The most rushing touchdowns in a single season is one of the clearest ways to measure peak scoring dominance by a running back. Rushing yards show workload and consistency, but rushing touchdowns show who finished drives, handled short-yardage pressure and became the player an offense trusted when the field got tight.
LaDainian Tomlinson still owns the NFL single-season rushing touchdown record with 28 rushing TDs in 2006. Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes are right behind him with 27 each, while Emmitt Smith, John Riggins, Terrell Davis and several other legends fill out the rest of the historic touchdown tiers.
This is a stats-based tier list, not a subjective ranking of the best running backs ever. The tiers are based on rushing touchdowns in one regular season. That is why Tomlinson stands alone in Tier 1, Alexander and Holmes share Tier 2, and every player in the 18-touchdown tier still belongs on the graphic.
Rushing yards, efficiency, offensive line context, receiving value, total touchdowns, era, team success and overall résumé all matter in the write-ups. But the tier placement follows one simple rule: the more rushing touchdowns in one season, the higher the tier.
Table of Contents
Full Tier List Table: Most Rushing TDs in a Single Season
Note: This table is based on regular-season rushing touchdowns. Players are grouped by touchdown range, and the order follows the graphic layout.
| Tier | Range | Players |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | 28+ | LaDainian Tomlinson — 28 rushing TDs — 2006 |
| Tier 2 | 26+ | Shaun Alexander — 27 rushing TDs — 2005 Priest Holmes — 27 rushing TDs — 2003 |
| Tier 3 | 24+ | Emmitt Smith — 25 rushing TDs — 1995 John Riggins — 24 rushing TDs — 1983 |
| Tier 4 | 20+ | Terry Allen — 21 rushing TDs — 1996 Terrell Davis — 21 rushing TDs — 1998 Priest Holmes — 21 rushing TDs — 2002 Joe Morris — 21 rushing TDs — 1985 Emmitt Smith — 21 rushing TDs — 1994 Larry Johnson — 20 rushing TDs — 2005 |
| Tier 5 | 19+ | Earl Campbell — 19 rushing TDs — 1979 Chuck Muncie — 19 rushing TDs — 1981 Jim Taylor — 19 rushing TDs — 1962 |
| Tier 6 | 18+ | LeGarrette Blount — 18 rushing TDs — 2016 Eric Dickerson — 18 rushing TDs — 1983 Marshall Faulk — 18 rushing TDs — 2000 Raheem Mostert — 18 rushing TDs — 2023 Adrian Peterson — 18 rushing TDs — 2009 George Rogers — 18 rushing TDs — 1986 Spec Sanders — 18 rushing TDs — 1947 Emmitt Smith — 18 rushing TDs — 1992 Jonathan Taylor — 18 rushing TDs — 2021 Jonathan Taylor — 18 rushing TDs — 2025 LaDainian Tomlinson — 18 rushing TDs — 2005 DeAngelo Williams — 18 rushing TDs — 2008 |
How We Ranked the Most Rushing TDs in a Single Season
This list is ranked by single-season rushing touchdowns. The tier cutoffs are based on the scoring ranges shown in the graphic: 28-plus, 26-plus, 24-plus, 20-plus, 19-plus and 18-plus rushing touchdowns.
Rushing touchdowns are not the only way to judge a running back season, but they reveal something important. A player has to earn goal-line trust, survive contact, handle short-yardage work and keep finishing drives even when defenses know exactly what is coming.
Era context matters too. Jim Taylor’s 1962 season came in a very different league than LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2006 record year. Spec Sanders’ 1947 season came from the AAFC era, which is why his placement needs that historical context. Jonathan Taylor’s 2025 season happened in a modern NFL where true workhorse running backs are harder to find.
The touchdown totals decide the tiers, but the write-ups explain why each season mattered. Some players were MVP-level centerpieces. Others were elite goal-line specialists. All of them produced one of the greatest rushing touchdown seasons in pro football history.
Tier 1: 28+ Rushing TDs
Tier 1 includes LaDainian Tomlinson with 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006.
