Homer Jones Is the Leader in Average Length of Receiving Touchdown

by Chase Stuart on March 16, 2014

Jones catches another bomb.

In November, I noted that Chris Johnson was the career leader in average length of rushing touchdown. Since then, he’s actually dropped to number two, as his six rushing touchdowns covered “only” 84 yards in November and December. But what about the career leader in average length of receiving touchdown?

That title belongs to former Giants wide receiver Homer Jones. A star in the late ’60s, 19 of Jones’ 36 career touchdowns went for 50 or more yards. The table below shows all 413 players to record at least 35 receiving touchdowns (including the postseason) from 1940 to 2013. While Jones leads in average touchdown length, I think it makes more sense to sort the list by median touchdown length, although that doesn’t matter much for Jones. For each player listed, I’ve included both their average and median touchdown length, the years they played, and a best guess at their primary position. The table by default shows 50 entries, but you can change that; in addition, the table is fully sortable and searchable.

Rk	Receiver	Receiver	First Year	Last Year	TDs	Avg	Median
1	Homer Jones	WR	1964	1970	36	49	51
2	Mel Gray	WR	1971	1982	46	43.9	48.5
3	Bob Boyd	WR	1950	1957	28	45.5	47.5
4	Ken Burrough	WR	1970	1981	50	43.3	46.5
5	Bob Hayes	WR	1965	1975	73	41.1	38
6	Frank Pitts	WR	1965	1974	27	38.6	38
7	Carroll Dale	WR	1960	1973	55	38.5	38
8	Mike Wallace	WR	2009	2013	38	36.2	38
9	Elroy Hirsch	WR	1946	1957	59	38	37
10	John Mackey	TE	1963	1972	40	39.6	36
11	Elbert Dubenion	WR	1960	1968	37	39.1	36
12	Don Currivan	WR	1943	1949	26	36	36
13	DeSean Jackson	WR	2008	2013	34	39.7	35.5
14	Harlon Hill	WR	1954	1962	40	38.6	35.5
15	Willie Gault	WR	1983	1993	47	36.9	35
16	Lance Alworth	WR	1962	1972	88	35.6	35
17	Bernard Berrian	WR	2004	2011	26	35.3	34.5
18	Charley Frazier	WR	1962	1970	30	33.7	34.5
19	Cloyce Box	WR	1949	1954	32	37.9	34
20	Ken Kavanaugh	WR	1940	1950	52	37.4	34
21	Don Beebe	WR	1989	1997	26	36.3	34
22	Bake Turner	WR	1962	1970	25	34.8	34
23	Ray Renfro	WR	1952	1963	53	34.4	34
24	Del Shofner	WR	1957	1967	51	35.7	33
25	Wesley Walker	WR	1977	1989	74	34.3	33
26	Don Maynard	WR	1958	1973	90	34.2	32.5
27	Robert Meachem	WR	2008	2013	28	31	32.5
28	Jim Doran	WR	1951	1961	26	32.4	32
29	Joey Galloway	WR	1995	2010	77	32.2	32
30	Hugh Taylor	WR	1947	1954	58	34.7	31.5
31	Dave Williams	WR	1967	1973	25	28.7	31
32	Qadry Ismail	WR	1993	2002	33	35.4	30
33	Stanley Morgan	WR	1977	1990	75	35.1	30
34	Darnay Scott	WR	1994	2002	37	35	30
