While winning the Super Bowl makes players, coaches, and fans feel like they're on top of the world, simply appearing in one is a major accomplishment in it of itself.
Players can have terrific games in the grand finale just to fall short. Luckily for us, Super Bowl specific stats can show us which players have dominated the biggest stage of them all, even if their performances don't end in a victory.
In this article, we'll take a look at all the players with at least three touchdowns (rushing/receiving), plus the quarterbacks with at least five passing touchdowns in Super Bowl history.
Most Rushing/Receiving Touchdowns in Super Bowl History
Player | Touchdowns | Super Bowl Appearances |
Jerry Rice | 8 | 4 |
Rob Gronkowski | 5 | 5 |
Emmitt Smith | 5 | 3 |
Jalen Hurts | 4 | 2 |
James White | 4 | 2 |
Thurman Thomas | 4 | 4 |
John Elway | 4 | 5 |
Roger Craig | 4 | 3 |
Franco Harris | 4 | 4 |
Terrell Davis | 3 | 2 |
Antonio Freeman | 3 | 2 |
Ricky Watters | 3 | 1 |
Cliff Branch | 3 | 3 |
John Stallworth | 3 | 4 |
Lynn Swann | 3 | 4 |
15 players in NFL history have recorded three or more touchdowns in Super Bowl history. Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp is right on the cusp with two - both caught in Super Bowl LVI when he won the game's MVP.
Jerry Rice leads by a sizable margin - three touchdowns - after recording eight in four games. He put up a seven-reception, 148-yard, three-touchdown performance in Super Bowl XXIV in 1990 against the Denver Broncos, scored another three times in 1995 against the San Diego Chargers, and caught 11 passes for 215 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XXIII when he won Super Bowl MVP.
He even scored as a member of the Oakland Raiders in 2003 when he was 41-years-old.
Rob Gronkowski and Emmitt Smith are the only other two players with five touchdowns in Super Bowls. Gronk caught one in Super Bowl XLIX vs. Seattle, two in Super Bowl LII, and one in Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Jalen Hurts and John Elway are the only two quarterbacks on the list with four rushing touchdowns each. James White, Thurman Thomas, Roger Craig, and Franco Harris join them - each scoring four times.
Terrell Davis, Antonio Freeman, Ricky Watters, Cliff Branch, John Stallworth, and Lynn Swann are the last remaining players with 3+ TDs each. Watters notably scored three times in one game - Super Bowl XXIX as a member of the 49ers.
Most Passing Touchdowns in Super Bowl History
Player | Touchdowns | Super Bowl Appearances |
Tom Brady | 21 | 10 |
Joe Montana | 11 | 4 |
Patrick Mahomes | 10 | 5 |
Terry Bradshaw | 9 | 4 |
Roger Staubach | 8 | 4 |
Kurt Warner | 6 | 3 |
Steve Young | 6 | 2 |
Brett Favre | 5 | 2 |
Troy Aikman | 5 | 3 |
Just nine players in NFL history have recorded five or more passing touchdowns in Super Bowls. Russell Wilson, Doug Williams, and Jim Plunkett sit directly behind - each recording four TD tosses.
Tom Brady runs laps around the competition, at least doubling everyone on the list in appearances and throwing for 10 more TDs than Joe Montana who is second on the list.
Patrick Mahomes is the lone active player on the list, throwing for 10 scores in five games. The 30-year-old certainly has more time to climb the list if the Chiefs get their team figured out before his time is up.
Terry Bradshaw has nine TD passes, while Roger Staubach has eight of them with each appearing in four Super Bowls.
Kurt Warner, as a member of the Rams and Cardinals, has appeared in three and has thrown six touchdowns. Warner threw for over 365 yards in each Super Bowl he played in, but finished 1-2.
Famously, all six of Steve Young's passing touchdowns came in one game - Super Bowl XXIX vs. the Chargers.
Brett Favre and Troy Aikman close the list, each tossing 5 TDs a piece.
