A Nose for the End Zone: Indexing the Game's Most Efficient Scorers
NOTE: Article was published in fall 2013 (vol. 35, no. 5) edition of The Coffin Corner, the official magazine of the Professional Football Researchers Association. http://www.profootballresearchers.org/CC_2010s.htm
What started as an article
about Warren Wells, the electrifying deep-threat receiver of the Oakland Raiders
in the late 1960s, turned into a “fun-with-statistics” examination of Wells and
other players who scored touchdowns at fantastic rates when compared to their
overall ball-handling opportunities. Note that the number of touchdowns for
many of the players discussed here is not at all
mind-boggling, the percentage of their receptions, rushing attempts or overall
touches that resulted in scores is the fascinating aspect. Obviously, a
research project such as this requires some parameters and explanations just to
get started. While rushing attempts and receptions need no clarifying, the same
cannot be said for what is considered to be a touch. It has been
established in recent years that a touch is considered any rushing attempt,
reception, punt return, or kick return. For our purposes, touches are
categorized as “offensive touches” (rushes plus receptions) and “return
touches” (punt returns plus kickoff returns). Compiling a list of efficient
touchdown scorers also requires a way to weed out what may be considered fluky numbers,
statistical anomalies or tainted numbers due to small sample size.
Fluky may not be a fair way to word it since scoring even once, let alone several times, at the professional level requires skill that few possess. But listing Mike Vrabel as the most efficient touchdown producer ever is not what we are going for here. As most will remember, Vrabel was the linebacker from 1997 to 2010 who scored 10 career touchdowns on 10 receptions as an occasional tight end and goal-line specialist. Likewise, many other defensive players of the modern era had a few shining offensive moments in niche roles: Fearsome Foursome member Lamar Lundy, who was a star basketball player at Purdue as well, scored six touchdowns on only 35 receptions in his early career with the Rams; Nolan Cromwell, a wishbone quarterback at Kansas and an outstanding free safety for the Rams, scored three rushing touchdowns on seven attempts in his role as a specialist of the holder-attempted fake field goal. And, of course, Refrigerator Perry turned his eight career touches into three touchdowns as the Bears’ gimmicky goal-line back during the mid-1980s.
Not only are those with limited opportunities being weeded out, but many of the most effective short-yardage specialist running backs will not be listed unless they toted the ball a lot. Hank Bauer is one such short-yardage specialist who deserves to be mentioned even though his number of carries and touches is not quite high enough to qualify him for inclusion. Bauer, the current radio color commentator for the Chargers, was an undrafted special-teams ace and goal-line back for San Diego from 1977 to 1982. Overall, he scored 20 career touchdowns on only 145 total touches. His 22 carries in 1979 resulted in only 28 total yards and 1.3 yards per carry, but he scored eight touchdowns, and for his career, he scored a touchdown on 13.8 percent of his rushing attempts. Among non-quarterbacks with at least 100 carries, Bauer’s touchdown-to-rushing attempt percentage is bettered only by the 14.7 percent (16/109) produced by Jerry Shipkey, an All-Pro linebacker/ fullback for the Steelers from 1948 to 1952.
Because of the similarly skewed numbers that quarterback sneaks and scrambles for touchdowns may produce, quarterbacks have also been eliminated from consideration as we compare the touchdown-to-carry percentages. Like Bauer and Shipkey, though, a few who stood out deserve to be mentioned. Johnny Lujack scored on 15.8 percent of his rushing attempts; George Ratterman, primarily in the All-America Football Conference, on 13.2 percent; Don Trull on 11.4 percent with the Oilers of the late 1960s, Mark Malone on 11.3 percent with the Steelers and the quarterback who started more AFL games than any other, Jack Kemp (11.2%). Each tucked the ball and ran at least 100 times. In chasing the ultimate goal of measuring which players scored touchdowns at the highest rates, it is also important to rely only on legitimate statistics that are accepted and archived as part of the historical record of professional football. Unfortunately, the NFL did not officially record statistics until the 1932 season, so we are left wondering whether explosive touchdown scorers of the 1920s such as Ernie Nevers and Red Grange were as proficient at getting in to the end zone as those who came later.
