List of National Football League annual receiving touchdowns leaders
In American football, passing, along with running (also referred to as rushing), is one of the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field. Passes are typically attempted by the quarterback, but any offensive player can attempt a pass provided they are behind the line of scrimmage.[2] To qualify as a passing play, the ball must have initially moved forward after leaving the hands of the passer; if the ball initially moved laterally or backwards, the play would instead be considered a running play.[3] A receiving touchdown is scored when a player catches the ball in the field of play and advances it into the end zone, or catches it while already being within the boundaries of the end zone.[4]
![Randy Moss holding a football](../I/Randy-Moss_8-28-09_Patriots-vs-Redskins.jpg.webp)
NFL lists |
---|
The National Football League (NFL) did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[5] Since the adoption of the 14-game season in 1961, only one season (the strike-shortened 1982 season) has had a receiving touchdowns league leader record fewer than 10 touchdown catches.[6] The record for receiving touchdowns in a season is 23, set by Randy Moss during the 2007 season; only one other player (Jerry Rice) has recorded 20 or more receiving touchdowns in a season.[1] In addition to the overall NFL receiving touchdown leaders, league record books recognize the receiving touchdown leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the National Football League in 1970.[7]
Don Hutson led the league in receiving touchdowns nine times, the most of any player in league history; Rice ranks second with six league-leading seasons.[8][9] Hutson also holds the record for the two longest streaks leading the league in receiving touchdowns, doing so for four consecutive seasons (1935 to 1938) and then doing it for five consecutive years from 1940 to 1944.[10][11]
NFL annual receiving touchdowns leaders
![Don Hutson running with a football on the field](../I/Don_hutson_packers.jpg.webp)
![Mark Clayton headshot](../I/Mark_Clayton.jpg.webp)
![Jerry Rice headshot](../I/Jerry_Rice.jpg.webp)
![Cris Carter in Hall of Fame jacket](../I/Cris_Carter_HOF.JPG.webp)
![Rob Gronkowski raising his arm.](../I/Rob_Gronkowski.JPG.webp)
![Davante Adams in a Green Bay Packers unifrorm.](../I/Davante_Adams_Packers_vs_WFT_OCT2021_(cropped).jpg.webp)
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
Leader | The player who recorded the most receiving touchdowns in the NFL |
TDs | The total number of receiving touchdowns the player had |
GP | The number of games played by a player during the season[upper-alpha 1] |
† | Pro Football Hall of Fame member |
^ | The player is an active player |
* | Player set the single-season receiving touchdowns record |
(#) | Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list |
AFL annual receiving touchdowns leaders
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
Leader | The player who recorded the most receiving touchdowns in the AFL |
TDs | The total number of receiving touchdowns the player had |
GP | The number of games played by a player during the season |
† | Pro Football Hall of Fame member |
* | Player set the single-season receiving touchdowns record |
(#) | Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list |
Season | Leader | TDs | GP | Team | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | Art Powell | 14* | 14 | New York Titans | [6][98] |
1961 | Bill Groman | 17* | 14 | Houston Oilers | [6][99] |
1962 | Chris Burford | 12 | 14 | Dallas Texans | [6][100] |
1963 | Art Powell (2) | 16 | 14 | Oakland Raiders | [6][98] |
1964 | Lance Alworth† | 13 | 14 | San Diego Chargers | [6][101] |
1965 | Lance Alworth† (2) | 14 | 14 | San Diego Chargers | [6][101] |
Don Maynard† | 14 | New York Jets | [6][102] | ||
1966 | Lance Alworth† (3) | 13 | 14 | San Diego Chargers | [6][101] |
1967 | Al Denson | 11 | 14 | Denver Broncos | [6][103] |
Otis Taylor | 14 | Kansas City Chiefs | [6][104] | ||
1968 | Karl Noonan | 11 | 14 | Miami Dolphins | [6][105] |
Warren Wells | 14 | Oakland Raiders | [6][106] | ||
1969 | Warren Wells (2) | 14 | 14 | Oakland Raiders | [6][106] |
Most seasons leading the league
Count | Player | Seasons | Team(s) | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
9 | Don Hutson | 1935–1938, 1940–1944 | Green Bay Packers | [6][24] |
6 | Jerry Rice | 1986, 1987, 1989–1991, 1993 | San Francisco 49ers | [6][70] |
5 | Randy Moss | 1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009 | Minnesota Vikings (3) / New England Patriots (2) | [6][77] |
3 | Lance Alworth | 1964–1966 | San Diego Chargers | [6][101] |
Cris Carter | 1995, 1997, 1999 | Minnesota Vikings | [6][73] | |
Terrell Owens | 2001, 2002, 2006 | San Francisco 49ers (2) / Dallas Cowboys (1) | [6][78] |
See also
- List of National Football League career receiving touchdowns leaders
- List of National Football League annual receiving yards leaders
- List of National Football League annual receptions leaders
- List of National Football League annual rushing touchdowns leaders
- List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders
- List of National Football League annual scoring leaders
Notes
- Notes
- The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season, instead setting a minimum.[15]
- The 1982 season was reduced from 16 to 9 games due to a 57-day players' strike.[65]
- Footnotes
- "NFL Single-Season Receiving Touchdowns Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 29, 2019. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- "Beginner's Guide to Football". National Football League. Archived from the original on May 26, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- Brinson, Will (December 31, 2013). "NFL, Elias reviewing Daniel Clark passing record: lateral or pass?". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- "2022 NFL Rulebook | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- "NFL's Passer Rating". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- "NFL Year-by-Year Receiving Touchdowns Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2018. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- "2022 NFL Rulebook | NFL Football Operations". operations.nfl.com. Rule 11 Section 2 & Rule 3 Section 39. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
- Huber, Bill (June 26, 2022). "Remembering the Unparalleled Dominance of Don Hutson". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- Kacsmar, Scott. "The 10 Most Unbreakable Records in NFL History". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on July 25, 2022. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- Oates, Bob (April 30, 1989). "Don Hutson: After Helping Invent the Forward Pass, the Former Packer Star Grabbed the Brass Ring of Life as Well". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- "ESPN.com: Hutson was first modern receiver". ESPN. Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- "A call to the Hall is necessary for former Dolphins WR Mark Clayton". USA Today. April 18, 2023. Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
