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List of NFL annual scoring leaders

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In American football, scoring can be achieved via touchdown (six points), a field goal (three points), a safety (two points), or by conversion try. After a touchdown is scored, a team will attempt a conversion try, often called the point after touchdown (PAT), for either one or two points.[2] The National Football League (NFL) did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[3] In addition to the NFL scoring leaders, league record books recognize the scoring leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970.[4][5] For statistical purposes, a player is credited with points scored when they kick a field goal, cause a safety, convert a PAT, or score a touchdown.[6]

LaDainian Tomlinson carrying a football in his San Diego Chargers uniform and helmnet.
LaDainian Tomlinson holds the single-season scoring record with 186 in 2006.[1]

The single-season scoring record is held by LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers who, in 2006, scored 186 points and broke the 46-year-old record held by Paul Hornung.[7][1] Three players, Gino Cappelletti, Don Hutson, and Stephen Gostkowski, have led the league a record five times each, all having done so in at least four consecutive seasons.[8] Hutson however is the only one to have led in five consecutive seasons.[9]

NFL annual scoring leaders

Don Hutson about to catch a pass.
Don Hutson led the league in a record five consecutive seasons from 1940–1944. Hutson is also tied for the most seasons leading the league in points, with five.[10][9]
Stephen Gostkowski in a New England Patriots uniform and helmet about to kick a football.
Stephen Gostkowski led the league in scoring five times with the New England Patriots, tying the record for most seasons leading the league in points. Gostkowski is also tied with Gino Cappelletti for the second longest streak of consecutive seasons leading the league (four consecutive).[8]
Adam Vinatieri wearing an Indianapolis Colts jersey and hat.
Adam Vinatieri is the all-time leader in points scored and led the league in points in 2004.[11]
Paul Hornung shown without a helmet on a 1960s trading card.
Paul Hornung set the single-season record in 1960 while playing for the Green Bay Packers, a record that stood for 46 years.[7]
Marshall Faulk in a white t-shirt with his hands together smiling.
Marshall Faulk led the league in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.[12]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most points in the NFL
Position The player's designated position
Pts The total number of points the player scored
GP The number of games played by a player during the season[A]
† Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
^ Active player
* Set the single-season scoring record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
NFL annual scoring leaders by season
Season Leader Position Pts GP Team Refs
1932 Dutch Clark† Tailback 55* 11 Portsmouth Spartans [14][15]
1933 Glenn Presnell Halfback 64* 11 Portsmouth Spartans [14][16]
Ken Strong† Fullback 14 New York Giants [14][17]
1934 Jack Manders Halfback 76* 13 Chicago Bears [14][18][19]
1935 Dutch Clark† (2) Tailback 55 12 Detroit Lions [14][15]
1936 Dutch Clark† (3) Tailback 73 12 Detroit Lions [14][15]
1937 Jack Manders (2) Halfback 69 11 Chicago Bears [14][18]
1938 Clarke Hinkle† Fullback 58 11 Green Bay Packers [14][20]
1939 Andy Farkas Fullback 68 11 Washington Redskins [14][21]
1940 Don Hutson† End 57 11 Green Bay Packers [14][22]
1941 Don Hutson† (2) End 95* 11 Green Bay Packers [14][22]
1942 Don Hutson† (3) End 138* 11 Green Bay Packers [14][23]
1943 Don Hutson† (4) End 117 10 Green Bay Packers [14][22]
1944 Don Hutson† (5) End 85 10 Green Bay Packers [14][22]
1945 Steve Van Buren† Halfback 110 10 Philadelphia Eagles [14][24]
1946 Ted Fritsch Fullback 100 11 Green Bay Packers [14][25]
1947 Pat Harder Fullback 102 12 Chicago Cardinals [14][26]
1948 Pat Harder (2) Fullback 110 12 Chicago Cardinals [14][26]
1949 Pat Harder (3) Fullback 102 11 Chicago Cardinals [14][26]
Gene Roberts Halfback 12 New York Giants [14][27]
1950 Doak Walker† Halfback 128 12 Detroit Lions [14][28]
1951 Elroy Hirsch† End 102 12 Los Angeles Rams [14][29]
1952 Gordy Soltau End 94 12 San Francisco 49ers [14][30]
1953 Gordy Soltau (2) End 114 12 San Francisco 49ers [14][30]
1954 Bobby Walston End 114 12 Philadelphia Eagles [14][31]
1955 Doak Walker† (2) Halfback 96 12 Detroit Lions [14][28]
