Quarterback Josh Allen just became the Buffalo Bills franchise leader in rushing touchdowns following an opening-drive score in Week 17 against the New York Jets.

You read that right, the Bills franchise ground scoring leader is a quarterback. Allen, who has been considered a dual-threat throughout his seven seasons, scored his 65th career rushing touchdown on December 29, 2024 as the Bills scored first in a game against the New York Jets tying Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas at the top of Buffalo’s record book.

 Leon Halip-Imagn Images

The current Bills quarterback reached his 65th career rushing touchdown six seasons earlier than the Hall of Fame running back. Allen scored his latest rushing touchdown at age 28 and in his 110th career game. Thomas was 32.

Maybe more telling is the difference in the number of rushing touchdowns per year that Allen scores compared to Thomas. Allen has not had a season with less than six scores on the ground (2021) where Thomas had four seasons with two or less. Allen has had five seasons with eight or more rushing touchdowns, including this season in which he has 12 already and last season in which he scored 15. Thomas only had three 8+ rushing touchdown seasons with his career best being his third season in the league, 1990, when he ran the ball for eleven scores.

So what does that mean for Josh Allen? He now has taken over the franchise touchdown records from both Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. Kelly and Thomas are two of the most loved, most decorated Buffalo Bills. They were key to the Bills’ four-straight Super Bowl appearances in the 1990s. They are Hall of Famers. Thurman Thomas was the league’s Most Valuable Player in 1991 when he 2038 all-purpose yards along with 7 rushing TDs and another 5 receiving. Thomas was the AP Offensive Player of the Year the same season.

Allen has been on the hunt for an MVP, although the quarterback insists that the only reason he is excited about his name in those conversations is that it means his team is winning and in the hunt for a league championship.

As for Thomas, he’s not upset about his name moving down a line in the record books. The former running back who now is an ambassador for the Buffalo Bills and the vice chairman for the New York State Tourism Board, is one of Allen’s biggest fans. The Hall of Famer is at the front of the Allen-for-MVP campaign.

If the argument about the disparity in the amount of times and the amound of awards between the two is that Allen and Thomas are playing in different eras, that the NFL has evolved to a more offense-happy league, it isn’t hard to compare Allen to his colleagues. Allen’s 65 rushing touchdowns dwarf Lamar Jackson’s 32 over the same number of seasons – yet Jackson has two league MVP awards. Russell Wilson and Patrick Mahomes are also considered threats to run when their team needs them to, yet they have 30 and 13 ground scores respectively.

Of course, there’s the argument that Allen takes scores from his running backs getting those easy 1 yard scores. Jalen Hurts is another of those quarterbacks who has the benefit of a heavy-hitting offensive line that will bully defenses back to make room for him, yet he only has 54 rushing touchdowns. Admittadly he is two seasons behind Allen – but the Buffalo quarterback averages almost a full yard more per run (5.5) than Hurts (4.6).

Regardless of what accolades the league piles on the Buffalo quarterback, regardless of when that Super Bowl ring comes, Josh Allen is the most valuable player in Bills’ history – at least when it comes to offense. If you aren’t sure, check the record books: you can find his name at the top.