Dallas Cowboys All-Time Receiving Touchdown Leaders starts with Dez Bryant, and that fits his Cowboys legacy perfectly. Dez was not the franchise receiving yards leader, but when the ball went near the end zone, he was the most dangerous pass-catcher Dallas has ever had.
Jason Witten sits one touchdown behind him, which is remarkable for a tight end. Bob Hayes is right behind Witten, showing how explosive “Bullet Bob” was in a lower-volume passing era. Michael Irvin, Tony Hill, Frank Clarke and Drew Pearson give the list a strong mix of Cowboys legends from different generations.
This ranking uses regular-season receiving touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys only. It does not include playoff touchdowns, preseason stats or receiving touchdowns from other NFL teams. That means Terrell Owens’ full NFL touchdown total does not matter here — only the 38 touchdown catches he scored in Dallas count for this list.
Several of these players also appear in our broader best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time ranking, which shows how much elite pass-catchers have shaped the franchise. This list is stat-based first, but the write-ups explain why each player mattered beyond the touchdown total.
How We Ranked the Dallas Cowboys All-Time Receiving Touchdown Leaders
This ranking is based on regular-season receiving touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys only. Playoff touchdowns do not count here. Rushing touchdowns do not count either. If a player scored receiving touchdowns for another NFL team, those are not included in this Cowboys-only ranking.
The main factors are receiving touchdowns, role in the red zone, era context, offensive usage, quarterback connection, longevity and overall Cowboys impact. Dez Bryant leads because he owns the franchise record with 73 receiving touchdowns. Jason Witten is second with 72, while Bob Hayes sits third with 71.
This is a touchdown list, not a receiving yards list. That distinction matters because some players rank higher here than they do in yardage. Dez Bryant leads this list, while Jason Witten leads the receiving yards list. Bob Hayes ranks third here because his touchdown rate was elite. Terrell Owens makes the top 10 despite playing only three seasons in Dallas because he scored at a ridiculous pace.
Why This Cowboys Receiving TD Ranking Is Different
This is not just a normal best Cowboys wide receivers ranking. It is specifically a receiving touchdown leaders list. That means tight ends count, full Cowboys production matters, and the order is based on touchdown catches, not overall legacy.
That is why Jason Witten ranks second despite being a tight end, and why Billy Joe DuPree is tied with CeeDee Lamb at 41 touchdowns. It also explains why Terrell Owens appears in the top 10 even though his Cowboys stay was short. He scored 38 touchdowns in only 47 games with Dallas.
Era context is important too. Bob Hayes, Frank Clarke and Drew Pearson played in passing environments that were very different from the modern NFL. CeeDee Lamb is still active in a higher-volume passing era and could climb quickly if he keeps producing. The touchdown list is clean, but the story behind the numbers makes it more interesting.
For a broader Cowboys receiving picture, pair this list with our Dallas Cowboys all-time receiving yards leaders and our best Dallas Cowboys wide receivers of all-time ranking. The touchdown leaderboard rewards scoring, while those pages give more context for total production and overall receiver legacy.
Table of Contents
10. Terrell Owens
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2006–2008 with Dallas, 235 receptions, 3,587 receiving yards, 38 receiving touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowl seasons with the Cowboys.
Terrell Owens takes the No. 10 spot because his Dallas scoring pace was incredible. He only played three seasons with the Cowboys, but he still caught 38 touchdown passes.
Owens arrived as one of the biggest names in football and immediately gave Dallas a true superstar receiver. His size, strength, run-after-catch ability and red-zone dominance made him a perfect touchdown target for Tony Romo.
The Cowboys chapter was short and sometimes dramatic, but the production was real. Owens scored 13 touchdowns in 2006, 15 in 2007 and 10 in 2008. That kind of scoring rate is why he remains inside the franchise top 10 despite limited time in Dallas.
8. Billy Joe DuPree and CeeDee Lamb
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: Billy Joe DuPree had 41 receiving touchdowns with Dallas from 1973–1983. CeeDee Lamb has 41 receiving touchdowns with Dallas from 2020–present.
The No. 8 spot is a tie between Billy Joe DuPree and CeeDee Lamb. It is a perfect example of how this list connects different Cowboys eras.
DuPree was one of the franchise’s most important tight ends during the Roger Staubach and Danny White years. He was not just a blocker. He gave Dallas a steady receiving option in the middle of the field and became a trusted scoring target.
Lamb is a completely different type of player. He is a modern No. 1 wide receiver who can line up outside, work from the slot, win after the catch and carry a huge target share. He is already tied for eighth in Cowboys receiving touchdowns, and he is still active.