Tier 1 belongs to one player only. LaDainian Tomlinson set the single-season rushing touchdown record in 2006, and that 28-score mark still stands alone.
LaDainian Tomlinson — 2006
Season stats/accolades: 28 rushing TDs, San Diego Chargers, NFL single-season rushing touchdown record, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.
LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2006 season was one of the greatest offensive seasons in NFL history. He was unstoppable near the goal line, dangerous in space and versatile enough to hurt defenses as a runner, receiver and occasional passer.
The 28 rushing touchdowns are the headline, but the full season was even bigger. Tomlinson scored at a historic rate and became the centerpiece of one of the league’s most explosive offenses. When people talk about peak running back scoring, this is still the standard.
Tier 2: 26+ Rushing TDs
Tier 2 includes Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes with 27 rushing touchdowns.
Tier 2 is the 27-touchdown tier. Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes both had seasons that looked record-breaking until Tomlinson pushed the number even higher.
Shaun Alexander — 2005
Season stats/accolades: 27 rushing TDs, Seattle Seahawks, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl appearance.
Shaun Alexander’s 2005 season was a perfect mix of patience, vision and goal-line finishing. Seattle’s offensive line was excellent, but Alexander still had to find the holes, press the right lanes and finish drives.
He won MVP, helped push the Seahawks to the Super Bowl and finished with 27 rushing touchdowns. For one season, Alexander was the league’s most consistent scoring back.
Priest Holmes — 2003
Season stats/accolades: 27 rushing TDs, Kansas City Chiefs, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Priest Holmes’ 2003 season was the peak of one of the most explosive short runs by any running back. Behind Kansas City’s dominant offensive line, Holmes became almost automatic near the goal line.
His style was patient and efficient. He could wait for blocks, burst through tight spaces and finish with power. The 27 rushing touchdowns remain one of the most impressive scoring seasons ever.
Tier 3: 24+ Rushing TDs
Tier 3 includes Emmitt Smith with 25 rushing touchdowns in 1995 and John Riggins with 24 rushing touchdowns in 1983.
Tier 3 features two classic power-and-volume touchdown seasons. Emmitt Smith did it during the Cowboys’ dynasty, while John Riggins did it as Washington’s ultimate short-yardage hammer.
Emmitt Smith — 1995
Season stats/accolades: 25 rushing TDs, Dallas Cowboys, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Emmitt Smith’s 1995 season was the peak scoring year of his career. Dallas had the offensive line, the passing threat and the red-zone formula, but Smith was the closer who made everything work.
He ran with patience, balance and power through contact. The Cowboys trusted him in every important situation, and 25 rushing touchdowns show how often he paid it off.
John Riggins — 1983
Season stats/accolades: 24 rushing TDs, Washington, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
John Riggins’ 1983 season was built on power football. Washington leaned on him near the goal line, in short-yardage spots and whenever the offense needed a physical answer.
Riggins was not about dancing around defenders. He ran downhill, punished tacklers and finished drives. His 24 rushing touchdowns remain one of the great old-school scoring seasons by a running back.
Tier 4: 20+ Rushing TDs
Tier 4 includes Terry Allen, Terrell Davis, Priest Holmes, Joe Morris, Emmitt Smith, and Larry Johnson with 20+ rushing touchdowns.
Tier 4 is the 20-touchdown club. Every player here reached a number that usually defines a full season of elite scoring dominance.
Terry Allen — 1996
Season stats/accolades: 21 rushing TDs, Washington, Pro Bowl, Second-Team All-Pro, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Terry Allen’s 1996 season is one of the more underrated touchdown campaigns on this list. He was not always treated like a national superstar, but the production was loud.
Allen gave Washington a reliable goal-line and early-down weapon. Scoring 21 rushing touchdowns in one season puts him in extremely rare company.
Terrell Davis — 1998
Season stats/accolades: 21 rushing TDs, Denver Broncos, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion.
Terrell Davis’ 1998 season was one of the greatest running back campaigns ever. He crossed 2,000 rushing yards, scored 21 rushing touchdowns and helped Denver win another Super Bowl.
