13 NFL Quarterbacks Who Caught A Touchdown Pass
Sebastian Wright
Published Mar 27, 2026
Read update
- It seems the most important position in the NFL is the quarterback. As the years go on, quarterbacks have become incredibly athletic. In Super Bowl LVIII, Patrick Mahomes led his Kansas City Chiefs back to the big game for the third time in four seasons and his third Super Bowl victory. He did it with his legs just as much as he did with his arm. However, while many quarterbacks are known to run the ball, such as Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, other quarterbacks have proven in the past to have good hands too, and there are several who scored touchdowns by catching the ball instead of throwing it. One even won a Super Bowl MVP in a game where he did just this thing.
Highlights
- Quarterbacks like Taysom Hill, Ryan Tannehill, and Josh Allen have proved their athleticism by catching touchdown passes in the NFL.
- Taysom Hill holds the record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback with 11 in seven seasons.
- Nick Foles made a memorable touchdown catch in Super Bowl 52, known as the "Philly Special," and went on to be named MVP as the Eagles won their first Super Bowl.
There's nothing quite like a trick play in the NFL. While it rarely happens, some players and coaches like to pull a rabbit out of a hat to get one over on the opposing defense in an intense game. One such way to do that is to have a trick play where a quarterback catches a pass. It's happened many times throughout NFL history when a quarterback splits out and catches a pass, and at times, it's resulted in a touchdown. Let's look back at some previous times when the throwers became the catchers and scored a touchdown.
UPDATE: 2024/02/12 12:00 EST BY SHAWN S. LEALOS
It seems the most important position in the NFL is the quarterback. As the years go on, quarterbacks have become incredibly athletic. In Super Bowl LVIII, Patrick Mahomes led his Kansas City Chiefs back to the big game for the third time in four seasons and his third Super Bowl victory. He did it with his legs just as much as he did with his arm. However, while many quarterbacks are known to run the ball, such as Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen, other quarterbacks have proven in the past to have good hands too, and there are several who scored touchdowns by catching the ball instead of throwing it. One even won a Super Bowl MVP in a game where he did just this thing.
13 Taysom Hill Has Caught Multiple Touchdown Passes
Hill's Best Season Came In 2019 With 6 TD Receptions
KEY STATS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attempts | Yards | TDs | |||
Passing Stats | 191/298 | 2,348 | 11 | ||
Rushing Stats | 398 | 2,159 | 27 | ||
Receiving Stats | 76 | 756 | 11 | ||
Is there any way Taysom Hill hasn't scored a touchdown? Hill has carved out a nice spot for himself in New Orleans as their utility man on offense, as he can step in at QB when needed (it is his original position), and is a weapon in both the running and the passing game. In fact, Hill is the all-time leader in touchdown receptions by a quarterback with 11 in seven seasons.
The 10 NFL Quarterbacks Drafted In 2021, Ranked From Worst To Best
The 2021 NFL Draft class featured an impressive group of young quarterbacks, all of whom are trying to leave a mark on the league.It will be interesting to see how Hill will be used in the Saints' offense with Derek Carr now locked in as their starter for the foreseeable future. One thing's for sure; the Saints will definitely find a way to get him the ball.
12 Ryan Tannehill Caught A Touchdown Pass Against Buffalo Bills
Kenny Stills Threw The Touchdown Pass
December 30, 2018: Miami Dolphins: 17 at Buffalo Bills: 42 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Ryan Tannehill | 18 | 31 | 147 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
One thing that most fans know about Ryan Tannehill is that the 11-year veteran is a former receiver, having switched to QB in his days at Texas A&M. While Tannehill doesn't run too often, you certainly see his athleticism when he does decide to take off.
Given that he's a former receiver, it's a little surprising that Tannehill only has one TD reception to his name in the NFL. That catch came as a member of the Miami Dolphins back in 2018 when the Fins ran some trickery near the Buffalo Bills' goal line. After a double pitch, Kenny Stills lobbed a pass to the pilon and found Tannehill for a 4-yard score.
