The top 10 Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single Season in NFL History
By Jason Bolton July 22, 2024 08:03
In the NFL, receiving touchdowns are not just points on the scoreboard; they're moments of triumph, skill, and, sometimes, sheer willpower. A receiving touchdown not only uplifts a team but cements a player's legacy, especially when they rack up an astonishing number in a single season. Here, we celebrate the titans of the end zone, the wide receivers whose single-season performances have etched their names in the annals of NFL history. Together with Fan Arch, we will dive deep into their record seasons and break down why these WRs are considered as legends of the game.
The Top 10 Players
1. Randy Moss (2007): 23 Receiving Touchdowns
The single-season record for receiving touchdowns only lasted one season after Randy Moss had an all-time great receiving campaign in 2007 when he caught 23 of Tom Brady's single-season-record 50 touchdown passes. Moss, playing for the New England Patriots, emerged as a scoring monster linking up with quarterback Tom Brady, creating possibly one of the best QB - Wide Receiver partnerships ever seen in football. He was nearly uncoverable that season, using his ability to stretch the field vertically and win one-on-one matchups en route to a record-setting campaign instrumental in New England's 16-0 regular-season march until its loss to my Giants at Super Bowl XLII.
2. Jerry Rice (1987): 29 Receiving Touchdowns
Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice is regarded by many to be the best player in his position in football history and posted one of the highest single-season receiving TD totals ever. As a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Rice scored 22 touchdowns in only half a season with nearly an average of ninety yards per game receiving. He was paramount to leading his team towards their fifth Super Bowl Championship. His blend of size, speed, route running accuracy, and sure hands made him a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, with his 1987 campaign forever solidifying his standing as one of the most dominant offensive players in league history.
3. Davante Adams (2020): 18 Receiving Touchdowns
Davante Adams of the Green Bay Packers took down the 18 receiving touchdowns tournament and looks well on his way toward all-pro selection with this level of elite play as a receiver. In the red zone, Adams was a verified demon who consistently won with his size and physicality but, most importantly, savaged defenders just by running precise routes. He and quarterback Aaron Rodgers showed off their impressive chemistry with 14 touchdown connections. Adams' 2020 campaign was a career year, catapulting the Packers to an NFC Championship game and further establishing himself as one of the best wide receivers in the league.
4. Sterling Sharpe (1994): 18 Receiving Touchdowns
Sharpe was a total monster in those red zone battles, taking advantage of his size and athleticism to out-muscle defenders during the scramble drill. He developed a deadly rapport with quarterback Brett Favre, and together, the duo rolled to a 9-7 record and set up for playoff football. Sharpe played only part of the 1994 season because of a neck injury, yet his ability to consistently reach pay dirt at a historic rate is one of the most impressive single-season receiving touchdown performances in NFL history.
5. Mark Clayton (1984): 18 Receiving Touchdowns
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Mark Clayton topped the old single-season touchdown reception mark of 18 with his final TD catch in a loss to Detroit. A deep threat playing opposite Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino, Clayton averaged nearly 93 receiving yards per game and scored in 12 of Miami's 15 games. His ability to get downfield and score touchdowns in the red zone was an important element of Miami's potent attack that year, as Clayton led his team to a 14-2 record and Super Bowl appearance.
6. Randy Moss (2003): 17 Receiving Touchdowns
This is the second time that we see Moss on this list, and this one came in his season with the Minnesota Vikings when he had a total of 17 receiving touchdowns during the year. He topped 1,000 receiving yards at 102.2 per game and scored in each of the Vikings' playoff-bound games that year. This 2003 Moss was a repeated exhibit of how he is the best to ever do it.
7. Randy Moss (1998): 17 Receiving Touchdowns
1998 Minnesota Vikings Randy Moss' third entry on this list originated in his rookie season when he generated 17 touchdowns. Moss emerged as one of the game's most electric deep threats, teaming with QB Randall Cunningham to average 82 yards per over a full season and reaching paydirt in all but four games. He could stretch the field vertically and score points in the red zone, which was integral to Minnesota's 15-1 record during that regular season while also advancing to the NFC Championship game. His 1998 season was his introduction to the rest of us, foreshadowing a Hall of Fame career meeting with record-breaking success.
8. Cris Carter (1995): 17 Receiving Touchdowns
Another Hall of Fame wide receiver, Cris Carter, made his mark during the 1995 season, an outstanding year for the Minnesota Vikings, with a league-high 17 receiving touchdowns. Carter excelled in the red zone while playing opposite Randy Moss, and he used his frame and physical style of play to bully defenders en route to finding paydirt. He ended the season with 122 catches for 1,371 yards as Minnesota snuck into the playoffs at .500 (8-8).
9. Carl Pickens (1995): 17 Receiving Touchdowns
A physical possession-style receiver, Pickens was dangerous in the red zone and routinely outwrestled opposing defenders to bring down contested throws. The Bengals were 7-9 and made the playoffs, but he managed to receive for a career-high in yardage with 1,234 on just under one hundred catches. The 1995 season was a signature year for Pickens, demonstrating his big-play capabilities to be the go-to guy in an offense.
10. Jerry Rice (1989): 17 Receiving Touchdowns
Another HOFer, Jerry Rice, is on this list, with 17 receiving touchdowns in the 1989 season, which rounded out the top ten. Rice played for the San Francisco 49ers during an era when they boasted one of the best offenses in NFL history and a quarterback connection with Joe Montana that proved unstoppable. Rice was a matchup nightmare with his blend of size, speed, route-running prowess, and hands, which virtually made him uncoverable and one of the most prolific scorers in league history during San Francisco's Super Bowl title run. Rice's 1989 season was his latest evidence of being the most dominant wide receiver ever and one of the all-time greatest NFL figures.
These historic seasons only happened due to the evolution of the passing game, top-tier quarterback talent, creative offensive minds, and players built in ideal NFL WR form. With the NFL increasingly slanting toward being a passing league, it is highly probable that many will threaten to approach both of these records, further solidifying those all-time great single-season campaigns in history.
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