Football Records - Great Achievements of Great Players
Football is a game of strength, skill, and stamina as seen in the football records over the years. The greatest of the greats, the men who dominate the football record books, generally have a combination of these three attributes that borders on the superhuman. George Blanda, for example, played 26 seasons in the NFL from 1949 through 1975. Kicker Morten Andersen came up a year short with 25 years in the league, but with the switch to a sixteen game season, Andersen holds the football record for the most career games played with 382.
It turns out that place kickers and punters hold many of the NFL football records associated with longevity and stamina. Much has been made of Brett Favre’s amazing streak of 255 consecutive games played, which is a record football achievement for a quarterback, but he does not hold the honor in the NFL records. That distinction belongs to punter Jeff Feagles, who finished the 2007 season by appearing in his 320th consecutive game. Morten Andersen holds the record for scoring in 360 consecutive games and is the all-time scoring champion with 2,544 career points.
Football greatness is not measured only in the long-term, but in individual moments of glory. Three players share the foot record of scoring 6 touchdowns in one game. Going way back to 1929, Ernie Nevers rushed for six TDs. He is the only man to ever rush for six touchdowns in one game, but Dub Jones found the end zone six times (rushing and receiving) in a game against the Chicago Bears in 1951. Gayle Sayers scored six times by rushing, receiving, and running back kicks in one game in 1965.
Great players have made their mark throughout the history of the league. Some football records have stood for more than half a century, others are being re-written yearly. Tom Brady’s 50 touchdown passes in 2007 were the most in league history. Brett Favre continues to add to his NFL records in most passes thrown and completed in a career.
Some football records are more well-known than others. Many astute NFL fans know that the great Jerry Rice amassed more yards from scrimmage in his career than anyone else in NFL history with 23,540. Marshall Faulk’s record football achievement of 2,429 yards in a single season also stands out. But few may remember that wide receiver Flipper Anderson of the LA Rams accumulated a single game football record of 336 yards back in 1989. All 336 of those yards were gained receiving.
Another statistic that may surprise some is that the NLF records for the highest average yards per rush in a game, a season, and a career are all held by non-running backs. Quarterbacks Randall Cunningham (career) and Michael Vick (season and game) hold those honors.
Quarterback is usually the most vital position on a team, and the football record books are full of their achievements. While QB Jim Hardy has the ignominious NFL record of throwing 8 interceptions in one game against the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense, Bernie Kosar holds the distinction of throwing an astounding 308 consecutive passes without an interception. Peyton Manning has already achieved a perfect passer rating 4 times, an NFL record.
These NFL records are a testament to the strength, skill, and stamina of the greatest players to ever take to the field. From Ernie Nevers’ accomplishments nearly 80 years ago to Brett Favre’s continuing weekly redefinition of the football records, these men and their accomplishments demonstrate what it means to be a great in the NFL.