This tie probably will not last long. If Lamb adds one more touchdown catch, he moves ahead of DuPree by himself and keeps climbing toward Drew Pearson, Frank Clarke, Tony Hill and the rest of the top five.
7. Drew Pearson
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1973–1983 with Dallas, 489 receptions, 7,822 receiving yards, 48 receiving touchdowns, Super Bowl XII champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Drew Pearson ranks seventh in Cowboys receiving touchdowns with 48, but his legacy is much bigger than that number. He was Roger Staubach’s trusted target and one of the clutchest receivers in franchise history.
Pearson’s name will always be tied to the original Hail Mary, one of the most famous plays in NFL history. But he was not a one-play legend. He was a complete receiver who helped Dallas win for a decade.
In his era, passing touchdowns were harder to stack than they are today. That makes Pearson’s 48 touchdown catches even more impressive. His Hall of Fame résumé and championship impact keep him among the most important Cowboys pass-catchers ever.
6. Frank Clarke
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1960–1967 with Dallas, 281 receptions, 5,214 receiving yards, 50 receiving touchdowns.
Frank Clarke ranks sixth in Cowboys receiving touchdowns and was one of the franchise’s first true receiving stars. He played during the earliest Cowboys years, when Dallas was still trying to build an identity under Tom Landry.
Clarke’s touchdown total is extremely impressive for the 1960s. The passing game was not as open, seasons were shorter for part of his career, and receivers did not get the same kind of volume modern stars do.
His 50 touchdown catches helped give Dallas a legitimate downfield threat before the franchise became a powerhouse. Clarke is one of the most underrated names in Cowboys receiving history.
5. Tony Hill
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1977–1986 with Dallas, 479 receptions, 7,988 receiving yards, 51 receiving touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowls.
Tony Hill ranks fifth in Cowboys receiving touchdowns and third in Cowboys receiving yards, which shows how productive he really was. He is one of the more underrated offensive players in Dallas history.
Hill had size, speed and vertical ability. He could stretch the field and create big plays, averaging 16.7 yards per reception during his Cowboys career. That big-play skill also helped him turn catches into touchdowns.
Because Hill played between the Drew Pearson era and the Michael Irvin dynasty era, he sometimes gets lost historically. But the numbers are clear: Hill belongs high on any Cowboys receiving leaderboard.
4. Michael Irvin
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1988–1999 with Dallas, 750 receptions, 11,904 receiving yards, 65 receiving touchdowns, 3 Super Bowl wins, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Michael Irvin ranks fourth in Cowboys receiving touchdowns, but he is still the greatest Cowboys wide receiver by most legacy arguments. His value was about more than scoring. He was the emotional force of the 1990s dynasty.
Irvin played with power, confidence and physicality. He was Troy Aikman’s go-to target on third down, in big games and when Dallas needed someone to win a contested route.
His 65 receiving touchdowns are strong, but his championship impact is what separates him. Irvin helped define the Cowboys’ dynasty personality: tough, loud, fearless and built for the postseason.
3. Bob Hayes
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 1965–1974 with Dallas, 365 receptions, 7,295 receiving yards, 71 receiving touchdowns, Super Bowl VI champion, Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Bob Hayes ranks third in Cowboys receiving touchdowns with 71, just one behind Jason Witten and two behind Dez Bryant. That is incredible considering the era he played in.
“Bullet Bob” changed football with speed. Defenses had to respect him differently because he could run past anyone. His Olympic sprint background turned into real NFL production, not just a gimmick.
Hayes averaged 20 yards per catch with Dallas and scored 71 receiving touchdowns on only 365 receptions. That touchdown rate is absurd. He was one of the most dangerous deep threats in NFL history and one of the most explosive players the Cowboys have ever had.
2. Jason Witten
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2003–2017 and 2019 with Dallas, 1,215 receptions, 12,977 receiving yards, 72 receiving touchdowns, 11 Pro Bowls, Cowboys all-time receiving yards leader.
Jason Witten ranks second in Cowboys receiving touchdowns with 72, and that number is another reminder of how rare his career was. Tight ends are not usually near the top of franchise receiving touchdown lists, especially for a team with this much receiver history.
Witten’s greatness was built on consistency. He worked the middle of the field, found soft spots in coverage, converted third downs and became one of Tony Romo’s most trusted targets.
He was not a classic jump-ball red-zone weapon like Dez Bryant, but Witten scored because he was always available, always reliable and always where the quarterback expected him to be. His 72 touchdown catches sit just one behind the franchise record.
