Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single NFL Season

Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single NFL Season is one of the cleanest ways to measure peak scoring dominance. Career totals reward longevity, but single-season touchdown records show who completely took over one year and turned red-zone trips, deep shots and mismatches into points.

This is a stats-based tier list, not a subjective all-time wide receiver ranking. The tier placement is based on receiving touchdowns in one NFL season. That is why Randy Moss stands alone in Tier 1 with 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007, Jerry Rice owns Tier 2 with 22 in 1987, and the 17-touchdown tier is packed with legends from several different eras.

Single-season receiving touchdowns decide the tier placement. The write-ups add context for receptions, receiving yards, quarterback chemistry, red-zone skill, deep-threat ability, offensive system, era and overall scoring style. That distinction matters because a pure touchdown leaderboard is different from ranking the best wide receiver seasons ever.

The result is a scoring-dominance list. Moss and Rice sit alone at the top, Davante Adams, Mark Clayton and Sterling Sharpe form the 18-touchdown tier, and the 17-touchdown group includes everyone from Don Hutson and Elroy Hirsch to Rob Gronkowski, Ja’Marr Chase, Cris Carter and multiple Randy Moss seasons.

Single-Season NFL Receiving TDs Leaderboard Table

Note: This table is ranked by single-season receiving touchdowns. The tiers group seasons by touchdown range, while the exact totals come from the all-time single-season receiving touchdown leaderboard. Totals are current through the 2025 NFL season.

How We Ranked Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Single NFL Season

This list is ranked by single-season receiving touchdowns. The tier cutoffs are based on the scoring ranges shown in the graphic: 23-plus, 21-plus, 20-plus, 19-plus, 18-plus and 17-plus receiving touchdowns.

Receiving touchdowns are not the only way to judge a receiver season, but they reveal something important. These players were not just earning targets. They were finishing drives, beating coverage near the goal line, winning deep and turning offensive chances into points.

Era context matters a lot here. Don Hutson’s 1942 season came in a completely different passing environment than Ja’Marr Chase’s 2024 season. Jerry Rice’s 1987 season happened in a strike-shortened year. Randy Moss’ 2007 record came in one of the most explosive passing offenses ever. The totals decide the tiers, but the write-ups explain why the seasons mattered.

For a broader legacy ranking that weighs peak, career production, playoff moments and all-around résumé more heavily, check out our best wide receivers of all-time list.

Tier 1: 23+ Receiving TDs

Tier 1 includes Randy Moss with 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007.

Tier 1 belongs to one player only. Randy Moss owns the NFL single-season receiving touchdown record, and his 2007 season still sits alone at the top.

Randy Moss — 2007

Season stats/accolades: 23 receiving TDs, New England Patriots, 98 receptions, 1,493 receiving yards, NFL single-season receiving touchdown record, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.

Randy Moss’ 2007 season was the perfect blend of talent, quarterback chemistry and offensive aggression. With Tom Brady and the Patriots, Moss turned deep routes, red-zone fades, seam shots and broken coverage into touchdown after touchdown.

The record is still 23 receiving touchdowns, and it has held up because it requires almost everything to go right. A receiver needs elite talent, heavy usage, quarterback trust, health and an offense willing to keep attacking. Moss had all of it in 2007.

What made the season especially terrifying was how different the touchdowns could look. Moss could win over the top, high-point the ball, punish single coverage or simply outrun the entire structure of a defense. This was the greatest receiving touchdown season ever.

Tier 2: 21+ Receiving TDs

Tier 2 includes Jerry Rice with 22 receiving touchdowns in 1987.

Tier 2 also belongs to one player. Jerry Rice’s 1987 season remains one of the wildest scoring seasons ever, especially because it came in a shortened year.

Jerry Rice — 1987

Season stats/accolades: 22 receiving TDs, San Francisco 49ers, 65 receptions, 1,078 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.

Jerry Rice catching 22 receiving touchdowns in 1987 is ridiculous on its own. The fact that it happened in a strike-shortened season makes it even more absurd. He was scoring at a rate that still sounds fake decades later.

Rice did it with route running, timing, red-zone feel and elite chemistry in San Francisco’s offense. He did not need to be only a jump-ball target or only a deep threat. He could beat defenses in every possible way.