35	Flipper Anderson	WR	1988	1997	30	33	30
36	Bob Trumpy	TE	1968	1977	35	32.3	30
37	Tony Hill	WR	1977	1986	55	30.4	30
38	Marcus Robinson	WR	1998	2006	44	29.5	29.5
39	Corey Bradford	WR	1998	2006	25	34.9	29
40	Lenny Moore	RB	1956	1967	49	34.6	29
41	Ray Mathews	RB	1951	1960	34	34.4	29
42	Michael Haynes	WR	1988	1997	49	33.6	29
43	John Gilliam	WR	1967	1977	53	32.9	29
44	Johnny Morris	WR	1958	1967	31	32.8	29
45	Jack Snow	WR	1965	1975	45	32.1	29
46	John Greene	WR	1944	1950	26	33.1	28.5
47	Rocket Ismail	WR	1993	2001	28	32.5	28.5
48	Mark Duper	WR	1982	1992	64	32	28.5
49	Jackie Smith	TE	1963	1978	41	33.7	28
50	Alvin Harper	WR	1991	1999	25	33.2	28
51	Carlos Carson	WR	1980	1989	33	32.8	28
52	Harold Jackson	WR	1968	1983	81	31.7	28
53	Max McGee	WR	1954	1967	54	31.6	28
54	Donte' Stallworth	WR	2002	2012	37	30.1	28
55	Tony Martin	WR	1990	2001	59	30	28
56	Gene Washington	WR	1969	1979	61	29.8	28
57	Ricky Sanders	WR	1986	1995	39	28.6	28
58	Cliff Branch	WR	1972	1985	72	30.9	27.5
59	Isaac Curtis	WR	1973	1984	55	32.7	27
60	Red Phillips	WR	1958	1967	34	31.4	27
61	Ron Jessie	WR	1971	1981	27	30.9	27
62	Lee Evans	WR	2004	2011	43	30.7	27
63	Billy Johnson	WR	1974	1988	25	29.6	27
64	Roy Jefferson	WR	1965	1976	56	27.9	27
65	Aaron Thomas	TE	1961	1970	37	25.5	27
66	Larry Garron	RB	1960	1968	28	32	26.5
67	Willie Richardson	WR	1963	1971	26	26	26.5
68	Jeff Graham	WR	1991	2001	31	33.2	26
69	John Taylor	WR	1987	1995	49	33.1	26
70	Mal Kutner	WR	1946	1950	31	31.2	26
71	Jack Ferrante	WR	1941	1950	32	31.1	26
72	Antonio Bryant	WR	2002	2009	30	30.4	26
73	Gail Cogdill	WR	1960	1970	34	29.4	26
74	Tommy McDonald	WR	1957	1968	85	28.8	26
75	Shawn Jefferson	WR	1991	2003	31	28.5	26
76	Paul Warfield	WR	1964	1977	90	29.6	25.5
77	Roy Green	WR	1979	1992	66	29.1	25.5
78	Nate Washington	WR	2005	2013	38	28	25.5
79	Frank Gifford	RB	1952	1964	46	26.3	25.5
80	Ben Hawkins	WR	1966	1974	32	33.4	25
81	Kevin House	WR	1980	1987	35	33.1	25
82	Warren Wells	WR	1964	1970	45	31.9	25
83	Leonard Thompson	WR	1975	1986	35	30.1	25
84	Eric Moulds	WR	1996	2007	50	30	25
85	Otis Taylor	WR	1965	1975	59	29.8	25
86	Dick Gordon	WR	1965	1974	36	29.8	25
87	Alfred Jenkins	WR	1975	1983	41	29.4	25
88	David Boston	WR	1999	2005	25	28.4	25
89	Randy Moss	WR	1998	2012	166	27.7	25
90	Dante Lavelli	WR	1946	1956	67	27.5	25
91	Drew Hill	WR	1979	1993	61	27.4	25
92	David Patten	WR	1997	2008	26	25.1	25
93	Roger Carr	WR	1974	1983	32	34	24.5
94	Gene Washington	WR	1967	1973	28	32.8	24.5
95	Buddy Dial	WR	1959	1966	44	27.8	24.5
96	Timmy Brown	RB	1959	1968	26	33.3	24
97	Steve Smith	WR	2001	2013	75	30	24
98	Jimmy Orr	WR	1958	1970	66	29.9	24