The tables that follow can be broken down into four categories: touchdown-to-reception percentage (TD/REC %), touchdown-to-rushing-attempt percentage (TD/RUSH %), touchdown-to-offensive-touch percentage TD/OFF %) and touchdown-to-return-touch (TD/RET %) percentage. The first is almost exclusively applied to ends and receivers, while the second is obviously exclusive to running backs, and the third is reserved for any post-1932 player who had a minimum of 75 receptions and 250 rushing attempts. Because touchdown-to-carry percentages naturally favor the short-yardage specialist, the offensive touches category is an attempt to measure overall scoring prowess when combining rushing and receiving. The obvious flaw with that tabulation is that the rare hybrid player who was both a back and receiver at times during their career easily comes out on top. Overall touches were split into separate categories—offensive touches and return touches—only because the latter percentages are so much lower that they change the dynamic and hinder the ultimate goal of measuring touchdown efficiency. Recognizing this, I included the final tables, which measure only the specialization of scoring from returns. The minimum required numbers might seem a bit arbitrary, but they were chosen essentially to ensure that any player making the cut had a multi-season career as a regular, regardless of era.
Warren Wells’s amazing 42
touchdown receptions on 156 catches over a four-year period (1967–1970) turns out
to be just as amazing as I had originally thought. The similarity between Wells
and Daryl Turner is striking. Both had an unmatched ability to turn catches
into long touchdowns, and both essentially
played only four years before alcohol or drug issues ended their careers. As with
a few of the leaders atop the touchdown-to-carry category, specifically Ickey
Woods and Ki-Jana Carter, it’s fair to argue that their percentage is inflated
because of short careers or limited carries,
but it’s also fair to argue that stellar careers and many more touchdowns might
have been ahead. Unlike Wells and Turner, the respective careers of Woods and
Carter ended prematurely because of injuries. Simple probability and statistics
explain why touchdown-to-carry percentages better than 6.0 come mostly from a
bunch of modern-era goal-line backs, a couple of injury-shortened careers and a
few backs who were part of what is now referred to as a committee backfield.
The one number that really jumps out is “Deacon” Dan Towler’s astonishing 6.4
percent. Towler is the only one of that group who was regularly among the league leaders in
rushing attempts.
While it’s true that the handful of hybrid-position players or those who switched positions—such as Charley Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, Billy Cannon and Ray Matthews—have a distinct advantage of producing a higher touchdown-to-offensive touch percentage, their numbers shouldn’t be dismissed as only a product of that. In many of their cases, their yardage and scoring production as running backs was Pro Bowl-caliber before the switch to wide receiver or tight end. As Jim Brown’s backfield mate from 1958 to 1961, Mitchell produced almost 3,000 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging a lofty 5.4 yards per carry. Likewise, Taylor was sixth in rushing yards as a rookie in 1964, and Cannon won the AFL rushing title in his second season. Obviously, though, the list here is heavy with players who spent time in the backfield as well as receiver, a handful of short-yardage specialist backs who also caught some passes, and a few (like Doak Walker, Scooter McLean, and Dan Reeves) who simply excelled at catching passes. Considering that George McAfee scored a few times as a defender and nearly cracked the top 20 in touchdown-to-return percentage as well (4/130), it’s hard to argue against him as the most efficient touchdown scorer ever. That is, if one wasn’t already convinced by his brilliant 1941 season, in which he became the only player to score six different ways in a single season. In that season, McAfee scored eight touchdowns on only 72 offensive touches, two return touchdowns on only 12 total returns and two more defensive touchdowns.
It’s no coincidence that nearly all of the single-season highest-scoring teams in pro football history are represented: the 1950 Los Angeles Rams (38.8 points per game), 2007 New England Patriots (36.8), 1961 Houston Oilers (36.6), 1941 Chicago Bears (36.0), 1948 San Francisco 49ers (35.4), 1998 Minnesota Vikings (34.8) and 2012 Patriots (34.8) all have at least one player among the leaders in one of the touchdown-efficiency categories. Both the 1998 Vikings and 2007 Patriots featured Randy Moss hauling in 17 and 23 touchdown receptions respectively. Aside from Rob Gronkowski, from the 2012 Patriots, Moss is the only 21st-century pass catcher to appear among the all-time leaders. The top scoring team in NFL history is well represented with two members of its famed Bull Elephant Backfield, Dan Towler and Dick Hoerner, and with Crazy Legs Hirsch—oddly enough in the season preceding his historic 1951 campaign, which is considered one of the best ever for a receiver. It’s interesting to note that Verda "Vitamin T." Smith, also from the 1950 Rams, had a career touchdown/return percentage of 3.0 (4/132) and his career touchdown/offensive touch percentage of 7.1 would be among the best ever if he had qualified (208 rushes/59 receptions).