Moss eventually passed the record in 2007, but Rice’s 1987 season is still one of the best peak seasons any pass catcher has ever produced. Twenty-two touchdowns in that few games is outrageous.

Tier 3: 20+ Receiving TDs

Tier 3 covers the 20+ receiving touchdown range.

Tier 3 is empty, and that makes the top of this leaderboard even more interesting. Nobody sits between Jerry Rice’s 22 and the 18-touchdown group.

That gap shows how rare a true 20-touchdown receiving season is. Plenty of legends have had monster years, but crossing 20 receiving touchdowns requires a nearly perfect scoring environment.

Tier 4: 19+ Receiving TDs

Tier 4 covers the 19+ receiving touchdown range.

Tier 4 is also empty. No player in the graphic lands at 19 receiving touchdowns, which keeps the leaderboard clean: Moss at 23, Rice at 22, then the 18-touchdown tier.

That might look strange visually, but it tells the story well. The jump from 18 to 22 receiving touchdowns is massive, and only two seasons in NFL history have cleared that space.

Tier 5: 18+ Receiving TDs

Tier 5 includes Davante Adams, Mark Clayton, and Sterling Sharpe with 18 receiving touchdowns.

Tier 5 is the 18-touchdown group. These are still monster seasons. In most years, 18 receiving touchdowns would feel like a record-breaking number.

Davante Adams — 2020

Season stats/accolades: 18 receiving TDs, Green Bay Packers, 115 receptions, 1,374 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL receiving touchdown leader.

Davante Adams’ 2020 season was a masterclass in route running and red-zone separation. He did not just beat coverage with speed. He won with footwork, pacing, releases and timing with Aaron Rodgers.

Near the goal line, Adams was almost automatic. Defenders knew the ball was coming and still could not stop it. That is the signature of a truly elite scoring season.

The 18 touchdowns look even better because Adams did it while also catching 115 passes. He was not just a situational red-zone target. He was the entire Packers passing game at times.

Mark Clayton — 1984

Season stats/accolades: 18 receiving TDs, Miami Dolphins, 73 receptions, 1,389 receiving yards, Pro Bowl, major piece of Dan Marino’s record-setting 1984 passing offense.

Mark Clayton’s 1984 season came inside one of the most explosive passing attacks the league had seen to that point. Dan Marino was rewriting the quarterback record book, and Clayton became his premier touchdown weapon.

Clayton had speed, timing and big-play chemistry with Marino. His 18 receiving touchdowns were not just a great personal number. They were part of a passing explosion that changed how people viewed offensive ceilings.

The yards-per-catch number also matters. Clayton was not just living on short touchdowns. He stretched the field, created chunk plays and turned Marino’s aggression into points.

Sterling Sharpe — 1994

Season stats/accolades: 18 receiving TDs, Green Bay Packers, 94 receptions, 1,119 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL receiving touchdown leader.

Sterling Sharpe’s 1994 season is one of the great what-if peaks in wide receiver history. Before his career was cut short by a neck injury, Sharpe was one of the most dominant receivers in football.

His 18-touchdown season showed the full package: strength, hands, red-zone control and elite chemistry with Brett Favre. The career ended too early, but the peak was loud enough to stay in record-book conversations forever.

Sharpe’s touchdown production also came with true No. 1 receiver responsibility. Green Bay did not need to hide him or manufacture every look. He could carry the passing game.

Tier 6: 17+ Receiving TDs

Tier 6 includes Cris Carter, Ja’Marr Chase, Bill Groman, Rob Gronkowski, Elroy Hirsch, Don Hutson, and Randy Moss with 17 receiving touchdowns.

Tier 6 Part 2 includes Randy Moss, Carl Pickens, and Jerry Rice with 17 receiving touchdowns.

Tier 6 is deep because 17 receiving touchdowns has been reached by several different types of players across many eras. Deep threats, red-zone specialists, tight ends and all-time legends all show up here.

Cris Carter — 1995

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Minnesota Vikings, 122 receptions, 1,371 receiving yards, Pro Bowl, one of the best red-zone receiving seasons of the 1990s.

Cris Carter was built for touchdown production. His hands, sideline control and ability to win in tight spaces made him a nightmare near the goal line.

The 1995 season fits his career perfectly. Carter did not need to be the fastest receiver on the field. He just needed one window, one step or one contested-catch chance, and he could turn it into six points.

