back to “self promotion” mode after every play that was a net gain, and “pouty temper tantrum” mode after every play that doesn’t go his way. I understand blind optimism, Russell Wilson uses it as his style of leadership. What you will not see is Wilson throwing a temper tantrum in a game setting or press conference when the questions get critical. Every time I try to like Cam Newton, he disappoints. So to the first poster, yes Cam is a good player who will typically have good stats, but I still don’t want him on my team.

  7. He’s not a leader, plain and simple. Leaders lead by example. Cam frowns and pouts when things go bad, while after a simple first down makes that ridiculous gesture showing he got the first. I’ll say it again. NOT A LEADER!!!!

  8. Great athlete, average QB and a terrible leader.

    Under 60% completion pct and a poor TD:INT ratio (150:89). His running is dynamic but unless he works on throwing his playing style will catch up to him. Every running QB with staying power learned to operate from the pocket, Cam will have to or he’ll find himself on IR.

    And sorry, there is no way he goes down as one of the best QBs of the modern era, he’s not even a top 5 QB now. He gets overvalued because he’s a freak athlete and the Fantasy Football but he’s is not a great QB and probably never will be.

  10. Good for Cam, The NFC South is going to be a dogfight to the finish for one of the wildcards because the Saints are going to win the division so the Falcons and Panthers are going to be battling for a wild card spot!!

  11. I just hope that he knows that his career will be short when all the hits catch up to his body. I don’t care how big or how fast he is. It WILL catch up. Give me a pocket passer any day of the week.

  15. Cam makes plays mere mortals could only dream about but makes mere mortals look like HOFers on the everyday plays.

  17. Newton is so hard to like. He loves taking the spotlight when he does something positive, but he runs and hide when things don’t go well. Let’s not forget that he threw a terrible pass earlier in that game which should have been intercepted. It was the kind of pass he makes far too often and the kind of pass the truly great QB’s (Brady, Rodgers, Brees) don’t make.

  18. Cute article but glaring issues here.
    You have to adjust for sacks in order to ensure statistical accuracy.
    Newton 4002-1860= 2142
    Cunningham 4928-3537= 1391
    Vick 6109-1879= 4230
    Young 4239-2055= 2184

    So Newton has a long way to go.

  19. Cam has an NFL and took his team to the Superbowl playing his style. He is a dynamic franchise QB that doesn’t play the position the traditional way but carries his team and offense. His style will likely have to change soon…there is a reason most running backs are out the league by age 30…but please try and enjoy one of the most dynamic QB of his time.

  23. Cam Newton’s most impressive stat so far is that he is 2-0 against Tom Brady in his career.

  24. Cam relies on the gimmicky read option…just don’t ask him to consistently read defenses…not going to happen

  25. I will say he is doing a better job avoiding / minimizing contact. And last night was the first time that I can remember him keeping his composure after his WR’s had the drops…normally he starts pressing, misses high…INT.

  26. How is Cam still considered a QB …. He trys to pretned he is Super Man … but in fact he is the Incredible Sulk

  27. scoocha says:
    November 14, 2017 at 9:17 am
    Cute article but glaring issues here.
    You have to adjust for sacks in order to ensure statistical accuracy.
    Newton 4002-1860= 2142
    Cunningham 4928-3537= 1391
    Vick 6109-1879= 4230
    Young 4239-2055= 2184

    So Newton has a long way to go.

    —–
    Since this isn’t college football and the NFL doesn’t calculate rushing totals that way there is nothing to adjust. If the QB losses yards on a designed run the loss is taken into account in his rushing total. If the play is a passing play The NFL subtracts sacks from the team’s passing totals but not the QB’s. So even if the NFL decided to subtract yards loss for sacks from a player the subtraction would likely be done on his passing yardage total and not rushing total.

  29. I will say that Cam Newton is fun to watch. Don´t understand all the hate towards some players. Maybe he´s not your ideal type of player but hell, he´s so electric. And throws a wicked deep ball

  30. Cute article but glaring issues here.
    You have to adjust for sacks in order to ensure statistical accuracy.
    Newton 4002-1860= 2142
    Cunningham 4928-3537= 1391
    Vick 6109-1879= 4230
    Young 4239-2055= 2184

    So Newton has a long way to go.

    ____

    Sacks don’t count against rushing totals in the NFL. They count against passing yards.

    In college football, they count against rushing totals.

  33. “pouty temper tantrum” mode after every play that doesn’t go his way. I understand blind optimism, Russell Wilson uses it as his style of leadership. What you will not see is Wilson throwing a temper tantrum in a game setting or press conference when the questions get critical.

    But you know who you will see doing this?! Tom freakin’ Brady! So stop hating on Cam, just bc you don’t like Cam. Brady does the same thing.

  35. sbaltimore says:
    November 14, 2017 at 12:44 pm
    All I know is this: when Cam is winning, he prances; when Cam is losing, he pouts.

    I’ll say it again….Tom Brady does the same thing, but no one ever mentions this.

  36. I guess being a 4000 yard rusher is a good thing when you aren’t much of a QB and even less of a person.

  37. Pouty, petulant, preening, not a leader, terrible in face of adversity…. I agree with
    all those comments here –

    Does NFL realize how turned off most football fans (except Carolina fans) are of his antics, immaturity, etc. He projects the very antheisis of the type of values that made the NFL great and popular, and a money machine. Coddeling to children like Cam wil be the slow death of the NFL – although maybe not so slow – ratings off 22% for MNF yesterday. I watched maybe 3 minutes until Cam did his 1st down histrionics and I turned off.

  38. Ultraviolet Thunder says:
    November 14, 2017 at 1:28 pm
    I guess being a 4000 yard rusher is a good thing when you aren’t much of a QB and even less of a person.

    ************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

    If I were to tell you that Cam Newton’s and Tom Brady’s PASSING STATS are NEARLY IDENTICAL through their first 7 Seasons would that help change your opinion of how “good” a QB Cam has been??? I won’t dare try to convince you of what type of person Cam is or isn’t it seems you have that all figured out by the pre/post game interviews….(Rolls Eyes)………

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