Bill Groman certainly aided the 1961 Oilers’ 36 points per game with a league-leading 18 touchdowns, as did Billy Cannon, whose 15 touchdowns was second best in the AFL that season. Alyn Beals led the AAFC in touchdown receptions in all four seasons of that league’s existence, but it was his career-best 14 in 1948 that turned a good 49ers team into a scoring juggernaut. And finally, the number of players from the 1941 Chicago Bears in the above tables should awe both statisticians and historians. Considering that Ken Kavanaugh played eight full seasons and missed three during World War II, his second-best touchdown-to-reception percentage of 30.9 may be far more impressive than the leader’s 35.6. Scooter McLean, who played the role of back/receiver hybrid as effectively as anyone until Lenny Moore came along, is technically the only full-time back among the leaders in touchdown-to-reception percentage. As already discussed, George McAfee barely missed being the only player to rank in the top 20 of three different touchdown percentage categories. In addition to McLean’s touchdown-to-reception efficiency, three other backs from that Bears team have touchdown/rushing attempt percentages of 5.4 or better: Hugh Gallarneau (26/343, 7.6%), McAfee (21/341, 6.2%), and Bill Osmanski (20/368, 5.4%). Would you believe that it was another back, rookie Norm Standlee, who led the 1941 Bears in rushing attempts?
A Nose for the End Zone
Indexing the Game’s Most Efficient Scorers
"Deacon"
Dan Towler (33) scores a Rams touchdown as Marion Motley (76) of the Cleveland
Browns attempts to tackle him in the NFL Championship Game at Los Angeles
Memorial Coliseum on December 23, 1951. Associated Press image.
Michael Peters ---------------------
Fluky may not be a fair way to word it since scoring even once, let alone several times, at the professional level requires skill that few possess. But listing Mike Vrabel as the most efficient touchdown producer ever is not what we are going for here. As most will remember, Vrabel was the linebacker from 1997 to 2010 who scored 10 career touchdowns on 10 receptions as an occasional tight end and goal-line specialist. Likewise, many other defensive players of the modern era had a few shining offensive moments in niche roles: Fearsome Foursome member Lamar Lundy, who was a star basketball player at Purdue as well, scored six touchdowns on only 35 receptions in his early career with the Rams; Nolan Cromwell, a wishbone quarterback at Kansas and an outstanding free safety for the Rams, scored three rushing touchdowns on seven attempts in his role as a specialist of the holder-attempted fake field goal. And, of course, Refrigerator Perry turned his eight career touches into three touchdowns as the Bears’ gimmicky goal-line back during the mid-1980s.
Not only are those with limited opportunities being weeded out, but many of the most effective short-yardage specialist running backs will not be listed unless they toted the ball a lot. Hank Bauer is one such short-yardage specialist who deserves to be mentioned even though his number of carries and touches is not quite high enough to qualify him for inclusion. Bauer, the current radio color commentator for the Chargers, was an undrafted special-teams ace and goal-line back for San Diego from 1977 to 1982. Overall, he scored 20 career touchdowns on only 145 total touches. His 22 carries in 1979 resulted in only 28 total yards and 1.3 yards per carry, but he scored eight touchdowns, and for his career, he scored a touchdown on 13.8 percent of his rushing attempts. Among non-quarterbacks with at least 100 carries, Bauer’s touchdown-to-rushing attempt percentage is bettered only by the 14.7 percent (16/109) produced by Jerry Shipkey, an All-Pro linebacker/ fullback for the Steelers from 1948 to 1952.
Because of the similarly skewed numbers that quarterback sneaks and scrambles for touchdowns may produce, quarterbacks have also been eliminated from consideration as we compare the touchdown-to-carry percentages. Like Bauer and Shipkey, though, a few who stood out deserve to be mentioned. Johnny Lujack scored on 15.8 percent of his rushing attempts; George Ratterman, primarily in the All-America Football Conference, on 13.2 percent; Don Trull on 11.4 percent with the Oilers of the late 1960s, Mark Malone on 11.3 percent with the Steelers and the quarterback who started more AFL games than any other, Jack Kemp (11.2%). Each tucked the ball and ran at least 100 times. In chasing the ultimate goal of measuring which players scored touchdowns at the highest rates, it is also important to rely only on legitimate statistics that are accepted and archived as part of the historical record of professional football. Unfortunately, the NFL did not officially record statistics until the 1932 season, so we are left wondering whether explosive touchdown scorers of the 1920s such as Ernie Nevers and Red Grange were as proficient at getting in to the end zone as those who came later.
