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Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Season: 2023 Edition

most rushing touchdowns in a season

Who has the most rushing touchdowns in a season? These players showed remarkable skill and consistency to find the end zone time and time again. 

Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Season

Running backs display an incredible amount of power, agility, vision and skill to keep on scoring. Here are the top 10 players with the most touchdowns in a season. 

10. Emmitt Smith – 21 TDs (1994)

Emmitt Smith is one of the best running backs of all time, as well the all time rushing yards leader with 18,355 yards.

Smith had a combination of explosive power, vision, determination and toughness. He scored 21 touchdowns in the 1994 season and backed it up with an even better year in 1995.

9. Joe Morris – 21 TDs (1985)

Joe Morris started his career with a touchdown on his first attempt and it set the tone for the rest of his career, becoming one of the greatest New York Giants running backs ever.

Morris had a monster season in 1985, scoring 21 touchdowns and rushed for 1,336 yards. The Giants finished 9-7 and snuck into the playoffs, but lost to the Bears in the Divisional Playoffs.

8. Priest Holmes – 21 TDs (2002)

Priest Holmes rushed for 1,615 yards and scored 21 touchdowns for the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2002 season. He could have had even more touchdowns had he not missed the final two games with a hip injury.

Both Holmes and Emmitt Smith feature multiple times on the list of most rushing touchdowns in a season and are the only players in NFL history to have back-to-back seasons with 20 or more rushing touchdowns. 

7. Terrell Davis – 21 TDs (1998)

Terrell Davis could’ve been the best running back in history. The 1998 season would see Davis score 21 touchdowns in what was his fourth and final full season in the NFL.

After a seven-season career with the Broncos he retired after battling with a knee injury that he was never able to fully recover from.

Davis’ 1998 season showcased what he could offer and he had the patience, vision, and the ability to make big plays, leading the Broncos to a championship with victory in Super Bowl XXXIII.

6. O.J. Simpson – 23 TDs (1975)

O.J. Simpson was explosive. He had exceptional speed, agility, and was able to break tackles with devastating effect.

His MVP year in 1973 set the tone when he became the first player to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

In 1975 Simpson set a-then NFL record 1,817 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns. His touchdown count was remarkable considering it was during a 14-game season.

5. John Riggins – 24 TDs (1983)

John Riggins was a red zone specialist and he was a key part of the Redskins’ success in the 1983 season. Washington finished with a 14-2 record but lost Super Bowl XVIII to the Raiders.

Riggins rushed for 1,347 yards and 24 touchdowns during the 1983 season, a then-record for most rushing touchdowns in a season.

He even missed a game during the season and could’ve added to his tally. Even more remarkable was the fact that Riggins was 34 years old.  

4. Emmitt Smith – 25 TDs (1995)

Emmitt Smith backed up his 1994 effort of 21 touchdowns with 25 touchdowns in the 1995 season. He excelled in the red zone and was a huge part of the Cowboys success leading up to, and during their victory in Super Bowl XXX.

The 1995 season saw Smith set a-then record for most touchdowns in a season with 25. He also became the first player in NFL history to reach 1,400 or more rushing yards in five consecutive seasons. 

3. Priest Holmes – 27 TDs (2003)

Priest Holmes earned a third Pro Bowl appearance following his 2003 season where he scored 27 touchdowns and registered 1,420 rushing yards on 320 carries.

Holmes was able to exploit his incredible ability and elusiveness to repeatedly find the end zone, and backed up his previous years performance. His three-year stretch from 2001-2003 is considered by many to be the best in NFL history.

2. Shaun Alexander – 27 TDs (2005)

The Seahawks made it to Super Bowl XL on the back of 28-year old Shaun Alexander and his 2005 MVP season where he scored 27 touchdowns and rushed for 1,880 total yards.

Alexander was particularly good in short-yardage situations but he also had good hands for a power back making him a very difficult player to cover.

It was the last truely productive year for Alexander as injuries took a toll. In three more seasons he scored only 11 touchdowns before retiring.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson – 28 TDs (2006)

After Shaun Alexander’s record setting 2005 season, LaDainian Tomlinson went one better and scored 28 touchdowns, the most rushing touchdowns in a season.

Tomlinson was unstoppable and he had an exceptional ability to break tackles. His 28 touchdowns is remarkable considering he only had three touchdowns after four games, and seven after six games.

During a nine-game span he rushed for 21 touchdowns, including a three-game stretch where Tomlinson ran in 10 touchdowns. He went on to score four touchdowns in a single game on three occasions.

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