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NFL Most Touchdowns in a Season: 2023 Edition

most touchdowns in a season

These quarterbacks have etched their names into history with the most touchdowns in a season.

Most Touchdowns in a Season

From Tom Brady to Patrick Mahomes, these quarterbacks have demonstrated their exceptional skill, leadership and consistency to throw phenomenal numbers. Let’s take a look at the top 10 most touchdowns in a single season. 

10. Drew Brees – 43 TDs (2012)

Drew Brees threw 43 touchdowns during the 2012 season for the New Orleans Saints, with Marques Colston receiving 10, and Jimmy Graham catching 9 touchdown passes.

Despite Brees’ brilliant passing game, it was the Saints defense that let them down dearly. New Orleans gave up an NFL record 7,042 yards as they went on to finish the season 7-9 and miss out on the playoffs.

9. Dan Marino – 44 Touchdowns (1986)

The 1986 season isn’t the only time Dan Marino will pop up on the list of most touchdowns in a season. He’s one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game. 

Throwing to targets including Pro Bowlers Mark Duper and Mark Clayton, Marino threw for 44 touchdowns. Despite his offensive success, Miami failed to make the playoffs for the first time in six seasons, finishing 8-8.

8. Aaron Rodgers – 45 touchdowns 2011 

In the 2011 NFL season and coming off the back of winning Super Bowl XLV, Aaron Rodgers backed it up with an exceptional season, throwing an impressive 45 touchdowns. 

Rodgers showed true leadership on the field and made a statement on being one of the best quarterbacks in the league. He formed a dynamic duo with Jordy Nelson with the pair combining for 15 touchdowns.

The Green Bay Packers won their first 13 games of the season and finished with a 15-1 record. They were upset by the New York Giants in the Division Playoffs, who went on to beat the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

7. Drew Brees – 46 TDs (2011)

Drew Brees and the 2011 New Orleans Saints were an extremely high-powered offensive unit. Brees had targets including Jimmy Graham, Marques Colston and Lance Moore.

Arguably one of the greatest offensive seasons in history, the Saints’ consistently found ways to exploit opposition defenses with Brees smashing the NFL’s single-season passing record with 5,476 yards, a record which has since been broken. 

New Orleans breezed through the NFC South with a 13-3 record but lost to the 49ers in the Divisional Playoffs 36-32 on the back of five turnovers.  

6. Aaron Rodgers – 48 Touchdowns (2020):

Known for making the impossible happen, Aaron Rodgers had a phenomenal 2020 season and earned a third NFL MVP award. On their way to a 13-3 record, he dominated games and threw with exceptional accuracy.  

Rogers paired with an incredible 11 different targets for touchdowns. Between Rodgers and Davante Adams they connected on 18 of Aaron Rodgers’ 48 touchdowns, tied with Dan Marino on the list of most touchdowns in a season.  

Unfortunately for the Packers, they lost in the NFC Championship game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lambeau Field, with Tom Brady scoring three touchdown passes for the Buccs. 

5. Dan Marino – 48 TDs (1984)

Dan Marino’s 1984 MVP season is one for the ages and he took the league by storm with his quick release and precision passing. He threw for 48 touchdowns in only his second year in the league, a record that stood for more than two decades.

It was Marino’s best chance of winning a Super Bowl with the Miami Dolphins finishing the regular season 14-2. They made it all the way through to Super Bowl XIX but lost to the 49ers, with Marino never being able to win a Super Bowl ring throughout his career.

4. Peyton Manning – 49 TDs (2004)

In 2004 Peyton Manning threw for the fourth most touchdowns in a season ever. He did it despite only throwing 497 passing attempts in what many consider to be the greatest ever season by a quarterback. 

Manning had one of the best wide receivers ever to throw to, Marvin Harrison. He was a favorite target of Manning’s, catching 15 touchdown passes on the season. The Colts finished with an impressive 12-4 record but were defeated in the Divisional round by eventual Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots.

3. Patrick Mahomes – 50 TDs (2018)

Alex Smith was replaced as the Chiefs full-time quarterback by Patrick Mahomes to start the 2018 season. Mahomes went on to throw 50 touchdowns and earned MVP honors as a 23-year old. His favourite targets were Tyreek Hill for 12 touchdowns, and Travis Kelce for 10. 

Mahomes showed off his incredible arm strength, accuracy and athleticism by becoming only the third player in history to have multiple 5,000 yard seasons, joining Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.

2. Tom Brady – 50 TDs (2007)

Tom Brady threw for 677 touchdowns in his career and his 50 in 2007 is the second most touchdowns in a season in history. Randy Moss caught an NFL-record 23 receiving touchdowns, with Wes Welker the next best with 8 touchdown catches. 

Despite Brady and the Patriots perfect 16-0 regular season, they went on to lose 17-14 to the New York Giants in one of the biggest upsets of all time.

1. Peyton Manning – 55 TDs (2013)

The 2013 Denver Broncos finished with a 13-3 record on the back of Peyton Manning’s 55 touchdowns, the most touchdowns in a season. Demaryius Thomas caught 14 of those, Julius Thomas 13, Eric Decker 11 and Wes Welker 10. 

He smashed Tom Brady’s previous record of 50 and then beat him and the Patriots 26-16 in the AFC Championship game, before losing Super Bowl XLVIII to Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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