The tables that follow can be broken down into four categories: touchdown-to-reception percentage (TD/REC %), touchdown-to-rushing-attempt percentage (TD/RUSH %), touchdown-to-offensive-touch percentage TD/OFF %) and touchdown-to-return-touch (TD/RET %) percentage. The first is almost exclusively applied to ends and receivers, while the second is obviously exclusive to running backs, and the third is reserved for any post-1932 player who had a minimum of 75 receptions and 250 rushing attempts. Because touchdown-to-carry percentages naturally favor the short-yardage specialist, the offensive touches category is an attempt to measure overall scoring prowess when combining rushing and receiving. The obvious flaw with that tabulation is that the rare hybrid player who was both a back and receiver at times during their career easily comes out on top. Overall touches were split into separate categories—offensive touches and return touches—only because the latter percentages are so much lower that they change the dynamic and hinder the ultimate goal of measuring touchdown efficiency. Recognizing this, I included the final tables, which measure only the specialization of scoring from returns. The minimum required numbers might seem a bit arbitrary, but they were chosen essentially to ensure that any player making the cut had a multi-season career as a regular, regardless of era.
TABLE 1. Touchdown-to-Reception Percentage, 75-299
receptions (1,243 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Rec. Touchdowns
|
Receptions
|
TD/Reception %
|
Daryl Turner
|
1984-87 SEA
|
36
|
101
|
35.6
|
Ken Kavanaugh
|
1940-41 CHI, 1945-50 CHI
|
50
|
162
|
30.9%
|
Don Currivan
|
1943 CHCAR, 1944 CHI/PIT,
1945-48 BOS, 1948-49 LA
|
24
|
78
|
30.8%
|
Frank Liebel
|
1942-47 NYG,
1948 CHCARD
|
23
|
84
|
27.4%
|
Warren Wells
|
1964 DET,
1967-70 OAK
|
42
|
158
|
26.6%
|
Cloyce Box
|
1949-50 DET, 1952-54 DET
|
32
|
129
|
24.8%
|
Bob Shaw
|
1945-46 CHI/LA,
1949 LA,
1950 CHCAR
|
20
|
81
|
24.7%
|
Alyn Beals
|
1946-51 SF
|
49
|
211
|
23.2%
|
Ken MacAfee
|
1954-58 NYG,
1959 WAS,
1959 PIT
|
18
|
79
|
22.8%
|
*Bill Hewitt
|
1932-36 CHI, 1937-39 PHI,
1943 PHI/PIT
|
23
|
103
|
22.3%
|
Jim Smith
|
1977-82 PIT,
1985 RAI
|
25
|
113
|
22.1%
|
Mal Kutner
|
1946-50 CHCAR
|
31
|
145
|
21.4%
|
Red Hickey
|
1941 PIT/RAM,
1945-48 RAMS
|
16
|
75
|
21.3%
|
Hugh Taylor
|
1947-54 WAS
|
58
|
272
|
21.3%
|
Bill Groman
|
1960-62 HOU,
1963 DEN,
1964-65 BUF
|
36
|
174
|
20.7%
|
Scooter McLean
|
1940-47 CHI
|
21
|
103
|
20.4%
|
Rob Gronkowski
|
2010-12 NE
|
38
|
187
|
20.3%
|
Billy Cannon
|
1960-63 HOU, 1964-69 OAK,
1970 KAN
|
47
|
236
|
19.9%
|
Gloster Richardson
|
1967-70 KC,
1971 DAL,
1972-74 CLE
|
18
|
92
|
19.6%
|
Jim Mandich
|
1970-77 MIA,
1978 PIT
|
23
|
121
|
19.0%
|
* (Asterisk denotes a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in
tables 1-7.)
TABLE 2. Touchdown-to-Reception Percentage, 300+