1956 Bobby Layne† Quarterback 99 12 Detroit Lions [14][32]
1957 Sam Baker Kicker 77 12 Washington Redskins [14][33]
Lou Groza† Tackle 12 Cleveland Browns [14][34]
1958 Jim Brown† Fullback 108 12 Cleveland Browns [14][35]
1959 Paul Hornung† Halfback 94 12 Green Bay Packers [14][36]
1960 Paul Hornung† (2) Halfback 176* 12 Green Bay Packers [14][36]
1961 Paul Hornung† (3) Halfback 146 12 Green Bay Packers [14][36]
1962 Jim Taylor† Fullback 114 14 Green Bay Packers [14][37]
1963 Don Chandler Punter 106 14 New York Giants [14][38]
1964 Lenny Moore† Halfback 120 14 Baltimore Colts [14][39]
1965 Gale Sayers† Halfback 132 14 Chicago Bears [14][40]
1966 Bruce Gossett Kicker 113 14 Los Angeles Rams [14][41]
1967 Jim Bakken Kicker 117 14 St. Louis Cardinals [14][42]
1968 Leroy Kelly† Running back 120 14 Cleveland Browns [14][43]
1969 Fred Cox Kicker 121 14 Minnesota Vikings [14][44]
1970 Fred Cox (2) Kicker 125 14 Minnesota Vikings [14][44]
1971 Garo Yepremian Kicker 117 14 Miami Dolphins [14][45]
1972 Chester Marcol Kicker 128 14 Green Bay Packers [14][46]
1973 David Ray Kicker 130 14 Los Angeles Rams [14][47]
1974 Chester Marcol (2) Kicker 94 14 Green Bay Packers [14][46]
1975 O. J. Simpson† Running back 138 14 Buffalo Bills [14][48]
1976 Toni Linhart Kicker 109 14 Baltimore Colts [14][49]
1977 Errol Mann Kicker 99 14 Oakland Raiders [14][50]
1978 Frank Corral Kicker 118 16 Los Angeles Rams [14][51]
1979 John Smith Kicker 115 16 New England Patriots [14][52]
1980 John Smith (2) Kicker 129 16 New England Patriots [14][52]
1981 Eddie Murray Kicker 121 16 Detroit Lions [14][53]
Rafael Septien Kicker 16 Dallas Cowboys [14][54]
1982 Marcus Allen† Running back 84 9 Los Angeles Raiders [14][55]
1983 Mark Moseley Kicker 161 16 Washington Redskins [14][56]
1984 Ray Wersching Kicker 131 16 San Francisco 49ers [14][57]
1985 Kevin Butler Kicker 144 16 Chicago Bears [14][58]
1986 Tony Franklin Kicker 140 16 New England Patriots [14][59]
1987 Jerry Rice† Wide receiver 138 12 San Francisco 49ers [14][60]
1988 Scott Norwood Kicker 129 16 Buffalo Bills [14][61]
1989 Mike Cofer Kicker 136 16 San Francisco 49ers [14][62]
1990 Nick Lowery Kicker 139 16 Kansas City Chiefs [14][63]
1991 Chip Lohmiller Kicker 149 16 Washington Redskins [14][64]
1992 Pete Stoyanovich Kicker 124 16 Miami Dolphins [14][65]
1993 Jeff Jaeger Kicker 132 16 Los Angeles Raiders [14][66]
1994 John Carney Kicker 135 16 San Diego Chargers [14][67]
1995 Emmitt Smith† Running back 150 16 Dallas Cowboys [14][68]
1996 John Kasay Kicker 145 16 Carolina Panthers [14][69]
1997 Mike Hollis Kicker 134 16 Jacksonville Jaguars [14][70]
1998 Gary Anderson Kicker 164 16 Minnesota Vikings [14][71]
1999 Mike Vanderjagt Kicker 145 16 Indianapolis Colts [14][72]
2000 Marshall Faulk† Running back 160 14 St. Louis Rams [14][73]
2001 Marshall Faulk† (2) Running back 128 14 St. Louis Rams [14][73]
2002 Priest Holmes Running back 144 14 Kansas City Chiefs [14][74]
2003 Jeff Wilkins Kicker 163 16 St. Louis Rams [14][75]
2004 Adam Vinatieri† Kicker 141 16 New England Patriots [14][76]
2005 Shaun Alexander Running back 168 16 Seattle Seahawks [14][77]
2006 LaDainian Tomlinson† Running back 186* 16 San Diego Chargers [14][78]
2007 Mason Crosby Kicker 141 16 Green Bay Packers [14][79]
2008 Stephen Gostkowski Kicker 148 16 New England Patriots [14][80]
2009 Nate Kaeding Kicker 146 16 San Diego Chargers [14][81]
2010 David Akers Kicker 143 16 Philadelphia Eagles [14][82]
2011 David Akers (2) Kicker 166 16 San Francisco 49ers [14][82]
2012 Stephen Gostkowski (2) Kicker 153 16 New England Patriots [14][80]
2013 Stephen Gostkowski (3) Kicker 158 16 New England Patriots [14][80]
2014 Stephen Gostkowski (4) Kicker 156 16 New England Patriots [14][80]
2015 Stephen Gostkowski (5) Kicker 151 16 New England Patriots [14][80]
2016 Matt Bryant Kicker 158 16 Atlanta Falcons [14][83]
2017 Greg Zuerlein Kicker 158 14 Los Angeles Rams [14][84]
2018 Kaʻimi Fairbairn^ Kicker 150 16 Houston Texans [14][85]
2019 Harrison Butker^ Kicker 147 16 Kansas City Chiefs [14][86]
2020 Daniel Carlson^ Kicker 144 16 Las Vegas Raiders [14][87]
Younghoe Koo^ 15 Atlanta Falcons [14][88]
Jason Sanders^ 16 Miami Dolphins [14][89]
2021 Daniel Carlson^ (2) Kicker 150 17 Las Vegas Raiders [14][87]
Nick Folk^ 17 New England Patriots [14][90]
2022 Jason Myers^ Kicker 143 17 Seattle Seahawks [14][91]
2023 Brandon Aubrey^ Kicker 157 17 Dallas Cowboys [14][92]
2024 Chris Boswell^ Kicker 158 17 Pittsburgh Steelers [14][93]
2025 Jason Myers^ (2) Kicker 171 17 Seattle Seahawks [14][91]
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AFL annual scoring leaders

