rookie running backs with most rushing touchdowns before 1970

Before 1970, Gale Sayers had the most rushing touchdowns in his rookie season by a running back, with 14 touchdowns in 1965.

Showing
  • Data note: Rushing Touchdowns: player season data complete from 1921
NAMERUSH TDSEASONTMGPRUSH YDSATTYPCRUSH YDS/GREC YDSRECTRGAVGREC YDS/GREC TD
1Gale Sayers
G. Sayers
14
1965
14
867
166
5.2
61.9
507
29
17.5
36.2
6
2Cookie Gilchrist
C. Gilchrist
13
1962
14
1,096
214
5.1
78.3
319
24
13.3
22.8
2
3Bill Paschal
B. Paschal
10
1943
9
572
147
3.9
63.6
74
9
8.2
8.2
2
4Abner Haynes
A. Haynes
9
1960
14
875
156
5.6
62.5
576
55
10.5
41.1
3
5Jim Brown
J. Brown
9
1957
12
942
202
4.7
78.5
55
16
3.4
4.6
1
6Alan Ameche
A. Ameche
9
1955
12
961
213
4.5
80.1
141
27
5.2
11.8
0
7John Henry Johnson
J. Henry Johnson
9
1954
12
681
129
5.3
56.8
183
28
6.5
15.3
0
8Dutch Clark
D. Clark
9
1931
11
0
9Calvin Hill
C. Hill
8
1969
13
942
204
4.6
72.5
232
20
11.6
17.8
0
10Paul Robinson
P. Robinson
8
1968
14
1,023
238
4.3
73.1
128
24
5.3
9.1
1
11Paul Lowe
P. Lowe
8
1960
14
855
136
6.3
61.1
377
23
16.4
26.9
2
12Lenny Moore
L. Moore
8
1956
12
649
86
7.5
54.1
102
11
9.3
8.5
1
13Bobby Watkins
B. Watkins
8
1955
12
553
110
5.0
46.1
79
6
13.2
6.6
0
14Jerry Shipkey
J. Shipkey
8
1948
12
199
64
3.1
16.6
106
10
10.6
8.8
0
15Hugh Gallarneau
H. Gallarneau
8
1941
11
304
49
6.2
27.6
204
11
18.5
18.5
2
16Beattie Feathers
B. Feathers
8
1934
11
1,004
119
8.4
91.3
174
6
29.0
15.8
1
17Ron Johnson
R. Johnson
7
1969
14
472
138
3.4
33.7
164
24
6.8
11.7
0
18Robert Holmes
R. Holmes
7
1968
14
866
174
5.0
61.9
201
19
10.6
14.4
0
19Dickie Post
D. Post
7
1967
13
663
161
4.1
51.0
278
32
8.7
21.4
1
20Willie Asbury
W. Asbury
7
1966
14
544
169
3.2
38.9
228
19
12.0
16.3
2
21Wray Carlton
W. Carlton
7
1960
14
533
137
3.9
38.1
477
29
16.4
34.1
4
22Don Bosseler
D. Bosseler
7
1957
12
673
167
4.0
56.1
152
19
8.0
12.7
0
23Joe Marconi
J. Marconi
7
1956
12
298
75
4.0
24.8
70
12
5.8
5.8
0
24Ron Waller
R. Waller
7
1955
12
716
151
4.7
59.7
228
24
9.5
19.0
1
25Bill Osmanski
B. Osmanski
7
1939
10
699
121
5.8
69.9
65
3
21.7
6.5
1

More NFL News

More Bears Stats

Team Leaders

PASS

1,546

Williams

Caleb Williams

RUSH

576

Swift

D'Andre Swift

REC

644

Burden

Luther Burden III
Team Rankings

PPG

26.8

7th

OPP PPG

20.4

9th

RUSH YDS/G

142.0

3rd

PASS YDS/G

256.7

10th

2026 Division Standings
TEAMWLTPCT
6
1
0
.857
Bears Bears
7
2
0
.778
6
2
0
.750
6
3
0
.667
Schedule
DATEMATCHUPTIME (ET)
Sun
11/22
@
1:00 PM
Thu
11/26
@
1:00 PM
Sun
12/6
@
1:00 PM
Sun
12/13
@
1:00 PM
Sat
12/19
@
8:20 PM
Last Game

24

Final

27

CHI Bears

7 - 2

Sun 8 Nov 2026

NFL 2026 Leaders

NFL 2026 Rankings

NFL Fantasy 2026

NFL 2026 Betting

NFL 2026 Standings

NFC EastWLTPCT
5
2
1
.688
4
5
0
.444
2
5
1
.313
2
7
0
.222
NFC NorthWLTPCT
6
1
0
.857
7
2
0
.778
6
2
0
.750
6
3
0
.667
NFC SouthWLTPCT
3
5
0
.375
3
5
0
.375
3
6
0
.333
3
6
0
.333
NFC WestWLTPCT
7
1
0
.875
5
4
0
.556
5
4
0
.556
3
6
0
.333
AFC EastWLTPCT
6
1
0
.857
5
4
0
.556
2
7
0
.222
1
7
0
.125
AFC NorthWLTPCT
6
2
0
.750
6
2
0
.750
5
4
0
.556
4
5
0
.444
AFC SouthWLTPCT
6
2
0
.750
3
5
0
.375
2
7
0
.222
1
7
0
.125
AFC WestWLTPCT
7
2
0
.778
6
2
0
.750
4
5
0
.444
0
8
0
.000

NFL 2026 Scores & Schedule

Scores

DATEMATCHUPSCORE
Wed
9/9
@
10-13
Thu
9/10
@
27-7
Sun
9/13
@
59-37
Sun
9/13
@
41-23
Sun
9/13
@
13-20

Schedule

DATEMATCHUPTIME (ET)
Thu
11/12
@
8:15 PM
Sun
11/15
@
9:30 AM
Sun
11/15
@
1:00 PM
Sun
11/15
@
1:00 PM
Sun
11/15
@
1:00 PM