Most Qb Touchdowns In A Game

You know that feeling when you're playing Madden, your opponent is terrible, and you just start launching touchdowns like confetti at a parade? It feels amazing, right? Well, imagine doing that in a real NFL game—in front of 70,000 screaming fans, with your actual job on the line. That’s exactly what a handful of lucky (and absolutely unhinged) quarterbacks have pulled off.

The Man, The Myth, The Seven Touchdowns

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.

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.

The Honorable (and Ridiculous) Mentions

What about the all-time record, you ask? Including the AFL and old-timey leagues? Well, our pal Sid Luckman actually shares that record with... nobody? Wait, no. In college football, a guy named Matt Grothe from South Florida threw for a ludicrous number, but we’re talking about the pros here. The official record for most touchdown passes in a professional game is seven, but a few men have thrown eight in lower leagues.

One time, in a 1944 game, a guy named Sammy Baugh threw four touchdowns and then intercepted four passes on defense. Yes, that’s a true fact. Back then, quarterbacks played safety, too. They didn’t have time for Gatorade; they just bled and threw spirals.

If you think seven is a lot, consider this: Tom Brady never threw seven in a game. Neither did Joe Montana or John Elway. The record is held by oddballs and one incredible backup. It’s like the MLB record for most strikeouts in a game—it belongs to a guy named Kerry Wood and a guy named Roger Clemens, not always the most famous names.

The "Almost" Club: The Six-TD Club

The six-touchdown club is a who’s who of legends: Peyton Manning did it multiple times, including a 2013 season where he threw 55 touchdowns like he was playing on "Rookie" mode. Drew Brees did it. Patrick Mahomes has done it. Lamar Jackson did it, which is extra impressive because he usually runs like a cheetah too.

But here’s the subtle jab: throwing for six touchdowns is amazing, but throwing for seven means you basically broke the video game. It’s the line between "great quarterback" and "temporary demigod." Every time a quarterback throws for five in the first half, we all hold our breath. Will he get to seven? Usually, the answer is no. The other team gets so embarrassed they start tackling your receivers out of spite.

So next time you watch a game and your quarterback throws three touchdowns, give him a standing ovation. Because to get to seven, you need the accuracy of a sniper, the luck of a leprechaun, and a defense that apparently forgot how to cover the end zone. It’s a beautiful, beautiful accident.

And if you ever meet Nick Foles, ask him if he remembers that game. He probably does. He might even still have the ceremonial seven game balls in his garage, next to his Super Bowl MVP trophy and a half-empty bag of chips from 2013.