99	Larry Walton	WR	1969	1978	27	26.2	24
100	Michael Jackson	WR	1991	1998	46	26.8	23.5
101	Michael Crabtree	WR	2009	2013	26	23.3	23.5
102	James Jett	WR	1993	2002	33	31.8	23
103	Billy Howton	WR	1952	1963	61	31.5	23
104	Fred Barnett	WR	1990	1997	35	31.1	23
105	Bobby Mitchell	WR	1958	1968	65	30.8	23
106	Frank Clarke	WR	1957	1967	51	30	23
107	Eddie Brown	WR	1985	1991	41	29.6	23
108	Willie Green	WR	1991	1998	30	29.1	23
109	Henry Ellard	WR	1983	1998	66	28	23
110	Gary Clark	WR	1985	1995	71	27.9	23
111	Al Baldwin	WR	1947	1950	27	26.9	23
112	Anthony Carter	WR	1985	1995	56	26.7	23
113	Quinn Early	WR	1988	1999	41	26.5	23
114	Anthony Miller	WR	1988	1997	63	26	23
115	Santonio Holmes	WR	2006	2013	41	25.9	23
116	Bill Brooks	WR	1986	1996	48	25.6	23
117	Dennis McKinnon	WR	1983	1990	26	28.6	22.5
118	Dave Kocourek	TE	1960	1968	26	27	22.5
119	Irving Fryar	WR	1984	2000	86	25.7	22.5
120	Charlie Joiner	WR	1969	1986	70	25.7	22.5
121	Gary Ballman	WR	1962	1973	37	31.3	22
122	James Lofton	WR	1978	1993	83	30.1	22
123	Santana Moss	WR	2001	2013	70	29	22
124	Sam McCullum	WR	1974	1983	27	28.1	22
125	Bob Scarpitto	WR	1961	1968	27	28.1	22
126	Javon Walker	WR	2002	2009	31	27.1	22
127	John David Crow	RB	1958	1968	35	26.9	22
128	Elbie Nickel	WR	1947	1957	36	26.3	22
129	Earnest Gray	WR	1979	1985	28	25.9	22
130	Amani Toomer	WR	1996	2008	61	25.9	22
131	Wes Chandler	WR	1978	1988	56	25.8	22
132	Art Powell	WR	1959	1968	81	25.4	22
133	Miles Austin	WR	2006	2013	35	25.2	22
134	Mark Jackson	WR	1986	1994	31	25.1	22
135	Sammy White	WR	1976	1985	55	24.2	22
136	Drew Bennett	WR	2001	2008	29	22.6	22
137	Derrick Alexander	WR	1994	2002	40	29.6	21.5
138	Freddie Solomon	WR	1975	1985	54	29.1	21.5
139	Gary Garrison	WR	1966	1977	58	26.8	21.5
140	Butch Johnson	WR	1976	1985	32	24.9	21.5
141	Steve Watson	WR	1979	1987	37	28.9	21
142	Charles Johnson	WR	1994	2002	25	27.2	21
143	Jessie Hester	WR	1985	1995	30	27.1	21
144	George Sauer	WR	1965	1970	28	26.9	21
145	Bernie Casey	RB	1961	1968	41	26.9	21
146	Stephone Paige	WR	1983	1991	50	26.8	21
147	Sonny Randle	WR	1959	1968	65	26.6	21
148	Frank Lewis	WR	1971	1983	45	26.2	21
149	Tim McGee	WR	1986	1994	28	25.6	21
150	Hakeem Nicks	WR	2009	2013	31	25.4	21
151	Yancey Thigpen	WR	1991	2000	33	25.3	21
152	Henry Marshall	WR	1976	1987	33	25.2	21
153	Wallace Francis	WR	1973	1981	29	24.9	21
154	Bert Emanuel	WR	1994	2001	28	24.2	21
155	Jim Benton	WR	1938	1947	35	24.1	21
156	Bobby Walston	WR	1951	1962	46	24	21
157	Brandon Stokley	WR	1999	2013	46	23.6	21
158	John Jefferson	WR	1978	1985	49	23.4	21
159	Pete Retzlaff	WR	1956	1966	47	22.9	21