receptions (355 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Rec. Touchdowns
|
Receptions
|
TD/Reception %
|
Gary Collins
|
1962-71 CLE
|
70
|
331
|
21.1%
|
*Don Hutson
|
1935-45 GB
|
99
|
488
|
20.3%
|
*Paul Warfield
|
1964-69 CLE,
1970-74 MIA,
1976-77 CLE
|
85
|
427
|
19.9%
|
*Bob Hayes
|
1965-74 DAL,
1975 SF
|
71
|
371
|
19.1%
|
Sonny Randle
|
1959-66 CHI/STL,
1967-68 SF,
1968 DAL
|
65
|
365
|
17.8%
|
*Tommy McDonald
|
1957-63 PHI,
1964 DAL,
1965-66 LAR,
1967 ATL,
1968 CLE
|
84
|
495
|
17.0%
|
Art Powell
|
1959 PHI,
1960-62 NYT/J,
1963-66 OAK,
1967 BUF,
1968 MIN
|
81
|
479
|
16.9%
|
Mike Quick
|
1982-90 PHI
|
61
|
363
|
16.8%
|
Jimmy Orr
|
1958-60 PIT,
1961-70 BAL
|
66
|
400
|
16.5%
|
*Pete Pihos
|
1947-55 PHI
|
61
|
373
|
16.4%
|
Wesley Walker
|
1977-89 NYJ
|
71
|
438
|
16.2%
|
*Dante Lavelli
|
1946-56 CLE
|
62
|
386
|
16.1%
|
Kyle Rote
|
1951-61 NYG
|
48
|
300
|
16.0%
|
Randy Moss
|
1998-04 MIN,
2005-06 OAK,
2007-10 NE,
2010 MIN,
2010 TEN,
2012 SF
|
156
|
982
|
15.9%
|
*Lance Alworth
|
1962-70 SD,
1971-72 DAL
|
85
|
542
|
15.7%
|
Gene A. Washington
|
1969-77 SF,
1979 DET
|
60
|
385
|
15.6%
|
*Elroy Hirsch
|
1946-48 CHR,
1949-57 LAR
|
60
|
387
|
15.5%
|
*Lynn Swann
|
1974-82 PIT
|
51
|
336
|
15.2%
|
Bobby Walston
|
1951-62 PHI
|
46
|
311
|
14.8%
|
Del Shofner
|
1957-60 LA,
1961-67 NYG
|
51
|
349
|
14.6%
|
TABLE 3. Touchdown-to-Rushing Attempt Percentage, 250-599
attempts (396 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Rush TD
|
Attempts
|
TD/Rush %
|
Ickey Woods
|
1988-91 CIN
|
27
|
332
|
8.1%
|
Hugh Gallarneau
|
1941-42 CHI,
1945-47 CHI
|
26
|
343
|
7.6%
|
Tony Paige
|
1984-86 NYJ,
1987-89 DET,
1990-92 MIA
|
20
|
272
|
7.4%
|
Zack Crockett
|
1995-98 IND,
1998 JAC,
1999-06 OAK,
2007 TB
|
36
|
510
|
7.1%
|
Mike Tolbert
|
2008-11 SD,
2012 CAR
|
27
|
395
|
6.8%
|
David Sims
|
1977-79 SEA
|
19
|
293
|
6.5%
|
Robb Riddick
|
1981 BUF,
1983-84 BUF,
1986-88 BUF
|
21
|
330
|
6.4%
|
Ki-Jana Carter
|
1996-99 CIN,
2001 WAS,
2003-04 NO
|
20
|
319
|
6.3%
|
Doug Dennison
|
1974-78 DAL
|
19
|
306
|
6.2%
|
*George McAfee
|
1940-41 CHI,
1945-50 CHI
|
21
|
341
|
6.2%
|
Edgar Jones
|
1945 CHI,
1946-49 CLE
|
18
|
297
|
6.1%
|
Spec Sanders (QB/RB)
|
1946-48 NYY,
1950 NYY
|
33
|
540
|
6.1%
|
Dick Hoerner
|
1947-51 LA,
1953 DTX
|
30
|
506
|
5.9%
|
Buford McGee
|
1984-86 SD,
1987-91 LARM,
1992 GB
|
17
|
289
|
5.9%
|
William Floyd
|
1994-97 SF,
1998-2000 CAR
|
20
|
355
|
5.6%
|
Timmy Newsome
|
1980-88 DAL
|
19
|
342
|
5.6%
|
Theotis Brown
|
1979-81 STL,
1981-83 SEA,
1983-84 KC
|
30
|
549
|
5.5%
|
Bill Osmanski
|
1939-43 CHI,
1946-47 CHI
|
20
|
368
|
5.4%
|
Elijah Pitts
|
1961-69 GB,
1970 LAR,
1970 NO,
1971 GB
|
28
|
514
|
5.4%
|
Ernie Steele
|
1942-48 PHI
|
14
|
258
|
5.4%
|
TABLE 4. Touchdown-to-Rushing Attempt Percentage, 600+
attempts (375 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Rush TD
|
Attempts
|
TD/Rush%