1. Dez Bryant
Cowboys Stats & Accolades: 2010–2017 with Dallas, 531 receptions, 7,459 receiving yards, franchise-record 73 receiving touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, 2014 First-Team All-Pro.
Dez Bryant is the Dallas Cowboys all-time receiving touchdown leader. His 73 touchdown catches are the most in franchise history, and that is the perfect record for the kind of player he was.
At his peak, Dez was one of the NFL’s most dangerous red-zone receivers. He could win jump balls, overpower defensive backs, adjust to off-target throws and turn 50-50 balls into Cowboys touchdowns.
His best stretch from 2012 through 2014 was elite. He scored 41 receiving touchdowns in those three seasons alone, including a league-leading 16 in 2014. That run made him one of the most feared scoring receivers in football.
That is why Bryant belongs in any serious best wide receivers of all-time discussion from a peak and touchdown-production standpoint. For the Cowboys receiving touchdown record book, Dez is the standard.
Full Ranking Table: Top 48 Dallas Cowboys Receiving Touchdown Leaders
Note: This table extends the recap to the top 48 Cowboys receiving touchdown leaders using regular-season receiving touchdowns with Dallas only. The write-ups above stay focused on the top 10, while this table gives the post more player/entity coverage for the full franchise leaderboard.
| Rank | Player | Cowboys Years | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dez Bryant | 2010–2017 | 531 | 7,459 | 73 |
| 2 | Jason Witten | 2003–2019 | 1,215 | 12,977 | 72 |
| 3 | Bob Hayes | 1965–1974 | 365 | 7,295 | 71 |
| 4 | Michael Irvin | 1988–1999 | 750 | 11,904 | 65 |
| 5 | Tony Hill | 1977–1986 | 479 | 7,988 | 51 |
| 6 | Frank Clarke | 1960–1967 | 281 | 5,214 | 50 |
| 7 | Drew Pearson | 1973–1983 | 489 | 7,822 | 48 |
| 8 | CeeDee Lamb | 2020–2025 | 571 | 7,416 | 41 |
| 9 | Billy Joe DuPree | 1973–1983 | 267 | 3,565 | 41 |
| 10 | Terrell Owens | 2006–2008 | 235 | 3,587 | 38 |
| 11 | Miles Austin | 2006–2013 | 301 | 4,481 | 34 |
| 12 | Lance Rentzel | 1967–1970 | 183 | 3,521 | 31 |
| 13 | Doug Cosbie | 1979–1988 | 300 | 3,728 | 30 |
| 14 | Amari Cooper | 2018–2021 | 292 | 3,893 | 27 |
| 15 | Cole Beasley | 2012–2018 | 319 | 3,271 | 23 |
| 16 | Patrick Crayton | 2004–2009 | 196 | 2,888 | 23 |
| 17 | Jay Novacek | 1990–1995 | 339 | 3,576 | 22 |
| 18 | Michael Gallup | 2018–2023 | 266 | 3,744 | 21 |
| 19 | Terrance Williams | 2013–2018 | 232 | 3,377 | 20 |
| 20 | Terry Glenn | 2003–2007 | 208 | 3,337 | 20 |
| 21 | Butch Johnson | 1976–1983 | 132 | 2,124 | 19 |
| 22 | Alvin Harper | 1991–1999 | 124 | 2,486 | 18 |
| 23 | Mike Renfro | 1984–1987 | 163 | 2,525 | 17 |
| 24 | Billy Howton | 1960–1963 | 161 | 2,368 | 17 |
| 25 | Dalton Schultz | 2018–2022 | 211 | 2,122 | 17 |
| 26 | Dan Reeves | 1965–1972 | 129 | 1,693 | 17 |
| 27 | Golden Richards | 1973–1978 | 90 | 1,650 | 16 |
| 28 | Jake Ferguson | 2022–2025 | 231 | 2,029 | 15 |
| 29 | Daryl Johnston | 1989–1999 | 294 | 2,227 | 14 |
| 30 | Pettis Norman | 1962–1970 | 124 | 1,672 | 14 |
| 31 | Tony Dorsett | 1977–1987 | 382 | 3,432 | 13 |
| 32 | Roy Williams | 2008–2010 | 94 | 1,324 | 13 |
| 33 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2016–2024 | 317 | 2,405 | 12 |
| 34 | Joey Galloway | 2000–2003 | 151 | 2,341 | 12 |
| 35 | Keyshawn Johnson | 2004–2005 | 141 | 1,820 | 12 |
| 36 | David LaFleur | 1997–2000 | 85 | 729 | 12 |
| 37 | Emmitt Smith | 1990–2002 | 486 | 3,012 | 11 |
| 38 | Preston Pearson | 1975–1980 | 189 | 2,274 | 11 |
| 39 | Timmy Newsome | 1980–1988 | 212 | 1,966 | 11 |
| 40 | Brandin Cooks | 2023–2024 | 80 | 916 | 11 |
| 41 | Laurent Robinson | 2011 | 54 | 858 | 11 |
| 42 | Ron Springs | 1979–1984 | 222 | 2,028 | 10 |
| 43 | Jalen Tolbert | 2022–2025 | 91 | 1,093 | 10 |
| 44 | Lee Folkins | 1962–1964 | 75 | 984 | 10 |
| 45 | Kelvin Martin | 1987–1996 | 237 | 3,083 | 9 |
| 46 | Rocket Ismail | 1999–2001 | 158 | 2,281 | 9 |
| 47 | Walt Garrison | 1966–1974 | 182 | 1,794 | 9 |
| 48 | George Pickens | 2025 | 93 | 1,429 | 9 |
FAQ: Most Receiving TDs in Dallas Cowboys History
Who has the most receiving touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys history?