The 122 receptions add another layer. Carter was not only a touchdown specialist. He was a massive-volume target who still finished drives.

Ja’Marr Chase — 2024

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Cincinnati Bengals, 127 receptions, 1,708 receiving yards, NFL receiving triple crown, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.

Ja’Marr Chase’s 2024 season was one of the best modern receiving seasons ever. He led the league in catches, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, which made the 17-touchdown total part of a full triple-crown campaign.

Chase combined explosive plays with volume and red-zone finishing. He was not just scoring on isolated deep shots. He was winning everywhere, and the touchdown total helped turn a great season into a historic one.

The 17 touchdowns matter even more because they came with 127 catches and over 1,700 yards. That is not a narrow scoring role. That is a complete takeover.

Bill Groman — 1961

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Houston Oilers, 50 receptions, 1,175 receiving yards, AFL receiving touchdown leader, one of the biggest early AFL receiving seasons.

Bill Groman’s 1961 season is one of the great old-school scoring explosions. Playing in the AFL, he became a major deep threat and touchdown weapon for Houston.

Era context matters, but 17 receiving touchdowns still jumps off the page. Groman’s peak was short compared with many legends, yet this season keeps his name tied to one of the best single-season receiving touchdown lists ever.

The efficiency was the hook. Fifty catches and 17 touchdowns means a huge percentage of his production ended in points.

Rob Gronkowski — 2011

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, New England Patriots, 90 receptions, 1,327 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, one of the greatest tight end seasons ever.

Rob Gronkowski’s 2011 season changed the way people talked about tight end scoring. He was too big for defensive backs, too athletic for linebackers and too physical for almost everyone.

His chemistry with Tom Brady made him especially dangerous near the goal line. The 17 receiving touchdowns were not empty volume. They were the result of a matchup problem that defenses never really solved.

For a tight end to sit on a list dominated by wide receivers says everything. Gronk was not just great for his position. He was one of the best scoring weapons in football.

Elroy Hirsch — 1951

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Los Angeles Rams, 66 receptions, 1,495 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, one of the greatest receiving seasons of the 1950s.

Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch put together a legendary 1951 season. In a very different passing era, he became one of football’s most dangerous big-play receivers.

Seventeen receiving touchdowns in that period is a massive number. Hirsch’s season helped show what a true vertical receiver could do before the modern passing game fully arrived.

The yardage makes the season even stronger. Hirsch did not just score touchdowns. He nearly reached 1,500 receiving yards in an era where that kind of production was absurd.

Don Hutson — 1942

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Green Bay Packers, 74 receptions, 1,211 receiving yards, NFL MVP, First-Team All-Pro, one of the most dominant era-adjusted receiving seasons ever.

Don Hutson’s 1942 season is almost impossible to compare normally because he was so far ahead of his era. Passing volume was nothing like today, and Hutson was still putting up numbers that look modern in the touchdown column.

If this list were adjusted only for era dominance, Hutson’s season might look even more ridiculous. Seventeen receiving touchdowns in 1942 is one of the strongest historical scoring feats in NFL history.

Hutson was basically playing a future version of receiver before the rest of the league caught up. That is why his name still matters on lists like this.

Randy Moss — 1998

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Minnesota Vikings, 69 receptions, 1,313 receiving yards, Offensive Rookie of the Year, Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro.

Randy Moss’ rookie season was not just great for a rookie. It was one of the most explosive receiving seasons ever. Defenses immediately had to change how they played Minnesota because Moss could score from anywhere.

Seventeen receiving touchdowns as a rookie is absurd. Moss entered the league and instantly became a vertical problem that defensive coordinators were not ready to handle.

This season is why “Mossed” became a football verb. He did not ease into the NFL. He arrived and started embarrassing corners immediately.

Randy Moss — 2003

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Minnesota Vikings, 111 receptions, 1,632 receiving yards, Pro Bowl, First-Team All-Pro-level production.

Randy Moss shows up again because touchdown explosions were not a one-time thing for him. His 2003 season was another reminder that his deep speed, size and ball tracking made him one of the most dangerous scorers football has ever seen.

By 2003, everyone knew what Moss was. That did not make him easier to stop. He still finished with 17 receiving touchdowns because elite traits stay elite even when defenses build the plan around them.