|
Dan Towler
|
1950-55 LAR
|
43
|
672
|
6.4%
|
T.J. Duckett
|
2002-05 ATL,
2006 WAS,
2007 DET,
2008 SEA
|
44
|
717
|
6.1%
|
*Lenny Moore
|
1956-67 BAL
|
63
|
1069
|
5.9%
|
*Paul Hornung
|
1957-62 GB,
1964-66 GB
|
50
|
893
|
5.6%
|
Larry Kinnebrew
|
1983-87 CIN,
1989-90 BUF
|
44
|
779
|
5.6%
|
Don Nottingham
|
1971-73 BAL,
1973-77 MIA
|
34
|
611
|
5.6%
|
Brandon Jacobs
|
2005-11 NYG,
2012 SF
|
56
|
1083
|
5.2%
|
Don McCauley
|
1971-81 BAL
|
40
|
770
|
5.2%
|
*Steve Van Buren
|
1944-51 PHI
|
69
|
1320
|
5.2%
|
Pete Johnson
|
1977-83 CIN,
1984 SD,
1984 MIA
|
76
|
1489
|
5.1%
|
Ted Fritsch
|
1942-50 GB
|
31
|
620
|
5.0%
|
Pete Banaszak
|
1966-78 OAK
|
47
|
964
|
4.9%
|
Priest Holmes
|
1997-2000 BAL,
2001-2005 KC,
2007 KC
|
86
|
1780
|
4.8%
|
Pug Manders
|
1939-45 BKN,
1946 NYY,
1947 BUF
|
35
|
742
|
4.7%
|
Shaun Alexander
|
2000-07 SEA,
2008 WAS
|
100
|
2187
|
4.6%
|
Marion Barber
|
2005-10 DAL
2011 CHI
|
53
|
1156
|
4.6%
|
LaDanian Tomlinson
|
2001-09 SD,
2010-11 NYJ
|
145
|
3174
|
4.6%
|
Chuck Muncie
|
1976-80 NO,
1980-84 SD
|
71
|
1561
|
4.5%
|
Mario Bates
|
1994-97 NO,
1998-99 ARI,
2000 DET
|
38
|
841
|
4.5%
|
Jim Brown
|
1957-65 CLE
|
106
|
2359
|
4.5%
|
Brad Baxter
|
1989-94 NYJ
|
35
|
779
|
4.5%
|
Joe Marconi
|
1956-61 LA,
1962-66 CHI
|
30
|
673
|
4.5%
|
Pat Harder
|
1946-50 CHCAR,
1951-53 DET
|
33
|
740
|
4.5%
|
TABLE 5. Touchdown-to-Offensive Touch Percentage, 250
rushes + 75 receptions (523 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Touchdowns
|
Offensive Touches
|
TD/Offensive Touch %
|
*Charley Taylor
|
1964-75 WAS.
1977 WAS
|
90
|
1,091
|
8.2%
|
*Bobby Mitchell
|
1958-61 CLE,
1962-68 WAS
|
83
|
1,034
|
8.0%
|
*Lenny Moore
|
1956-67 BAL
|
111
|
1,432
|
7.8%
|
Billy Cannon
|
1960-63 HOU,
1964-69 OAK,
1970 KAN
|
64
|
838
|
7.6%
|
*George McAfee
|
1940-41 CHI,
1945-50 CHI
|
32
|
426
|
7.5%
|
Ray Mathews
|
1951-59 PIT,
1960 DAL
|
39
|
533
|
7.3%
|
*Doak Walker
|
1950-55 DET
|
33
|
461
|
7.2%
|
Billy Stone
|
1949-50 BAL,
1951-54 CHI
|
31
|
439
|
7.1%
|
Buford McGee
|
1984-86 SD,
1987-91 LA,
1992 GB
|
30
|
444
|
6.8%
|
*Frank Gifford
|
1952-60 NYG,
1962-64 NYG
|
77
|
1,207
|
6.4%
|
Dick Todd
|
1939-42 WAS,
1945-48 WAS
|
31
|
487
|
6.4%
|
Dan Reeves
|
1965-72 DAL
|
42
|
664
|
6.3%
|
Zack Crockett
|
1995-98 IND,
1998 JAC,
1999-06 OAK,
2007 TB
|
38
|
606
|
6.3%
|
Mike Tolbert
|
2008-11 SD,
2012 CAR
|
33
|
531
|
6.2%
|
Tony Paige
|
1984-86 NYJ,
1987-89 DET,
1990-92 MIA
|
29
|
469
|
6.2%
|
Joe Morrison
|
1959-72 NYG
|
65
|
1,072
|
6.1%
|
*Paul Hornung
|
1957-62 GB,
1964-66 GB
|
62
|
1,023
|
6.1%
|
Dick Hoerner
|
1947-51 LA,
1953 DTX
|
34
|
586
|
5.8%
|
Robb Riddick
|
1981 BUF,
1983-84 BUF,
1986-88 BUF
|
26
|
450
|
5.8%
|
Dub Jones
|
1946 MIA,
1946-47 BKN,
1948-55 CLE
|
41
|
711
|
5.8%
|
TABLE 6. Touchdown-to-Return Touch Percentage, 65-139
returns or minimum 3 TD (439 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Return TD
