Let’s get the big one out of the way. The single-game record for most passing touchdowns is seven. Yes, you read that right. Seven. That’s more touchdowns than some teams score in a whole month. This feat has been accomplished exactly five times in NFL history.
The first guy to do it was Sid Luckman in 1943 for the Chicago Bears. He was basically throwing the ball before the forward pass was even fully legal, so we’ll give him a grandfather pass. Then, in a stunning display of plyometrics and arm strength, Adrian Burk did it in 1954 for the Eagles. After that, the record went dormant for almost a decade.
Fast forward to 1962, and George Blanda—who was apparently also a kicker and a time traveler—matched the mark. But the real party started in 1969, when Joe Kapp of the Minnesota Vikings did it. Kapp celebrated by yelling and probably challenging a defensive end to a fistfight. Finally, the most recent member of this exclusive club is Nick Foles in 2013 for the Philadelphia Eagles. Foles threw seven touchdowns in a single game, then went on to win a Super Bowl MVP. He is the NFL’s most magical backup quarterback you never saw coming.
Why Only Five? It’s Absurdly Hard
Why is this record so rare? Because scoring seven touchdowns in one game is like trying to eat seven entire pizzas by yourself. You’ll be full after three, miserable after four, and by five you’re questioning your life choices. The defense eventually adjusts, or your own running back gets jealous and starts fumbling.
The crazy part? Nobody has thrown eight touchdowns in a single game. Not in the Super Bowl era. Not even in the 1950s when defenders were allowed to use grappling hooks. The closest we’ve come is a handful of guys throwing for six—people like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and a guy named Y.A. Tittle, who looked like a sad grandpa on a football card.
Touchdown Leaders Qb at Jennifer Hubbard blog
Let’s talk about the most surprising seven-touchdown performance. It wasn't from a Hall of Famer. It was from Nick Foles, a gangly backup who looked like he’d been hired from a local car dealership. In 2013, Foles threw seven touchdowns against the Oakland Raiders. After the game, he probably asked his coach if he could have the game ball and a post-game coupon for a free oil change.