160	Terrell Owens	WR	1996	2010	158	26.4	20.5
161	Brandon Lloyd	WR	2003	2012	36	23.8	20.5
162	Mike Quick	WR	1982	1990	61	29.2	20
163	Curtis Conway	WR	1993	2004	52	27.3	20
164	Eddie Kennison	WR	1996	2008	42	27.1	20
165	Rich Caster	TE	1970	1982	45	26.4	20
166	Jerry Rice	WR	1985	2004	219	26.4	20
167	Daryl Turner	WR	1984	1987	37	26.1	20
168	Tim Brown	WR	1988	2004	103	25.3	20
169	Donald Driver	WR	1999	2012	64	25	20
170	Dwight Clark	WR	1979	1987	51	24.9	20
171	Reggie Rucker	WR	1970	1981	44	24.1	20
172	Bobby Joe Conrad	WR	1958	1969	38	23.9	20
173	Dokie Williams	WR	1983	1987	25	23.8	20
174	Jake Reed	WR	1991	2002	38	23.3	20
175	Kevin Johnson	WR	1999	2005	25	23.2	20
176	Chris Burford	WR	1960	1967	55	22.9	20
177	Lynn Swann	WR	1974	1982	60	22.4	20
178	Charlie Smith	WR	1974	1981	25	21	20
179	Joe Walton	WR	1957	1963	28	19.8	20
180	Dave Parks	WR	1964	1973	44	27.8	19.5
181	Terry Glenn	WR	1996	2007	44	25.1	19.5
182	Jimmy Smith	WR	1992	2005	74	24	19.5
183	Derrick Mason	WR	1997	2011	68	23.6	19.5
184	Steve Largent	WR	1976	1989	104	22.6	19.5
185	Fred Biletnikoff	WR	1965	1978	86	22.1	19.5
186	Pierre Garcon	WR	2008	2013	28	30.6	19
187	Braylon Edwards	WR	2005	2012	42	28.9	19
188	Hassan Jones	WR	1986	1993	27	28.6	19
189	Terry Barr	RB	1957	1965	35	28.5	19
190	Ray Butler	WR	1980	1988	37	28.3	19
191	Az-Zahir Hakim	WR	1998	2006	28	28.1	19
192	Al Toon	WR	1985	1992	33	27.2	19
193	Mac Speedie	WR	1946	1952	33	27.2	19
194	Willie Davis	WR	1991	1998	34	25.9	19
195	Marty Booker	WR	1999	2009	37	25.4	19
196	Robert Brooks	WR	1992	2000	36	25.3	19
197	Jim Colclough	WR	1960	1968	39	25.2	19
198	Jim Mutscheller	WR	1954	1961	40	25.1	19
199	John Stallworth	WR	1974	1987	75	24.6	19
200	Mark Clayton	WR	1983	1993	87	23.9	19
201	Torry Holt	WR	1999	2009	78	23.8	19
202	Raymond Chester	TE	1970	1981	49	23.5	19
203	Gino Cappelletti	WR	1960	1970	42	23	19
204	Jim Smith	WR	1977	1985	25	22.2	19
205	Jerry Porter	WR	2000	2008	34	20.5	19
206	Bob Schnelker	WR	1953	1961	34	24.9	18.5
207	Pete Pihos	WR	1947	1955	62	21.5	18.5
208	Chris Calloway	WR	1990	2000	30	20.6	18.5
209	Bill Groman	WR	1960	1965	37	30.9	18
210	Charlie Brown	WR	1982	1987	28	30.4	18
211	Boyd Dowler	WR	1959	1971	45	26.6	18
212	Charley Hennigan	WR	1960	1966	51	26.4	18
213	A.J. Green	WR	2011	2013	29	26.3	18
214	Charley Taylor	WR	1964	1977	81	25.6	18
215	Mike Renfro	WR	1978	1987	29	25	18
216	Andre Reed	WR	1985	2000	96	24.8	18
217	Antonio Freeman	WR	1995	2003	71	24.3	18
218	Peerless Price	WR	1999	2007	32	23.7	18
219	Art Monk	WR	1980	1995	75	22.3	18
220	Billy Wilson	WR	1951	1960	50	21.4	18
221	Willard Dewveall	WR	1959	1964	28	29.7	17.5
