Caroline Nash
·4 min read
So, you're wondering which NFL quarterback threw the most touchdown passes in a single game? Let's get in to it!
In professional football, a lot of things have to go right for a team to score a touchdown. And while football is a privilege to watch, let's face it, games without many touchdowns can be a real bore.
Related: The 10 Best NFL Coaches of All-Time, Ranked
The best games are the ones with lots of time spent in the red zone where we get to watch completion after completion, and touchdown after touchdown. Above all, the quarterback must be on their A-game in order to lead their team to scoring opportunities. An elite group of quarterbacks have thrown a record seven touchdown passes in a single game.
Here's the list of quarterbacks who threw the most touchdown passes in a single game:
T-1. Drew Brees
Image credit: Cooper Neill / Getty Images
Team: New Orleans Saints
Date: November 1, 2015
The game between the Saints and Giants in November of 2015 was one to remember. Drew Brees’ stat line featured a whopping 505 passing yards and a NFL-record-tying seven touchdown passes. Opposing quarterback, Eli Manning, threw for 350 yards and an impressive six touchdown passes, but even that was not enough to stop Brees and the Saints who ultimately edged the Giants 52-49 with a last second 52-yard field goal.
T-1. Nick Foles
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Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Date: November 3, 2013
Perhaps the most impressive part of Nick Foles’ historic game in which he threw a record-tying seven touchdown passes is that he pulled this off without even stepping foot on the field in the fourth quarter. Foles came out hot in this game against the Oakland Raiders, accumulating 406 yards and throwing his seventh touchdown pass in through the third quarter, before being taken out to avoid injury. The Eagles went on to beat the Raiders by a score of 49-20.
T-1. Peyton Manning
Image credit: Tom Huack / Getty Images
Team: Denver Broncos
Date: September 5, 2013
Peyton Manning wasted little time getting the Broncos season going, as he came out in Week 1 and threw for 462 yards with seven touchdown passes. Manning led the Broncos to beat the Baltimore Ravens, who may have been suffering from a Super Bowl hangover. He went on to break the NFL record for most passing touchdowns in a season that same year.
T-1. Joe Kapp
Image credit: Focus on Sport / Getty Images
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Date: September 28, 1969
Joe Kapp’s seven touchdown game, similar to Manning’s, was achieved early in the season against the reigning Super Bowl Champions. He threw for 449 yards and led the Minnesota Vikings over the Indianapolis Colts 52-14. Kapp and the Vikings went on to win the Super Bowl.
T-1. Y.A. Tittle
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Team: New York Giants
Date: October 28, 1962
Y.A. Tittle threw for 505 yards in his seven touchdown game, completing 27 of his 39 passes on the day. His career was a series of successes and slumps. Before the 1962 season, Tittle had not been performing well, and was planning to retire. This game came in the middle of this struggle, and ended up sparking a short-lived comeback for his career.
T-1. George Blanda
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Team: Houston Oilers
Date: November 19, 1961
George Blanda retired from the NFL in 1958, but returned to football in 1960, joining the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He was named AFL "Player of the Year" in 1961, leading the league in passing yards and touchdown passes. In his seven touchdown game, Blanda threw for 418 yards and led the Oilers to a 49-13 win over the New York Titans.
T-1. Adrian Burk
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Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Date: October 17, 1954
Adrian Burk’s seven touchdown pass game resulted in a 49-21 win for the Eagles over the Washington Redskins. After Burk's playing career, he became an NFL official NFL. In a full circle moment, he was officiating the game in which Joe Kapp tied his record for throwing seven touchdown passes in one game.
T-1. Sid Luckman
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Team: Chicago Bears
Date: November 14, 1943
Sid Luckman led the Chicago Bears to four NFL Championships during this twelve seasons on the team. He was the first quarterback to have thrown seven touchdown passes in one game, which is a feat that has only been done seven other times since then. Luckman, whose number is retired by the Bears, still holds NFL record for touchdown percentage at 7.9%.