|
Returns
|
TD/Return %
|
*Gale Sayers
|
1965-71 CHI
|
8
|
118
|
6.8%
|
Goldie Sellers
|
1966-67 DEN,
1968-69 KC
|
3
|
46
|
6.5%
|
Jacoby Ford
|
2010-12 OAK
|
4
|
64
|
6.3%
|
Travis Williams
|
1967-70 GB,
1971 LA
|
7
|
115
|
6.1%
|
Bert Zagers
|
1955 WAS.
1957-58 WAS
|
3
|
54
|
5.6%
|
Raymond Clayborn
|
1977-89 NE,
1990-91 CLE
|
3
|
57
|
5.3%
|
Dick Todd
|
1939-42 WAS,
1945-48 WAS
|
3
|
64* (questionable)
|
4.7%
|
Scooter McLean
|
1940-47 CHI
|
3
|
65* (questionable)
|
4.6%
|
*Steve Van Buren
|
1944-51 PHI
|
5
|
110
|
4.5%
|
Percy Harvin
|
2009-12 MIN
|
5
|
114
|
4.4%
|
Patrick Peterson
|
2011-12 ARI
|
4
|
95
|
4.2%
|
Reggie Bush
|
2006-10 NO,
2011-12 MIA
|
4
|
99
|
4.0%
|
Terry Kirby
|
1993-95 MIA,
1996-98 SF,
1999 CLE,
2000-02 OAK
|
4
|
102
|
3.9%
|
Darrick Vaughn
|
2000-01 ATL,
2003 HOU
|
4
|
103
|
3.9%
|
Jon Vaughn
|
1991-92 NE,
1993-94 SEA,
1994 KC
|
4
|
103
|
3.9%
|
Derrick Witherspoon
|
1995-97 PHI
|
3
|
80
|
3.8%
|
Lenny Lyles
|
1958 BAL.
1959-60 SF,
1961-69 BAL
|
3
|
81
|
3.7%
|
Brad Smith
|
2006-10 NYJ,
2011-12 BUF
|
4
|
109
|
3.7%
|
Jerome Mathis
|
2005-07 HOU
|
3
|
84
|
3.6%
|
Billy Hillenbrand
|
1946 CHR,
1947-48 BAL
|
3
|
86
|
3.5%
|
Spec Sanders
|
1946-48 NYY,
1950 NYY
|
3
|
86
|
3.5%
|
† Punt and kick return statistics were not formally kept until
1941, so the two players included in this category whose careers began earlier
than that season have been noted. Their combined return total is questionable,
while their touchdowns are not.
TABLE 7. Touchdown-to-Return Touch Percentage, 140+
Returns (237 total)
Player
|
Career
|
Return TD
|
Returns
|
TD/KR %
|
*Jack Christiansen
|
1951-58 DET
|
8
|
144
|
5.6%
|
*Bobby Mitchell
|
1958-61 CLE,
1962-68 WAS
|
8
|
171
|
4.7%
|
*Ollie Matson
|
1952 CHCAR.
1954-58 CHCAR,
1959-62 LA,
1963 DET,
1964-66 PHI
|
9
|
208
|
4.3%
|
Devin Hester
|
2006-12 CHI
|
17
|
416
|
4.1%
|
Joey Galloway
|
1995-99 SEA,
2000-03 DAL,
2004-08 TB,
2009 NE,
2010 WAS
|
5
|
145
|
3.4%
|
Michael Spurlock
|
2006 ARI,
2007 TB,
2009 SF,
2009-11 TB,
2012 SD,
2012 JAC
|
5
|
147
|
3.4%
|
Justin Miller
|
2005-08 NYJ,
2008-09 OAK.
2009 NYJ.
1012 DET
|
5
|
158
|
3.2%
|
Buddy Young
|
1947-51 NYY,
1952 DAL,
1953-55 BAL
|
6
|
192
|
3.1%
|
Tony Horne
|
1998-2000 STL
|
4
|
150
|
2.7%
|
LeRoy Irvin
|
1980-89 LARM.
1990 DET
|
4
|
151
|
2.6%
|
Henry Ellard
|
1983-93 LARM,
1994-98 WAS.
1998 NE
|
4
|
154
|
2.6%
|
Lemar Parrish
|
1970-77 CIN,
1978-81 WAS,
1982 BUF
|
5
|
192
|
2.6%
|
Adam Jones
|
2005-06 TEN.
2008 DAL.
2010-12 CIN
|
5
|
195
|
2.6%
|
*Deion Sanders
|
1989-93 ATL,
1994 SF,
1995-99 DAL.