11 Josh Allen Caught A Touchdown In 2020
John Brown Threw The Touchdown Pass
KEY STATS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 NFL Season | Attempts | Yards | TDs | ||
Passing Stats | 396/572 | 4,544 | 37 | ||
Rushing Stats | 102 | 421 | 8 | ||
Receiving Stats | 1 | 12 | 1 | ||
The Buffalo Bills' offense certainly runs through Josh Allen, whether he's launching one down the field, or taking off and running over a couple of defenders. So far, Allen 'only' has one touchdown reception in his career, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him get a few more.
Allen's TD reception came in a barn burner of a game against the Arizona Cardinals back in the 2020 season. Taking the snap and pitching it to Isaiah McKenzie, Allen then rolled out to his left, where McKenzie lobbed a forward pass back to him. Allen found daylight in front of him and scampered in for a 12-yard score.
10 Blake Bortles Caught A Touchdown On Christmas Eve
Marquise Lee Threw The Touchdown Pass
December 24, 2016: Tennessee Titans: 17 at Jacksonville Jaguars: 38 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Blake Bortles | 26 | 38 | 325 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 20 | 1 |
Blake Bortles is generally considered a bit of a draft bust for the Jacksonville Jaguars. However, the former first-round pick had some great moments for the team and even nearly led the team to the Super Bowl. Another great moment came in 2016.
In a Christmas Eve game in 2016 against the Tennessee Titans, the Jaguars ran a trick play. Receiver Marquise Lee got the ball and ran to the outside, and threw it to a wide-open Bortles who strolled into the endzone for the touchdown. The Jags went on to win 38-17.
9 Drew Brees Caught Eight Passes In His Career
LaDainian Tomlinson Threw The Touchdown Pass
CAREER STATS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attempts | Yards | TDs | |||
Passing Stats | 7,142/10,551 | 80,358 | 571 | ||
Rushing Stats | 498 | 752 | 25 | ||
Receiving Stats | 8 | 74 | 1 | ||
Drew Brees is mostly known for his time as a member of the New Orleans Saints. However, he began his career as the quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, and he had some great moments for the squad.
Why Drew Brees Should Return To The NFL (& Why He Should Stay Retired)
Rumors run rampant in the NFL, and when it comes to Drew Brees, there are pros and cons for the quarterback's return to the field.Few moments were better than his touchdown reception in 2003. Running back LaDainian Tomlinson threw a 21-yard strike to Brees, who dove in for the score. The Chargers went on to lose to the Oakland Raiders 34-31.
8 Cam Newton Had 270 Combined Touchdowns
Jakobi Meyers Threw The Touchdown Pass
CAREER STATS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attempts | Yards | TDs | |||
Passing Stats | 2,686/4,474 | 32,382 | 194 | ||
Rushing Stats | 1,118 | 5,628 | 75 | ||
Receiving Stats | 3 | 68 | 1 | ||
Cam Newton's stint in a New England Patriots uniform was brief, and not great to put it lightly. However, his last game in 2021 was excellent, as he put on a show against the New York Jets, where he scored three touchdowns.
One of those touchdowns was a catch, as Newton caught a pass from Jakobi Meyers to stroll into the endzone for a score. The Patriots went on to win the game 28-14.
7 Andy Dalton Caught A Touchdown Pass In 2014
Mohammad Sanu Threw The Touchdown Pass
September 21, 2014: Tennessee Titans: 7 at Cincinnati Bengals: 33 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Andy Dalton | 15 | 23 | 169 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 18 | 1 |
Andy Dalton may have not gotten the Cincinnati Bengals to the Super Bowl like his successor in Joe Burrow, but he had some great plays during his time there. One such play came in week three of 2014, against the Tennessee Titans.
Dalton split out and caught a contested throw from Mohammad Sanu near the end of the first quarter. The quarterback then outran the defense to dive into the endzone for the score to propel the Bengals to a 33-7 win.
6 Russell Wilson Caught A Touchdown Against The Philadelphia Eagles
Doug Baldwin Threw The Touchdown Pass
November 20, 2016: Philadelphia Eagles: 15 at Seattle Seahawks: 26 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Russell Wilson | 18 | 31 | 272 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 1 |
Russell Wilson is one of the most athletic quarterbacks in NFL history. With that known, it would almost be surprising if he hadn't been used in some trick plays to this point in his career.