222	Al Denson	WR	1964	1971	32	27.3	17.5
223	Patrick Crayton	WR	2004	2011	26	25.4	17.5
224	Webster Slaughter	WR	1986	1998	50	25	17.5
225	Darrell Jackson	WR	2000	2008	54	24.2	17.5
226	Lance Rentzel	WR	1965	1974	40	27.5	17
227	Greg Jennings	WR	2006	2013	63	27.2	17
228	Michael Westbrook	WR	1995	2002	26	26.2	17
229	Jeremy Maclin	WR	2009	2013	27	25.9	17
230	Don Hutson	WR	1935	1945	63	24	17
231	Michael Irvin	WR	1988	1999	73	23.5	17
232	Demaryius Thomas	WR	2010	2013	35	22.9	17
233	Drew Pearson	WR	1973	1983	56	22.8	17
234	Gern Nagler	WR	1953	1961	28	22.8	17
235	Mark Carrier	WR	1987	1998	49	22.6	17
236	Joe Horn	WR	1996	2007	58	22.5	17
237	Marvin Harrison	WR	1996	2008	130	22.4	17
238	Herman Moore	WR	1991	2002	64	22.3	17
239	Rodney Holman	TE	1982	1995	36	22.1	17
240	Sterling Sharpe	WR	1988	1994	69	21.7	17
241	Plaxico Burress	WR	2000	2013	70	21.6	17
242	Kyle Rote	WR	1951	1961	49	21	17
243	Vincent Jackson	WR	2005	2013	55	20.6	17
244	Leon Hart	WR	1950	1957	27	19.5	17
245	Fred Arbanas	TE	1962	1970	35	19.3	17
246	Rob Moore	WR	1990	1999	49	19	17
247	Billy Cannon	TE	1960	1970	50	25.9	16.5
248	Calvin Johnson	WR	2007	2013	68	25.1	16.5
249	Tom Fears	WR	1948	1956	42	24.3	16.5
250	Marlin Briscoe	WR	1968	1976	30	23	16.5
251	Johnnie Morton	WR	1994	2005	44	22.9	16.5
252	Bill Schroeder	WR	1997	2004	28	22.2	16.5
253	Jerome Barkum	TE	1972	1983	40	19.1	16.5
254	James Jones	WR	2007	2013	41	24.1	16
255	Mark Ingram	WR	1987	1996	26	23.9	16
256	Jerry Butler	WR	1979	1986	30	23.8	16
257	Chris Chambers	WR	2001	2010	59	22.9	16
258	Ahmad Rashad	WR	1972	1982	45	22.6	16
259	Danny Abramowicz	WR	1967	1974	39	22.4	16
260	Rod Smith	WR	1995	2006	74	22.2	16
261	Cris Collinsworth	WR	1981	1988	37	21.8	16
262	Deion Branch	WR	2002	2012	43	21.3	16
263	Preston Dennard	WR	1978	1985	33	21	16
264	Andre Rison	WR	1989	2000	87	21	16
265	Terance Mathis	WR	1990	2002	66	20.5	16
266	Sean Dawkins	WR	1993	2001	27	19.3	16
267	Jean Fugett	TE	1972	1979	28	18.6	16
268	Floyd Turner	WR	1989	1998	34	23.5	15.5
269	Willie Jackson	WR	1995	2002	28	21.6	15.5
270	Vernon Davis	TE	2006	2013	60	20.6	15.5
271	Louis Lipps	WR	1984	1992	41	28.9	15
272	Eric Metcalf	RB	1989	2002	32	26.1	15
273	Marshall Faulk	RB	1994	2005	38	23.7	15
274	Torrance Small	WR	1992	2001	32	22	15
275	Reggie Wayne	WR	2001	2013	89	21.8	15
276	Lionel Taylor	WR	1959	1968	45	21.8	15
277	Keenan McCardell	WR	1992	2007	69	21.1	15
278	Vance Johnson	WR	1985	1995	41	21	15
279	Jerricho Cotchery	WR	2004	2013	33	20.3	15
280	Alyn Beals	WR	1946	1951	49	20.1	15
281	Roy Williams	WR	2004	2011	44	20	15
282	Dwayne Bowe	WR	2007	2013	45	19.6	15
