By John Turney 
It's early but one of the interesting stats at the quarter pole of the 2022 season is Jalen Hurts and Taysom Hill scoring touchdowns at a rate of more than one per game. For quarterbacks in the T-formation era that has not happened before.
A caveat is that this season Taysom Hill is listed as a tight end. He's been listed as a quarterback in most of his other NFL seasons so he could rightfully be excluded. It depends on how strict one wants to be on this type of list. Regardless, he will likely not get enough snaps to challenge the totals at the top of the list over a 17-game season.
Currently, the quarterback who has scored the most touchdowns in a season is Cam Newton who crossed the goal line 14 times in 2011 but on a per-game basis, Steve Grogan's 1976 season total of 13 is still tops. That year, Grogan had 12 rushing touchdowns, and also picked up a fumble, and ran it in for a score.
Another caveat is that while in 1961 Billy Kilmer was listed as a quarterback he played halfback mostly as well as a running quarterback in a shotgun offense. So, folks can decide if he belongs or not. He was exclusively a quarterback in later years but when he began his NFL career he could really run and was utilized that way.
Additionally, folks can decide if Dutch Clark, a single-wing tailback, belongs. In the single-wing, the quarterback was a blocker and the tailback was the passer. If he were counted he'd have three spots on the list.
And going back to the 1920s, though stats are not complete, there would be a few others as well, but for today's post, we limited the list to T-formation quarterbacks, roughly the 1940s to the present.
In any case, if Hurts rushes for 10 touchdowns in the next 12 games he will hold the season total and the per-game total as well, besting Cam Newton and Steve Grogan.
The list—
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| Source: Pro Football Reference |
From Brian wolf ...
ReplyDeleteSurprised Steve Young wasnt on this list. He was excellent at running into the endzone. QBs that run for scores and yardage deserve more attention but dont usually get it because theyre known more for passing or winning championships.
Though I am not a fan of Cam Newton, thinking he squandered too much talent being a diva and me-first player, he was a huge weapon who could run and get into the endzone. If he had a case for the HOF, his running TDs would be a huge part of it. Jack Kemp could run into the endzone as well and won chanpionships but his throwing accuracy keeps him out of the HOF, along with McNabb and McNair as well. Tobin Rote was a weapon as a runner as well, winning championships in the NFL and AFL but was too inconsistent a passer to make the HOF. Are these QBs short changed ?
When QBs are known for running more than passing, they seem to get less of the benefit of a doubt but maybe too much emphasis is placed on pure passing.