Not every NFL player glides across the field like Barry Sanders or looks like a gazelle in motion. Some legends, stars, and cult favorites got the job done despite looking like they were running through quicksand, dodging invisible potholes, or losing a battle with gravity.
Whether it was weird mechanics, stiff limbs, or a complete lack of coordination, these 15 players made you do a double-take whenever they took off. They may have racked up yards and touchdowns, but their running styles were unforgettable for all the wrong reasons.
15. Mike Glennon
Watching Glennon scramble felt like watching a baby deer learn to walk. Long, lanky, and unsure of his footing, he looked allergic to fluid motion.
14. Peyton Manning
Manning’s runs were rare, but when they happened, it looked like he was running in loafers through molasses. Defenders practically had to trip over themselves not to catch him.
13. Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben didn’t so much run as he did lumber. It was less about escaping defenders and more about slowly absorbing their energy like a human wall.
12. Jason Witten
Witten always looked like he was one hit away from turning into dust. Somehow, he’d rumble for 15 yards with all the grace of a shopping cart with a bad wheel.
11. Eli Manning
Eli’s running style screamed, “I really don’t want to be doing this.” Every yard gained felt like a physical negotiation with his lower half.
10. Philip Rivers
Rivers ran like someone who’d never actually practiced it—arms flailing, knees barely lifting, eyes full of regret. You could time his 40-yard dash with a sundial.
9. Nick Foles
Foles always looked like a dad trying to keep up in a backyard football game. His run attempts felt accidental, like he forgot he was supposed to throw.
8. Drew Bledsoe
When Bledsoe left the pocket, it felt like a glitch in the simulation. His slow-motion jogs gave defensive linemen way too much confidence.
7. Kirk Cousins
Cousins tries to run with purpose, but something always feels off. His body says “go,” but his form says “wait, how do legs work again?”
6. Tony Romo
Romo was surprisingly mobile, but his runs often looked chaotic, like he was dodging ghosts. He gave off big “improv comedy” energy whenever he took off.
5. Blake Bortles
Bortles had the running form of a middle school substitute teacher reluctantly participating in gym class. It worked just enough to be confusing.
4. Carson Wentz
Wentz ran like every muscle in his body got different instructions. He looked like he was either about to break a 50-yard run or spontaneously combust.
3. Matt Ryan
Matt Ryan’s nickname was “Matty Ice,” but his running resembled more of a melting slush pile. His infamous stumble on an open field run summed it all up.
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2. Tom Brady
No quarterback sneak legend has ever run so awkwardly. Brady’s straight-line, no-bounce style felt like he was chasing a bus in khakis.
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1. Daniel Jones
Jones would’ve just been awkward… until he tripped over his own feet on an 80-yard breakaway. That single moment secured his legacy as the king of awkward runners.
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