283	Don Norton	WR	1960	1966	28	18.9	15
284	Mike Ditka	TE	1961	1972	44	18.9	15
285	Mike Pritchard	WR	1991	1999	26	18.6	15
286	Jeff Chadwick	WR	1983	1992	27	18.4	15
287	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	WR	2001	2011	45	18.3	15
288	Keyshawn Johnson	WR	1996	2006	66	17.8	15
289	Marques Colston	WR	2006	2013	67	16.6	15
290	Jerramy Stevens	TE	2002	2010	26	14.5	15
291	Jordy Nelson	WR	2008	2013	40	26.7	14.5
292	Brett Perriman	WR	1988	1997	32	18.5	14.5
293	Roddy White	WR	2005	2013	58	23	14
294	Haven Moses	WR	1968	1981	58	22.6	14
295	Troy Brown	WR	1993	2007	33	21.3	14
296	Pat Tilley	WR	1976	1986	38	21.2	14
297	Lance Moore	WR	2006	2013	39	20.6	14
298	Sidney Rice	WR	2007	2013	34	20.5	14
299	Jimmie Giles	TE	1977	1989	42	19.9	14
300	Calvin Williams	WR	1990	1996	36	19.8	14
301	Nat Moore	WR	1974	1986	77	19.5	14
302	Kevin Walter	WR	2003	2013	25	18.1	14
303	Harold Carmichael	WR	1971	1984	85	18	14
304	Gary Collins	WR	1962	1971	75	17.8	14
305	Eric Decker	WR	2010	2013	33	17.5	14
306	Nate Burleson	WR	2003	2013	41	17.5	14
307	Ozzie Newsome	TE	1978	1990	48	16.2	14
308	J.T. Smith	WR	1978	1990	35	16	14
309	Shannon Sharpe	TE	1990	2003	66	20.5	13.5
310	Dez Bryant	WR	2010	2013	40	19.3	13.5
311	Laveranues Coles	WR	2000	2009	50	18.3	13.5
312	Cris Carter	WR	1987	2002	138	18.1	13.5
313	Henry Childs	TE	1974	1984	28	17.4	13.5
314	Darren Sproles	RB	2005	2013	30	25	13
315	Chad Johnson	WR	2001	2011	67	24.7	13
316	Malcom Floyd	WR	2004	2013	25	21	13
317	Joe Morrison	RB	1959	1972	47	20.8	13
318	Raymond Berry	WR	1955	1967	69	20.6	13
319	Anquan Boldin	WR	2003	2013	73	19.4	13
320	Michael Jenkins	WR	2004	2012	26	19	13
321	Marcus Pollard	TE	1995	2008	41	17.4	13
322	Ed McCaffrey	WR	1991	2003	57	17.4	13
323	Muhsin Muhammad	WR	1996	2009	65	17.2	13
324	James Brooks	RB	1981	1992	33	17.1	13
325	Steve Johnson	WR	2008	2013	28	16	13
326	Eric Green	TE	1990	1999	38	15.7	13
327	Chris Cooley	TE	2004	2012	33	15.4	13
328	Greg Olsen	TE	2007	2013	37	15.4	13
329	Andre Johnson	WR	2003	2013	62	22.3	12
330	Isaac Bruce	WR	1994	2009	95	20.6	12
331	Ricky Proehl	WR	1990	2006	58	20.2	12
332	Joe Aguirre	WR	1941	1949	31	19.6	12
333	Glenn Doughty	WR	1972	1979	25	19.4	12
334	Ernest Givins	WR	1986	1995	57	19.1	12
335	Eric Martin	WR	1985	1994	50	18.9	12
336	Hines Ward	WR	1998	2011	95	17.6	12
337	Brian Blades	WR	1988	1998	34	17.6	12
338	Bob Chandler	WR	1971	1982	48	17.2	12
339	Haywood Jeffires	WR	1987	1996	53	16.5	12
340	Wayne Chrebet	WR	1995	2005	43	16.5	12
341	Jim Mitchell	TE	1969	1979	29	15.6	12
342	J.J. Stokes	WR	1995	2003	30	14.9	12
343	Riley Odoms	TE	1972	1983	42	14.5	12
