In American football, rushing and passing are the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field.[2] A rush, also known as a running play, generally occurs when the quarterback hands or tosses the ball backwards to the running back,[3] but other players, such as the quarterback, can run with the ball.[2] A rushing touchdown is a play where the runner carries the ball into the end zone without a forward pass being involved.[4][5]
The National Football League (NFL) did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[6][7] In addition to the NFL rushing touchdowns leaders, league record books recognize the rushing touchdowns leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970.[8]
The record for rushing touchdowns in a season is held by LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers who rushed for 28 touchdowns in 2006.[1] Prior to Tomlinson's 2006 season, the record was jointly held by Priest Holmes and Shaun Alexander, each rushing for 27 touchdowns in 2003 and 2005, respectively.[1][9] There have been eleven instances where a player has rushed for 20 or more touchdowns in a season and only two players, Emmitt Smith and Priest Holmes, have done so twice.[1] Jim Brown led the league in rushing touchdowns five times, the most of any player in league history.[10]
- ^ a b c d "NFL Rushing Touchdowns Single-Season Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ a b "Beginner's Guide to Football". National Football League. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ "The Basics". NFL360.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ "Rushing Touchdowns Definition". Sporting Charts. Archived from the original on September 6, 2023. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
- ^ "Touchdown Prop Bets: Anytime TD, Scorer & Rushing Props to Wager On". Sports Betting Dime. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ "NFL's Passer Rating". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ "NFL Rushing Touchdowns Year-by-Year Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ "2012 NFL Record and Fact Book" (PDF). National Football League. pp. 625–626. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2012. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ "NFL All-Time RB Records: Season and Career Leaders". Pro Football Network. January 9, 2023. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.
- ^ King, Steve. "Browns RB Jim Brown". Cleveland Browns. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved August 14, 2023.