List of NFL career rushing touchdowns leaders

Last updated

This is a list of National Football League (NFL) running backs by total career rushing touchdowns. This list includes all running backs with at least 75.

Contents

Emmitt Smith is the all-time leader with 164. He also leads in postseason touchdowns with 19. Cam Newton is the only quarterback in this list.

Players with at least 75 touchdowns

Emmitt Smith has the most rushing touchdowns with 164. EmmittSmith2007 (crop).jpg
Emmitt Smith has the most rushing touchdowns with 164.
Key
^Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*Denotes player who is still active

Through the 2024 season

RankPlayerTeam(s) by seasonTouchdowns
1 Emmitt Smith ^ Dallas Cowboys (1990 2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003 2004)
164
2 LaDainian Tomlinson ^ San Diego Chargers (2001 2009)
New York Jets (2010 2011)
145
3 Marcus Allen ^ Los Angeles Raiders (1982 1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993 1997)
123
4 Adrian Peterson Minnesota Vikings (2007 2016)
New Orleans Saints (2017)
Arizona Cardinals (2017)
Washington Redskins (20182019)
Detroit Lions (2020)
Tennessee Titans (2021)
Seattle Seahawks (2021)
120
5 Walter Payton ^ Chicago Bears (1975 1987)110
6 Jim Brown ^ Cleveland Browns (1957 1965)106
Derrick Henry * Tennessee Titans (2016 2023)
Baltimore Ravens (2024 present)
8 John Riggins ^ New York Jets (1971 1975)
Washington Redskins (1976 1985)
104
9 Shaun Alexander Seattle Seahawks (2000 2007)
Washington Redskins (2008)
100
Marshall Faulk ^ Indianapolis Colts (1994 1998)
St. Louis Rams (1999 2005)
11 Barry Sanders ^ Detroit Lions (1989 1998)99
12 Jerome Bettis ^ Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams (1993 1995)
Pittsburgh Steelers (1996 2005)
91
Franco Harris ^ Pittsburgh Steelers (1972 1983)
Seattle Seahawks (1984)
14 Eric Dickerson ^ Los Angeles Rams (1983 1987)
Indianapolis Colts (1987 1991)
Los Angeles Raiders (1992)
Atlanta Falcons (1993)
90
Curtis Martin ^ New England Patriots (1995 1997)
New York Jets (1998 2005)
16 Priest Holmes Baltimore Ravens (1997 2000)
Kansas City Chiefs (2001 2007)
86
17 Marshawn Lynch Buffalo Bills (2007 2010)
Seattle Seahawks (2010 2015, 2019)
Oakland Raiders (2017 2018)
85
18 Jim Taylor ^ Green Bay Packers (1958 1966)
New Orleans Saints (1967)
83
19 Corey Dillon Cincinnati Bengals (1997 2003)
New England Patriots (2004 2006)
82
20 Ottis Anderson St. Louis Cardinals (1979 1986)
New York Giants (1986 1992)
81
Frank Gore San Francisco 49ers (2005 2014)
Indianapolis Colts (2015 2017)
Miami Dolphins (2018)
Buffalo Bills (2019)
New York Jets (2020)
22 Edgerrin James ^ Indianapolis Colts (19992005)
Arizona Cardinals (20062008)
Seattle Seahawks (2009)
80
23 Ricky Watters San Francisco 49ers (1992 1994)
Philadelphia Eagles (1995 1997)
Seattle Seahawks (1998 2001)
78
24 Tony Dorsett ^ Dallas Cowboys (1977 1987)
Denver Broncos (1988)
77
25 Pete Johnson Cincinnati Bengals (1976 1983)
Miami Dolphins (1984)
San Diego Chargers (1984)
76
26 Cam Newton Carolina Panthers (2011 2019, 2021)
New England Patriots (2020)
75
Clinton Portis Denver Broncos (2002 2003)
Washington Redskins (2004 2010)

Players with at least 10 postseason rushing touchdowns

Through end of 2024 playoffs [1]

RankPlayerTeam(s) by seasonTouchdowns
1 Emmitt Smith ^ Dallas Cowboys (1990 2002)
Arizona Cardinals (2003 2004)
19
2 Franco Harris ^ Pittsburgh Steelers (1972 1983)
Seattle Seahawks (1984)
16
Thurman Thomas ^ Buffalo Bills (1988 1999)
Miami Dolphins (2000)
4 Terrell Davis ^ Denver Broncos (1995 2001)12
Marshawn Lynch Buffalo Bills (2007 2010)
Seattle Seahawks (2010 2015, 2019)
Oakland Raiders (2017 2018)
John Riggins ^ New York Jets (1971 1975)
Washington Redskins (1976 1985)
7 Marcus Allen ^ Los Angeles Raiders (1982 1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993 1997)
11
LeGarrette Blount Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2010 2012)
New England Patriots (2013, 2014 2016)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2014)
Philadelphia Eagles (2017)
Detroit Lions (2018)
9 Jalen Hurts * Philadelphia Eagles (2020 present)10

Historical rushing touchdowns leaders

Fifteen players are recognised as having held outright or tied the record as the NFL's career rushing touchdowns leader. [2] Both Jim Brown and Emmitt Smith have held the record for over 20 years.

Jim Brown held the record 24 years, from the early 1960s until the Walter Payton era. Jim Brown 1959 Topps.jpg
Jim Brown held the record 24 years, from the early 1960s until the Walter Payton era.
ReignPlayerTeam(s) while leaderCareer rushing touchdownsSeason(s)
1921 Fritz Pollard ^ [3] Akron Pros 61921
1922 Earl Cramer [4] Akron Pros 101922
1923 Jimmy Conzelman ^ [5] Milwaukee Badgers 111923
1924 Doc Elliott [6] Cleveland Bulldogs 141924
19251926
(2 years)
Tex Hamer [7] Frankford Yellow Jackets 171925
191926
Tied 1926 Ben Jones [8] Frankford Yellow Jackets 191926
19271929
(3 years)
Paddy Driscoll ^ [9] Chicago Bears 221927
241928
251929
1930 Verne Lewellen [10] Green Bay Packers 311930
19311947
(17 years)
Ernie Nevers ^ [11] Chicago Cardinals 3819311947
Tied 1947 Steve Van Buren ^ [12] Philadelphia Eagles 381947
19481960
(14 years)
481948
591949
631950
6919511960
19611962
(2 years)
Joe Perry ^ [13] Baltimore Colts 7119611962
19631987
(24 years)
Jim Brown ^ [14] Cleveland Browns 821963
891964
10619651986
Tied 1986 Walter Payton ^ [15] Chicago Bears 1061986
19871995
(10 years)
11019871995
19961997
(2 years)
Marcus Allen ^ [16] Kansas City Chiefs 1121996
1231997
Since 1998
(27 years)
Emmitt Smith ^ [17] Dallas Cowboys (19982002)
Arizona Cardinals (20032004)
1251998
1361999
1452000
1482001
1532002
1552003
164Since 2004

See also

References

  1. "NFL Rushing Touchdowns Career Playoffs Leaders". ProFootballReference.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  2. "NFL Rushing Touchdowns Career Leaders". Pro football reference.com. October 30, 2019. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  3. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1921". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  4. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1922". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  5. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1923". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  6. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1923". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  7. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1925". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  8. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1926". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  9. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1929". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  10. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1930". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  11. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1931". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  12. "Steve Van Buren stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  13. "NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1962". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  14. "Jim Brown stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  15. "Walter Payton stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  16. "Marcus Allen stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on August 5, 2011. Retrieved October 30, 2019.
  17. "Emmitt Smith stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved October 30, 2019.