Dez Bryant has the most receiving touchdowns in Dallas Cowboys history with 73 regular-season touchdown catches.
Who is second in Cowboys career receiving touchdowns?
Jason Witten is second in Dallas Cowboys career receiving touchdowns with 72.
Who is third in Cowboys career receiving touchdowns?
Bob Hayes is third in Dallas Cowboys career receiving touchdowns with 71.
Where does CeeDee Lamb rank in Cowboys receiving touchdowns?
CeeDee Lamb is tied for eighth in Dallas Cowboys career receiving touchdowns with 41 touchdown catches, tied with Billy Joe DuPree.
Can CeeDee Lamb climb higher on the Cowboys receiving TD list?
Yes. CeeDee Lamb is still active with Dallas and already has 41 receiving touchdowns. If he stays healthy and continues as the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver, he can move past Billy Joe DuPree, Drew Pearson, Frank Clarke and Tony Hill in the future.
Who is the Cowboys receiving yards leader?
Jason Witten is the Dallas Cowboys all-time receiving yards leader with 12,977 regular-season receiving yards.
Are playoff receiving touchdowns included in this Cowboys ranking?
No. This ranking uses regular-season receiving touchdowns with the Dallas Cowboys only.
Who rounds out the top 48 Cowboys receiving touchdown leaders?
George Pickens is the No. 48 entry in this expanded Cowboys receiving touchdown table with 9 regular-season touchdown catches for Dallas. Kelvin Martin, Rocket Ismail and Walt Garrison also sit at 9 receiving touchdowns in the expanded section.
Conclusion: Dez Bryant Still Owns the Cowboys Receiving TD Record
The Most Receiving TDs in Dallas Cowboys History list starts with Dez Bryant because no Cowboys pass-catcher has scored more regular-season receiving touchdowns. His 73 touchdown catches put him just ahead of Jason Witten and Bob Hayes, making it one of the tightest major franchise records in Dallas history.
Witten’s place at No. 2 shows how consistent and reliable he was for nearly two decades. Hayes’ No. 3 ranking shows how dangerous his speed was in a lower-volume passing era. Michael Irvin, Tony Hill, Frank Clarke and Drew Pearson represent different chapters of Cowboys receiving greatness. Billy Joe DuPree and CeeDee Lamb share the No. 8 spot, while Terrell Owens rounds out the top 10 after a short but explosive Dallas run.
The most important active storyline is Lamb. He is already tied with DuPree at 41 touchdowns and is still the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver. If his production continues, he could climb into the top five and eventually make a serious run at Dez Bryant’s franchise record.
The key thing to remember is that this is a Cowboys-only receiving touchdown list. It is not based on playoff scores, full-career NFL touchdowns or receiving yards. The order comes from regular-season touchdown catches with Dallas, while the write-ups explain why each scorer mattered to the franchise.
More Cowboys and NFL Rankings
For the full franchise picture beyond touchdown catches, start with our best Dallas Cowboys players of all-time, best Dallas Cowboys wide receivers of all-time and Dallas Cowboys all-time receiving yards leaders.
For more Cowboys stat leaderboards, check out the Dallas Cowboys all-time passing yards leaders, Dallas Cowboys all-time passing touchdown leaders, Dallas Cowboys all-time rushing yards leaders and Dallas Cowboys all-time rushing touchdown leaders.
For the broader NFL picture, visit our NFL team all-time player rankings hub or the main NFL rankings page. You can also read our best wide receivers of all-time tier list and best tight ends of all-time ranking for more pass-catcher debates.
You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.