Gino Cappelletti standing in a brown suit.
Gino Cappelletti led the AFL in scoring five times.[94]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Player The player who recorded the most points in the AFL
Position The player's designated position
Pts The total number of points the player scored
GP The number of games played by a player during the season
† Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* Player set the single-season scoring record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Player ...
AFL annual scoring leaders by season
Season Player Position Pts GP Team Refs
1960 Gene Mingo Halfback 123* 14 Denver Broncos [14][95]
1961 Gino Cappelletti End 147* 14 Boston Patriots [14][96]
1962 Gene Mingo (2) Halfback 137 14 Denver Broncos [14][95]
1963 Gino Cappelletti (2) End 113 14 Boston Patriots [14][96]
1964 Gino Cappelletti (3) Flanker 155* 14 Boston Patriots [14][96]
1965 Gino Cappelletti (4) Flanker 132 14 Boston Patriots [14][96]
1966 Gino Cappelletti (5) Flanker 119 14 Boston Patriots [14][96]
1967 George Blanda† Quarterback 116 14 Oakland Raiders [14][97]
1968 Jim Turner Kicker 145 14 New York Jets [14][98]
1969 Jim Turner (2) Kicker 129 14 New York Jets [14][98]
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Most seasons leading the league

More information Count, Player ...
Count Player Seasons Team(s) Refs
5 Gino Cappelletti 1961, 1963–1966 Boston Patriots [14][96]
Stephen Gostkowski 2008, 2012–2015 New England Patriots [14][80]
Don Hutson 1940–1944 Green Bay Packers [14][22]
3 Dutch Clark 1932, 1935, 1936 Portsmouth Spartans (2) / Detroit Lions (1) [14][15]
Pat Harder 1947–1949 Chicago Cardinals [14][26]
Paul Hornung 1959–1961 Green Bay Packers [14][36]
2 David Akers 2010, 2011 Philadelphia Eagles (1) / San Francisco 49ers (1) [14][82]
Daniel Carlson 2020, 2021 Las Vegas Raiders [14][87]
Fred Cox 1969, 1970 Minnesota Vikings [14][44]
Marshall Faulk 2000, 2001 St. Louis Rams [14][73]
Jack Manders 1934, 1937 Chicago Bears [14][18]
Chester Marcol 1972, 1974 Green Bay Packers [14][46]
Gene Mingo 1960, 1962 Denver Broncos [14][95]
Jason Myers 2022, 2025 Seattle Seahawks [14][91]
John Smith 1979, 1980 New England Patriots [14][52]
Gordy Soltau 1952, 1953 San Francisco 49ers [14][30]
Jim Turner 1968, 1969 New York Jets [14][98]
Doak Walker 1950, 1955 Detroit Lions [14][28]
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See also

Notes

  1. [A]
    The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season, instead setting a minimum.[13]

References

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