List of NFL annual scoring leaders


In American football, scoring can be achieved via touchdown, a field goal, a safety, or by conversion try. After a touchdown is scored, a team will attempt a conversion try, often called the point after touchdown, for either one or two points. The National Football League did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season. In addition to the NFL scoring leaders, league record books recognize the scoring leaders of the American Football League, which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970. 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.
The single-season scoring record is held by LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers who, in, scored 186 points and broke the 46-year-old record held by Paul Hornung. 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. Hutson however is the only one to have led in five consecutive seasons.

NFL annual scoring leaders

SymbolMeaning
LeaderThe player who recorded the most points in the NFL
PositionThe player's designated position
PtsThe total number of points the player scored
GPThe number of games played by a player during the season
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

SeasonLeaderPositionTeam
Tailback55*11Portsmouth Spartans
Halfback64*11Portsmouth Spartans
Fullback64*14New York Giants
Halfback76*13Chicago Bears
Tailback5512Detroit Lions
Tailback7312Detroit Lions
Halfback6911Chicago Bears
Fullback5811Green Bay Packers
Fullback6811Washington Redskins
End5711Green Bay Packers
End95*11Green Bay Packers
End138*11Green Bay Packers
End11710Green Bay Packers
End8510Green Bay Packers
Halfback11010Philadelphia Eagles
Fullback10011Green Bay Packers
Fullback10212Chicago Cardinals
Fullback11012Chicago Cardinals
Fullback10211Chicago Cardinals
Halfback10212New York Giants
Halfback12812Detroit Lions
End10212Los Angeles Rams
End9412San Francisco 49ers
End11412San Francisco 49ers
End11412Philadelphia Eagles
Halfback9612Detroit Lions
Quarterback9912Detroit Lions
Kicker7712Washington Redskins
Tackle7712Cleveland Browns
Fullback10812Cleveland Browns
Halfback9412Green Bay Packers
Halfback176*12Green Bay Packers
Halfback14612Green Bay Packers
Fullback11414Green Bay Packers
Punter10614New York Giants
Halfback12014Baltimore Colts
Halfback13214Chicago Bears
Kicker11314Los Angeles Rams
Kicker11714St. Louis Cardinals
Running back12014Cleveland Browns
Kicker12114Minnesota Vikings
Kicker12514Minnesota Vikings
Kicker11714Miami Dolphins
Kicker12814Green Bay Packers
Kicker13014Los Angeles Rams
Kicker9414Green Bay Packers
Running back13814Buffalo Bills
Kicker10914Baltimore Colts
Kicker9914Oakland Raiders
Kicker11816Los Angeles Rams
Kicker11516New England Patriots
Kicker12916New England Patriots
Kicker12116Detroit Lions
Kicker12116Dallas Cowboys
Running back849Los Angeles Raiders
Kicker16116Washington Redskins
Kicker13116San Francisco 49ers
Kicker14416Chicago Bears
Kicker14016New England Patriots
Wide receiver13812San Francisco 49ers
Kicker12916Buffalo Bills
Kicker13616San Francisco 49ers
Kicker13916Kansas City Chiefs
Kicker14916Washington Redskins
Kicker12416Miami Dolphins
Kicker13216Los Angeles Raiders
Kicker13516San Diego Chargers
Running back15016Dallas Cowboys
Kicker14516Carolina Panthers
Kicker13416Jacksonville Jaguars
Kicker16416Minnesota Vikings
Kicker14516Indianapolis Colts
Running back16014St. Louis Rams
Running back12814St. Louis Rams
Running back14414Kansas City Chiefs
Kicker16316St. Louis Rams
Kicker14116New England Patriots
Running back16816Seattle Seahawks
Running back186*16San Diego Chargers
Kicker14116Green Bay Packers
Kicker14816New England Patriots
Kicker14616San Diego Chargers
Kicker14316Philadelphia Eagles
Kicker16616San Francisco 49ers
Kicker15316New England Patriots
Kicker15816New England Patriots
Kicker15616New England Patriots
Kicker15116New England Patriots
Kicker15816Atlanta Falcons
Kicker15814Los Angeles Rams
^Kicker15016Houston Texans
^Kicker14716Kansas City Chiefs
^Kicker14416Las Vegas Raiders
^Kicker14415Atlanta Falcons
^Kicker14416Miami Dolphins
^ Kicker15017Las Vegas Raiders
^Kicker15017New England Patriots
^Kicker14317Seattle Seahawks
^Kicker15717Dallas Cowboys
^Kicker15817Pittsburgh Steelers
^ Kicker17117Seattle Seahawks