- "Every record Rob Gronkowski set during legendary NFL career". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- "Davante Adams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season | Pro Football Hall of Fame". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
- "1932 New York Giants". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 27, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "1933 New York Giants". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 28, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "1933 Pittsburgh Pirates". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "1933 Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "Bill Karr Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "1933 Brooklyn Dodgers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "1933 Green Bay Packers". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 21, 2014. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "1934 Chicago Bears". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2014.
- "Don Hutson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Jim Benton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Frank Liebel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Billy Dewell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Ken Kavanaugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Mal Kutner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Tom Fears Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Hugh Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Bob Shaw Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Elroy Hirsch Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Cloyce Box Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Pete Pihos Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Billy Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Harlon Hill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Billy Howton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Jim Mutscheller Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Raymond Berry Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 13, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Tommy McDonald Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Sonny Randle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Frank Clarke Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Terry Barr Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 1, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Gary Collins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Bobby Mitchell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Johnny Morris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Bucky Pope Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Bob Hayes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Dave Parks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 23, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Homer Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Paul Warfield Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Lance Rentzel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Dick Gordon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Gene Washington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2013. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Harold Jackson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Cliff Branch Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Mel Gray Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Lynn Swann Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Nat Moore Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "John Jefferson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Stanley Morgan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Alfred Jenkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Steve Watson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 18, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "NFL History by Decade: 1981–1990". National Football League. Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2013.
- "Wes Chandler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Roy Green Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 16, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Mark Clayton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Daryl Turner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Jerry Rice Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Sterling Sharpe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Andre Rison Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Chris Carter Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Carl Pickens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Michael Jackson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Tony Martin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Randy Moss Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Terrell Owens Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Muhsin Muhammad Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Marvin Harrison Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Steve Smith Sr. Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 3, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Larry Fitzgerald Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Calvin Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Vernon Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Dwayne Bowe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Rob Gronkowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "James Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Jimmy Graham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Dez Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 5, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Doug Baldwin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Brandon Marshall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Allen Robinson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Jordy Nelson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on September 25, 2019. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "DeAndre Hopkins Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Antonio Brown Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Kenny Golladay Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Cooper Kupp Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 31, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Art Powell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Bill Groman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Chris Burford Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Lance Alworth Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 17, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Don Maynard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 18, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Al Denson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2020. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Otis Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Karl Noonan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
- "Warren Wells Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 19, 2014. Retrieved May 26, 2023.