Davis was perfect in the Broncos’ zone-running system. He had patience, one-cut burst and toughness. The touchdowns were not empty stats either; they came inside a championship offense.
Priest Holmes — 2002
Season stats/accolades: 21 rushing TDs, Kansas City Chiefs, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Offensive Player of the Year.
Priest Holmes appears again because his 2002 season set the stage for the 2003 explosion. Kansas City’s run game was already one of the league’s most dangerous touchdown machines.
Holmes was more than a goal-line back. He could catch, run with patience and create big plays. But near the end zone, his timing behind that line made him especially difficult to stop.
Joe Morris — 1985
Season stats/accolades: 21 rushing TDs, New York Giants, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Joe Morris’ 1985 season gave the Giants a compact, powerful scoring back who could handle volume and finish drives. He was smaller than many workhorse runners, but he ran with toughness and decisiveness.
New York’s identity was defensive and physical, and Morris fit that perfectly. His 21 rushing touchdowns remain one of the best scoring seasons in Giants history.
Emmitt Smith — 1994
Season stats/accolades: 21 rushing TDs, Dallas Cowboys, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Emmitt Smith shows up again because his touchdown dominance was not limited to one year. In 1994, he scored 21 rushing touchdowns and continued to operate as Dallas’ red-zone centerpiece.
Smith’s consistency is the key. Some backs have one scoring spike. Smith kept delivering high-touchdown seasons during the Cowboys’ dynasty years.
Larry Johnson — 2005
Season stats/accolades: 20 rushing TDs, Kansas City Chiefs, Pro Bowl, elite late-season rushing surge.
Larry Johnson’s 2005 season was the beginning of a short but explosive peak. Once he took over a larger role, Kansas City’s run game became a weekly problem for defenses.
Johnson ran downhill with power and had enough burst to punish tired defenses. His 20 rushing touchdowns were a preview of just how productive his peak could become.
Tier 5: 19+ Rushing TDs
Tier 5 includes Earl Campbell, Chuck Muncie, and Jim Taylor with 19 rushing touchdowns.
Tier 5 is the 19-touchdown group. These seasons sit just below the 20-touchdown club, but they are still elite scoring campaigns by any standard.
Earl Campbell — 1979
Season stats/accolades: 19 rushing TDs, Houston Oilers, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.
Earl Campbell’s 1979 season was pure punishment. He ran with power, balance and a violent style that made him one of the most feared runners football has ever seen.
Campbell did not need a wide-open offense to score. He could run straight into contact and still win. Nineteen rushing touchdowns matched the force of his MVP-level dominance.
Chuck Muncie — 1981
Season stats/accolades: 19 rushing TDs, San Diego Chargers, Pro Bowl, one of the best scoring seasons in Chargers history.
Chuck Muncie was a unique fit in San Diego’s explosive offense. The Chargers were known for the passing game, but Muncie gave them a major rushing touchdown weapon near the goal line.
His 1981 season showed how valuable a power back could be inside a high-powered passing attack. Defenses had to respect the air game, and Muncie punished them on the ground.
Jim Taylor — 1962
Season stats/accolades: 19 rushing TDs, Green Bay Packers, NFL MVP, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL champion.
Jim Taylor’s 1962 season was one of the great power-running seasons of the early NFL era. He was the bruising back in Vince Lombardi’s Packers offense and brought a physical edge to a championship team.
Scoring 19 rushing touchdowns in that era was a massive number. Taylor’s season helped set the standard for what a dominant fullback could look like.
Tier 6: 18+ Rushing TDs
Tier 6 includes LeGarrette Blount, Eric Dickerson, Marshall Faulk, Raheem Mostert, Adrian Peterson, George Rogers, and Spec Sanders with 18 rushing touchdowns.
Tier 6 Part 2 includes Emmitt Smith, Jonathan Taylor, Jonathan Taylor again, LaDainian Tomlinson, and DeAngelo Williams with 18 rushing touchdowns.