In 2016, as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, Wilson caught the one and only pass of his career from Doug Baldwin. The quarterback got the ball on a trick play and dove into the endzone for the score en route to a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
5 Tyler Thigpen Threw, Ran, and Caught a Touchdown In 2008
Mark Bradley Threw The Touchdown Pass
November 2, 2008: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 30 at Kansas City Chiefs: 27 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Tyler Thigpen | 14 | 25 | 164 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 37 | 1 |
Tyler Thigpen is by far the least successful quarterback on this list. However, he had his moments, mostly as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2008, Thigpen had the greatest year of his career, as he threw, ran, and caught touchdown passes.
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These quarterbacks performed at a high level for one season in the NFL, and then never reached that level of greatness again.Thigpen caught a touchdown from receiver Mark Bradley in a trick play from the wildcat formation. The score was impressive, but not enough to lift them above the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, as they lost 30-27.
4 Dak Prescott Caught A Touchdown In His Injury-Shortened Season
Cedrick Wilson Jr. Threw The Touchdown Pass
KEY STATS | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 NFL Season | Attempts | Yards | TDs | ||
Passing Stats | 151/222 | 1,856 | 9 | ||
Rushing Stats | 18 | 93 | 3 | ||
Receiving Stats | 1 | 11 | 1 | ||
Dak Prescott's 2020 season ended against the New York Giants in week five. However, he made the most of his time on the field, as he scored the one and only receiving touchdown of his career in the second quarter.
Prescott caught the easy touchdown in the back of the endzone following a couple of laterals. The easy touchdown is mostly forgotten due to the star quarterback's injury later on.
3 Brad Johnson Caught His Own Touchdown Pass
Johnson's Pass Was Deflected Back To Him
October 12, 1997: Carolina Panthers: 14 at Minnesota Vikings: 21 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Brad Johnson | 17 | 34 | 203 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Brad Johnson had some mixed success in the NFL during his lengthy career. However, few moments were greater than his touchdown catch in the 1997 season against the Carolina Panthers.
Johnson threw a pass that was batted in the air, and he caught his own pass. He would then change direction and evade the defense en route to the score. The touchdown catch ended as the deciding factor, as Johnson's Vikings defeated the Panthers 21-14.
2 Marcus Mariota Caught His Second Touchdown Pass In The NFL Playoffs
Mariota Caught His Own Pass Deflection In The Playoffs
December 13, 2015: Tennessee Titans: 8 at New York Jets: 30 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Marcus Mariota | 21 | 39 | 274 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 41 | 1 |
January 6, 2018: Tennessee Titans: 22 at Kansas City Chiefs: 21 | ||||||||
Marcus Mariota | 19 | 31 | 205 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
Marcus Mariota may have his shortcomings as a passer, but he has certainly had some bright spots in his NFL career. In week 14 of the 2015 season for the Tennessee Titans against the New York Jets, the quarterback caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from Antonio Andrews.
However, Mariota's best moment came two seasons later. In the Wild Card Playoffs game against the Kansas City Chiefs, he threw a pass that was batted back to him by Darelle Revis. Mariota caught his own pass, and then dove into the endzone for the score, as the Titans defeated the Chiefs 22-21.
1 Nick Foles Caught A Touchdown In The Super Bowl
Trey Burton Threw The Touchdown Pass
Super Bowl LII: Philadelphia Eagles: 41 vs New England Patriots: 33 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CMP | ATT | YDS | TD | INT | REC | YDS | TD | |
Nick Foles | 28 | 43 | 373 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Nick Foles's touchdown reception is remembered because it happened on the biggest stage. In Super Bowl 52 against the New England Patriots, the Philadelphia Eagles ran the play famously known as the "Philly Special".
Foles, who was the backup quarterback, caught an easy touchdown in the back of the end zone from tight end Trey Burton. The touchdown was one of four for the QB, as he was named MVP for the Eagles defeating the Patriots 41-33. Foles had the game of his life as he brought the Eagles their first Super Bowl trophy and cemented his legacy in Philadelphia forever.