The 111 receptions also show how complete this season was. Moss was not only a deep-shot weapon. He was a full-volume No. 1 receiver with all-time touchdown ability.

Carl Pickens — 1995

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, Cincinnati Bengals, 99 receptions, 1,234 receiving yards, Pro Bowl, one of the best scoring seasons in Bengals history.

Carl Pickens had one of the most underrated touchdown seasons on this list. Playing for Cincinnati in 1995, he became a dominant scoring target and gave the Bengals a true red-zone weapon.

Pickens does not always get discussed with the biggest receiver names, but this season belongs in elite company. Seventeen receiving touchdowns is serious work in any offense.

The Bengals context makes it even more impressive. Pickens was not riding inside one of the most famous passing machines ever. He was the scoring engine for an offense that needed him to win matchups.

Jerry Rice — 1989

Season stats/accolades: 17 receiving TDs, San Francisco 49ers, 82 receptions, 1,483 receiving yards, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion season.

Jerry Rice appears again because his scoring peak was not limited to 1987. In 1989, he caught 17 receiving touchdowns while helping power one of the best teams in football.

Rice’s ability to keep stacking elite touchdown seasons is what separates him historically. Some players had one big scoring year. Rice had multiple seasons that could sit comfortably among the best ever.

The championship context matters too. This was not empty scoring on a bad team. Rice was producing at an all-time level while San Francisco was winning everything.

FAQ: Most Receiving TDs in a Single Season

Who has the most receiving TDs in a single NFL season?

Randy Moss has the most receiving TDs in a single NFL season with 23 receiving touchdowns for the New England Patriots in 2007.

Who is second in single-season receiving touchdowns?

Jerry Rice is second with 22 receiving touchdowns for the San Francisco 49ers in 1987.

Why are Tier 3 and Tier 4 empty?

Tier 3 represents the 20-plus receiving touchdown range and Tier 4 represents the 19-plus range. No player in the graphic falls into either range.

Which players had 18 receiving touchdowns in a season?

Davante Adams in 2020, Mark Clayton in 1984 and Sterling Sharpe in 1994 each had 18 receiving touchdowns in a single season.

Which tight end has the most receiving TDs in a single season on this list?

Rob Gronkowski has the top tight end season on this list with 17 receiving touchdowns for the New England Patriots in 2011.

Did Ja’Marr Chase make this list?

Yes. Ja’Marr Chase appears in the 17-plus tier after catching 17 receiving touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2024.

How many times does Randy Moss appear on this list?

Randy Moss appears three times: 23 receiving touchdowns in 2007, 17 receiving touchdowns in 1998 and 17 receiving touchdowns in 2003.

How many times does Jerry Rice appear on this list?

Jerry Rice appears twice: 22 receiving touchdowns in 1987 and 17 receiving touchdowns in 1989.

What matters most in this tier list?

The tier placement is based on single-season receiving touchdown totals. The player write-ups add context about era, offense, quarterback chemistry, role and scoring style.

Conclusion

The most receiving TDs in a single season list is a snapshot of peak scoring dominance. Randy Moss stands alone at the top with 23 touchdowns in 2007, while Jerry Rice’s 22-touchdown 1987 season remains one of the most ridiculous rate-stat seasons in NFL history.

The empty 20-plus and 19-plus tiers show how difficult it is to even get near those two seasons. From there, the 18-touchdown group gives us Davante Adams, Mark Clayton and Sterling Sharpe, while the 17-touchdown tier brings together Cris Carter, Ja’Marr Chase, Bill Groman, Rob Gronkowski, Elroy Hirsch, Don Hutson, Randy Moss, Carl Pickens and Jerry Rice.

Single-season touchdown records are special because everything has to line up: talent, timing, quarterback trust, scheme, health and finishing ability. The players on this list did not just have great years. They had seasons that still define what elite receiving touchdown production looks like.

If you want more all-time NFL tier lists, you can also check out our best wide receivers of all-time rankings, our most receiving yards in NFL history list and our most receptions in a single season breakdown.

More NFL All-Time Rankings

For more NFL history content, check out our other all-time position rankings, franchise legend lists and historical tier lists. This single-season receiving touchdowns ranking is part of a larger all-time NFL rankings series built around player legacy, peak dominance, production and era context. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history content.