Tier 6 is the 18-touchdown tier, and it is deep enough that the graphic continues it on a second row. Every season here is a major scoring year.
Graphic note: The bottom row is still Tier 6. It continues the 18-plus rushing touchdown tier because so many players are tied at 18 rushing TDs.
LeGarrette Blount — 2016
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, New England Patriots, NFL rushing touchdown leader, Super Bowl champion.
LeGarrette Blount’s 2016 season was a perfect example of role dominance. New England did not need him to be an all-purpose back. They needed him to finish drives and punish defenses near the goal line.
Blount did exactly that. His 18 rushing touchdowns gave the Patriots a reliable power element inside another championship offense.
Eric Dickerson — 1983
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Los Angeles Rams, Offensive Rookie of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.
Eric Dickerson’s rookie season was absurd. Before he broke the single-season rushing yardage record in 1984, he entered the league and immediately became one of football’s most productive backs.
His 18 rushing touchdowns showed that he was not only a yardage machine. He could finish drives, score from distance and dominate right away.
Marshall Faulk — 2000
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, St. Louis Rams, NFL MVP, Offensive Player of the Year, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl.
Marshall Faulk’s 2000 season was one of the most complete offensive seasons ever. He was dangerous as a runner, receiver and matchup problem in the Greatest Show on Turf.
The 18 rushing touchdowns were only part of the story. Faulk scored from everywhere and forced defenses to treat a running back like a full passing-game weapon.
Raheem Mostert — 2023
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Miami Dolphins, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Raheem Mostert’s 2023 season was a late-career explosion. In Miami’s speed-based offense, he became a home-run threat and a red-zone finisher at the same time.
Mostert’s straight-line burst made him dangerous in open space, but the 18 rushing touchdowns also showed he could consistently finish drives. It was one of the best surprise scoring seasons of the modern era.
Adrian Peterson — 2009
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Minnesota Vikings, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Adrian Peterson’s 2009 season brought the usual mix of power, speed and violent acceleration. He was one of the most dangerous runners in football, both near the goal line and in the open field.
Peterson could score by running through defenders or by breaking a long run. That dual threat made his 18-touchdown season feel completely natural.
George Rogers — 1986
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Washington, NFL rushing touchdown leader, Super Bowl champion season.
George Rogers’ 1986 season gave Washington a major rushing touchdown weapon. He brought size, power and a downhill style that fit perfectly with a physical offensive identity.
Rogers had already been a major rushing name earlier in his career, and this season added another strong scoring chapter. Eighteen rushing touchdowns is a huge number for any era.
Spec Sanders — 1947
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, New York Yankees, AAFC rushing touchdown leader, one of the most versatile pro football seasons of the 1940s.
Spec Sanders is the oldest name on this graphic, and his 1947 season is fascinating. He was not just a runner; he also threw passes, punted, returned kicks and played defense.
The rushing touchdown total still belongs in the conversation because 18 scores in that era was enormous. Sanders’ season is a reminder that pro football history goes deeper than the modern NFL record book most fans know.
Emmitt Smith — 1992
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Dallas Cowboys, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, Super Bowl champion, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Emmitt Smith appears again because his scoring dominance started before the Cowboys’ later dynasty peak. In 1992, he was already Dallas’ trusted finisher.
Smith had the patience to let blocks develop and the toughness to finish in traffic. The Cowboys’ first Super Bowl run of the 1990s had his fingerprints all over it.
Jonathan Taylor — 2021
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Indianapolis Colts, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, NFL rushing champion, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Jonathan Taylor’s 2021 season was his true breakout into superstar territory. He led the league in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, becoming the clear engine of the Colts’ offense.
Taylor had long speed, vision and finishing power. He could score from short range or break loose for a long touchdown, which made him one of the hardest backs in football to contain that season.
Jonathan Taylor — 2025
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Indianapolis Colts, NFL rushing touchdown leader.
Jonathan Taylor appears again because his 2025 season pushed him back into elite scoring territory. After injuries and changing circumstances in earlier years, this season reminded everyone how dangerous he can be when healthy and featured.
