Football fans love to argue. We argue about who the "GOAT" is, which era was tougher, and whether the modern game has basically turned into a high-speed track meet. But numbers? Numbers are supposed to be the one thing we can all agree on. They're the hard evidence. And when you look at the list of all time rushing touchdown leaders, the names at the top tell a story of sheer, unadulterated physical will.
Honestly, it’s a list that shouldn't make sense anymore. In a league that’s obsessed with the forward pass, how is a guy like Derrick Henry still climbing the ranks of the gods?
The Unreachable Peak of Emmitt Smith
Let’s start with the man at the top. Emmitt Smith. 164 rushing touchdowns.
Just sit with that for a second. That is not a typo. To even get close to that, a running back has to be more than just fast; they have to be made of iron. Smith played 15 seasons. He didn't just play; he survived. Most modern backs are lucky to get six years before their knees give out or a team decides a 24-year-old on a rookie contract is a better value.
Smith’s record feels safe. It’s like Jerry Rice’s receiving yards or Cy Young’s wins. It belongs to a different planet. You’ve got to appreciate the consistency it takes to punch the ball into the end zone double-digit times almost every year for a decade and a half. He wasn't always the flashiest, but he was inevitable.
LT and the Greatest Single Season We’ve Ever Seen
Then there is LaDainian Tomlinson. LT. He’s sitting at number two with 145.
If Emmitt was about the long game, LT was about the peak. In 2006, the man was a video game character come to life. He had 28 rushing touchdowns in a single season. 28! Some teams don't get 28 rushing touchdowns as a collective unit in two years.
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LT had this unique ability to hide behind his offensive line and then just... disappear. One second he’s in the pile, the next he’s doing that iconic finger-point in the end zone. He revolutionized what it meant to be a goal-line threat because he could beat you with a power dive or a jump cut that left linebackers grasping at air.
The Rise of the King: Derrick Henry’s Impossible Climb
Now, this is where it gets interesting for those of us watching in 2026.
Derrick Henry, "The King," is currently sitting at 122 career rushing touchdowns. He just recently leapfrogged Adrian Peterson (120) and is breathing down the neck of Marcus Allen (123).
Think about how wild that is. Henry is 32 years old. Most guys his age are signing one-year "prove it" deals or working on their broadcasting reels. Instead, Henry is still out here stiff-arming grown men into the turf and closing in on the top three. He’s basically the last of a dying breed—the true bell-cow back who gets stronger as the game goes on.
Breaking Down the Top 5 (As of Early 2026)
- Emmitt Smith: 164
- LaDainian Tomlinson: 145
- Marcus Allen: 123
- Derrick Henry: 122
- Adrian Peterson: 120
It’s a tight race for that bronze medal. Marcus Allen was the king of the short-yardage plunge, a guy who just found seams where they didn't exist. Henry, on the other hand, is a runaway freight train. If he stays healthy through this season, he doesn't just pass Allen—he starts looking at LT.
Why the Top 10 Is a Time Capsule
The rest of the list is a "who's who" of football royalty. Walter Payton is there with 110. Jim Brown has 106. John Riggins, the "Diesel," has 104.
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What's crazy is Jim Brown did it in only nine seasons. Nine! He averaged over 11 touchdowns a year back when they only played 12 or 14 games. If Brown played in today's 17-game schedule with modern medicine? He might have hit 200. It’s one of those "what ifs" that keeps sports talk radio alive at 2:00 AM.
Then you have the guys who just barely missed the century mark. Barry Sanders ended with 99. He could have had 150 if he hadn't walked away while he was still the best player on the planet. But that was Barry. He didn't care about the records; he just wanted to go home to Kansas.
The Quarterback Problem
We have to talk about the "vultures."
In the old days, if you were on the 1-yard line, you gave the ball to the big guy. Today? You’ve got Josh Allen (79 rushing TDs) and Jalen Hurts (63 rushing TDs) stealing the glory.
Josh Allen is already in the top 25 all-time for rushing touchdowns. He’s a quarterback! He has more rushing touchdowns than legendary backs like Tony Dorsett and Earl Campbell. It’s a different game now. The "tush push" and the RPO (run-pass option) mean that the modern running back has to share the wealth with his signal-caller more than ever before.
Can Anyone Catch Emmitt?
Probably not.
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To catch Smith, a player entering the league today would need to average 12 rushing touchdowns a year for 14 years. In an era of "running back by committee" and "load management," that feels impossible.
Even the best young backs—guys like Jonathan Taylor (69) or Christian McCaffrey (62)—face an uphill battle. McCaffrey is an all-time great, but so many of his scores come through the air. This list is strictly about the ground game. It's about the grit.
What to Watch This Season
If you're a fan of history, every Baltimore Ravens game is "must-watch" TV right now. Derrick Henry needs exactly two more touchdowns to become the third-greatest goal-line finisher in the history of the sport.
One for the tie. Two for the lead.
It’s not just a stat; it’s a milestone of longevity. It’s proof that even in a league that wants to throw the ball 50 times a game, there is still a place for a man who can put his head down and move the pile.
Take Action for Your Fan Cave
If you want to keep track of these records as they happen, don't just rely on the scroll at the bottom of the screen.
- Check the Pro Football Hall of Fame live stats: They update the "active leaders" lists every Tuesday morning during the season.
- Follow specific beat writers: For Henry's chase, follow the Baltimore beat reporters who track his Red Zone carries specifically.
- Watch the "vulture" stats: Keep an eye on how many times a team passes on the 1-yard line versus handing it off; it’ll tell you exactly why these records are becoming harder to break.
The records are there to be broken, but some of them require a level of durability that we just don't see anymore. Appreciate the King while he’s still wearing the crown.