344	Kellen Winslow	TE	1979	1987	49	14.5	12
345	Mark Bavaro	TE	1985	1994	42	13.1	12
346	Todd Heap	TE	2001	2012	44	14.5	11.5
347	Brandon Marshall	WR	2006	2013	57	18.5	11
348	Larry Fitzgerald	WR	2004	2013	96	17.9	11
349	Jackie Harris	TE	1990	2001	25	15.8	11
350	Keith Jackson	TE	1988	1996	55	15.7	11
351	Russ Francis	TE	1975	1988	43	15.6	11
352	Antonio Gates	TE	2003	2013	88	15.4	11
353	Tom Mitchell	TE	1966	1977	25	15	11
354	Charle Young	TE	1973	1985	29	14.4	11
355	Rob Gronkowski	TE	2010	2013	45	13.8	11
356	Jerry Smith	TE	1965	1977	61	13.8	11
357	Keith Byars	RB	1986	1998	33	12.6	11
358	Tony Gonzalez	TE	1997	2013	115	12.4	11
359	David Hill	TE	1976	1987	30	10.7	11
360	Andrew Glover	TE	1991	2000	25	10.2	11
361	Brian Westbrook	RB	2002	2010	33	19.6	10
362	Carl Pickens	WR	1992	2000	63	17.5	10
363	Gordie Soltau	WR	1950	1958	25	17	10
364	Bobby Engram	WR	1996	2009	37	16.8	10
365	Bob Tucker	TE	1970	1980	27	16.4	10
366	Alge Crumpler	TE	2001	2010	41	16	10
367	Jimmy Graham	TE	2010	2013	44	15.5	10
368	Joe Jurevicius	WR	1998	2007	31	15.5	10
369	Thurman Thomas	RB	1988	2000	28	14.2	10
370	Steve Jordan	TE	1982	1994	29	13.8	10
371	Jason Witten	TE	2003	2013	52	13.8	10
372	Rickey Dudley	TE	1996	2004	34	13.6	10
373	Dave Casper	TE	1974	1984	59	13.1	10
374	Wesley Walls	TE	1989	2003	55	12.5	10
375	Ken Dilger	TE	1995	2004	25	12	10
376	Anthony Fasano	TE	2006	2013	27	11	10
377	Brent Jones	TE	1987	1997	38	13.8	9.5
378	Todd Christensen	TE	1979	1988	42	11.7	9.5
379	Bill McColl	WR	1952	1959	25	17.3	9
380	Ike Hilliard	WR	1997	2008	37	15.3	9
381	Jabar Gaffney	WR	2002	2012	27	15	9
382	Brent Celek	TE	2007	2013	29	14.8	9
383	Dallas Clark	TE	2003	2013	57	13.9	9
384	Kellen Winslow Jr.	TE	2004	2013	25	13	9
385	Billy Joe DuPree	TE	1973	1983	45	13	9
386	O.J. McDuffie	WR	1993	2000	30	12.9	9
387	Frank Wycheck	TE	1993	2003	29	12.6	9
388	Ben Watson	TE	2004	2013	33	12.5	9
389	Marcedes Lewis	TE	2006	2013	25	12.2	9
390	Visanthe Shiancoe	TE	2003	2013	28	10.9	8.5
391	Mike Williams	WR	2010	2013	25	19	8
392	Willie Frazier	TE	1964	1975	36	17.4	8
393	Bob Klein	TE	1969	1979	25	13.8	8
394	Mickey Shuler	TE	1978	1991	39	11.2	8
395	Charlie Sanders	TE	1968	1977	31	10.8	8
396	Jay Novacek	TE	1985	1995	36	12.8	7.5
397	Ben Coates	TE	1991	2000	51	12.6	7
398	Wes Welker	WR	2004	2013	53	12.1	7
399	Doug Cosbie	TE	1979	1988	33	11.7	7
400	Heath Miller	TE	2005	2013	44	10.1	7
401	Paul Coffman	TE	1978	1988	42	11.6	6.5
402	Daniel Graham	TE	2002	2012	26	10.7	6.5
403	Dave Moore	TE	1992	2006	28	10.3	6.5
404	Larry Centers	RB	1990	2003	29	9.1	6
405	Chad Lewis	TE	1997	2005	26	6.7	6