Scoring 18 rushing touchdowns twice in a career is not normal. Taylor’s second appearance on this list gives him one of the strongest modern touchdown-scoring résumés among active backs.
LaDainian Tomlinson — 2005
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, San Diego Chargers, First-Team All-Pro, Pro Bowl, elite all-purpose scoring season.
LaDainian Tomlinson’s 2005 season came one year before his record-breaking explosion. He was already one of the league’s best scoring backs, and the Chargers trusted him in every important situation.
Tomlinson’s 18 rushing touchdowns in 2005 show that 2006 did not come out of nowhere. He had already built the profile of an all-time red-zone weapon.
DeAngelo Williams — 2008
Season stats/accolades: 18 rushing TDs, Carolina Panthers, Second-Team All-Pro, NFL rushing touchdown leader, one of the best rushing touchdown seasons in Panthers history.
DeAngelo Williams’ 2008 season was one of the most efficient touchdown years on this graphic. Carolina’s rushing attack was dangerous, and Williams brought burst, vision and finishing ability.
He did not always get the same national attention as bigger-name backs, but 18 rushing touchdowns speaks for itself. That season remains one of the best in Panthers franchise history.
FAQ: Most Rushing TDs in a Single Season
Who has the most rushing TDs in a single NFL season?
LaDainian Tomlinson has the most rushing TDs in a single NFL season with 28 rushing touchdowns for the San Diego Chargers in 2006.
Who is second in single-season rushing touchdowns?
Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes are tied behind LaDainian Tomlinson with 27 rushing touchdowns in a single season.
Who is in Tier 1 of the most rushing TDs in a single season tier list?
Tier 1 includes LaDainian Tomlinson, who stands alone with 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006.
Which players have at least 24 rushing TDs in a season?
LaDainian Tomlinson, Shaun Alexander, Priest Holmes, Emmitt Smith and John Riggins are shown with at least 24 rushing touchdowns in a single season.
Why is Tier 6 repeated on the graphic?
Tier 6 is repeated because there are many players with 18 rushing touchdowns, so the graphic continues the same tier on a second row.
How many times does LaDainian Tomlinson appear on this list?
LaDainian Tomlinson appears twice: 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006 and 18 rushing touchdowns in 2005.
How many times does Emmitt Smith appear on this list?
Emmitt Smith appears three times: 25 rushing touchdowns in 1995, 21 in 1994 and 18 in 1992.
How many times does Jonathan Taylor appear on this list?
Jonathan Taylor appears twice: 18 rushing touchdowns in 2021 and 18 rushing touchdowns in 2025.
Which older-era player appears in the 18-touchdown tier?
Spec Sanders appears in the 18-touchdown tier for his 1947 season with the New York Yankees of the AAFC.
What matters most in this tier list?
The tier placement is based on single-season rushing touchdown totals. The player write-ups add context about era, workload, offensive system, goal-line usage and overall scoring impact.
Conclusion
The most rushing TDs in a single season list is one of the clearest snapshots of peak scoring dominance by a runner. LaDainian Tomlinson still owns the record with 28 rushing touchdowns in 2006, while Shaun Alexander and Priest Holmes sit right behind him with 27-touchdown seasons.
The depth behind them is loaded too. Emmitt Smith, John Riggins, Terry Allen, Terrell Davis, Joe Morris, Earl Campbell, Jim Taylor, Marshall Faulk, Adrian Peterson, Jonathan Taylor and many others all produced seasons where they became the trusted answer near the goal line.
Single-season rushing touchdown records are special because scoring on the ground usually means contact, traffic and defensive attention. These players did not just have productive seasons. They finished drives at historic rates and built seasons that still define the top of the pro football rushing touchdown record book.
If you want more all-time NFL rankings, you can also check out our best running backs of all-time rankings and other positional breakdowns across league history.
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 rushing touchdown ranking is part of a larger all-time NFL rankings series built around peak dominance, production, records and era context. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history content.
