Hornung’s 176 Points

Hall of Fame halfback Paul Hornung scored an incredible 176 points during the 1960 National Football League Season. Although the mark has been challenged a few times over the past 46 years, it wasn't until LaDainian Tomlinson eclipsed the point total in 2006 that the record finally fell. Making Hornung's amount of points even more impressive is that he achieved the total during a 12-game schedule.

Hornung’s 176-point total in 1960 surpassed the mark of 138 scored by Don Hutson in 1942.

Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander came the closest to breaking the record when he totaled 168 points during the 2005 NFL season. Others who came within range include Gary Anderson (164 points in 1998), Priest Holmes (162 points in 2003), Marshall Faulk (160 points in 2000) and Emmitt Smith (150 points in 1995).

Hornung’s ability to score in multiple fashions helped him achieve the record total that season. Aside from running the ball, Hornung was an excellent receiver out of the backfield and also handled the Packers kicking duties. In 1960, he averaged 14.7 points per game as he accounted for 53 percent of Green Bay’s scoring. If a player in today’s game were to surpass that point-per-game average, he would have to score more than 236 points in a season.

The “Golden Boy” continued his torrid scoring pace in 1961 when he scored 146 points which ranked second until Smith surpassed that total in 1995.