406	Pete Metzelaars	TE	1982	1997	31	11.8	5
407	Owen Daniels	TE	2006	2013	29	10.5	5
408	Desmond Clark	TE	1999	2010	28	10	5
409	Ed West	TE	1984	1997	27	9.6	5
410	Jeremy Shockey	TE	2002	2011	40	8.2	5
411	Kyle Brady	TE	1995	2007	26	7.7	4
412	Bubba Franks	TE	2000	2008	35	6.9	4
413	Bruce Hardy	TE	1978	1989	29	7	3

If you sort the table by career touchdowns, you’ll see that Jerry Rice and Randy Moss have pretty similar averages. Rice caught more short touchdowns, but he holds up pretty well to the man considered one of the all-time great deep threats. In fact, Rice had more career receiving touchdowns of 30+ yards, 40+ yards, 50+ yards, and 60+ yards than any other player in history. Among active players, Mike Wallace, DeSean Jackson, Robert Meachem, Nate Washington, and new Raven Steve Smith have the longest median length of touchdown reception.

What about the players who caught the shortest touchdowns? Wes Welker has caught a lot of short touchdown passes from Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. Including the playoffs, 28 of his career 53 touchdown catches were from inside the 7-yard line, the lowest rate of any wide receiver in history. Tampa Bay Mike Williams — you know, the guy who is one of the best Mike Williamses ever — is the only other wide receiver who had at least half of his receiving touchdowns come from inside the 8-yard line.

The positional designations don’t always hold up, especially the farther back in NFL history you go. Colts Hall of Famer Lenny Moore has the longest median length among running backs, but Moore frequently split out wide in Johnny Unitas’ offense. Going the other way, Arizona fullback Larry Centers was an excellent pass catcher, but he wasn’t particularly explosive. Fifteen of his career 29 receiving touchdowns were seven yards or shorter.

The player with the shortest median touchdown length is former Dolphins tight end Bruce Hardy. He was a favorite target of Dan Marino near the goal line, and the numbers back that up: 17 of his 29 career receiving touchdowns came from inside the three-yard line! Hardy never caught a touchdown outside of the red zone in the regular season, but he managed to catch a 50-yarder in the Epic in Miami against the Chargers (you can see video of this inexplicable event here). Two other tight ends actually had average touchdown lengths of less than 7 yards: Chad Lewis, a goal line favorite of Donovan McNabb, and Bubba Franks, a touchdown monster (and little else) during Brett Favre’s prime.

Tagged as: Homer Jones, Jerry Rice, Randy Moss

{ 8 comments }