2000 WAS,
1004-05 BAL
|
9
|
367
|
2.5%
|
Terrence McGee
|
2003-12 BUF
|
5
|
207
|
2.4%
|
Timmy Brown
|
1959 GB,
1960-67 PHI,
1968 BAL
|
6
|
255
|
2.4%
|
Rick Upchurch
|
1975-83 DEN
|
8
|
343
|
2.3%
|
Freddie Solomon
|
1975-77 MIA,
1978-85 SF
|
5
|
209
|
2.2%
|
Abe Woodson
|
1958-64 SF,
1965-66 STL
|
7
|
316
|
2.2%
|
Jacoby Jones
|
2007-11 HOU,
2012 BAL
|
7
|
318
|
2.2%
|
Steve Smith
|
2001-12 CAR
|
6
|
276
|
2.2%
|
Dick Christy
|
1958 PIT,
1960 BOS,
1961-63 NYJ
|
4
|
184
|
2.2%
|
While it’s true that the handful of hybrid-position players or those who switched positions—such as Charley Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, Billy Cannon and Ray Matthews—have a distinct advantage of producing a higher touchdown-to-offensive touch percentage, their numbers shouldn’t be dismissed as only a product of that. In many of their cases, their yardage and scoring production as running backs was Pro Bowl-caliber before the switch to wide receiver or tight end. As Jim Brown’s backfield mate from 1958 to 1961, Mitchell produced almost 3,000 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns while averaging a lofty 5.4 yards per carry. Likewise, Taylor was sixth in rushing yards as a rookie in 1964, and Cannon won the AFL rushing title in his second season. Obviously, though, the list here is heavy with players who spent time in the backfield as well as receiver, a handful of short-yardage specialist backs who also caught some passes, and a few (like Doak Walker, Scooter McLean, and Dan Reeves) who simply excelled at catching passes. Considering that George McAfee scored a few times as a defender and nearly cracked the top 20 in touchdown-to-return percentage as well (4/130), it’s hard to argue against him as the most efficient touchdown scorer ever. That is, if one wasn’t already convinced by his brilliant 1941 season, in which he became the only player to score six different ways in a single season. In that season, McAfee scored eight touchdowns on only 72 offensive touches, two return touchdowns on only 12 total returns and two more defensive touchdowns.
It’s no coincidence that nearly all of the single-season highest-scoring teams in pro football history are represented: the 1950 Los Angeles Rams (38.8 points per game), 2007 New England Patriots (36.8), 1961 Houston Oilers (36.6), 1941 Chicago Bears (36.0), 1948 San Francisco 49ers (35.4), 1998 Minnesota Vikings (34.8) and 2012 Patriots (34.8) all have at least one player among the leaders in one of the touchdown-efficiency categories. Both the 1998 Vikings and 2007 Patriots featured Randy Moss hauling in 17 and 23 touchdown receptions respectively. Aside from Rob Gronkowski, from the 2012 Patriots, Moss is the only 21st-century pass catcher to appear among the all-time leaders. The top scoring team in NFL history is well represented with two members of its famed Bull Elephant Backfield, Dan Towler and Dick Hoerner, and with Crazy Legs Hirsch—oddly enough in the season preceding his historic 1951 campaign, which is considered one of the best ever for a receiver. It’s interesting to note that Verda "Vitamin T." Smith, also from the 1950 Rams, had a career touchdown/return percentage of 3.0 (4/132) and his career touchdown/offensive touch percentage of 7.1 would be among the best ever if he had qualified (208 rushes/59 receptions).
Bill Groman certainly aided the 1961 Oilers’ 36 points per game with a league-leading 18 touchdowns, as did Billy Cannon, whose 15 touchdowns was second best in the AFL that season. Alyn Beals led the AAFC in touchdown receptions in all four seasons of that league’s existence, but it was his career-best 14 in 1948 that turned a good 49ers team into a scoring juggernaut. And finally, the number of players from the 1941 Chicago Bears in the above tables should awe both statisticians and historians. Considering that Ken Kavanaugh played eight full seasons and missed three during World War II, his second-best touchdown-to-reception percentage of 30.9 may be far more impressive than the leader’s 35.6. Scooter McLean, who played the role of back/receiver hybrid as effectively as anyone until Lenny Moore came along, is technically the only full-time back among the leaders in touchdown-to-reception percentage. As already discussed, George McAfee barely missed being the only player to rank in the top 20 of three different touchdown percentage categories. In addition to McLean’s touchdown-to-reception efficiency, three other backs from that Bears team have touchdown/rushing attempt percentages of 5.4 or better: Hugh Gallarneau (26/343, 7.6%), McAfee (21/341, 6.2%), and Bill Osmanski (20/368, 5.4%). Would you believe that it was another back, rookie Norm Standlee, who led the 1941 Bears in rushing attempts?
George McAfee, 1939.
Duke University Archives image.
|
Michael Peters is a freelance
writer and works in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics at East
Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
posted by Michael at 3:19 AM
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