Every 99-yard touchdown in NFL history

Dorsett won a Heisman at Pittsburgh. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1977 with the Cowboys. Dorsett spent 11 seasons of his Hall of Fame career in Dallas, but he’ll forever be remembered best for a single play. In 1982, the strike-shortened season, Dorsett made a splash in the season finale against the Vikings. He took the ball 99 yards on the ground, scoring a never-before-seen rushing score of that length.

It feels fitting Henry is one of the two backs with a 99-yard touchdown. His mix of size and speed has left him labeled the Last of the Legendary Running Backs as we’ve watched the passing game surge and backfield splits increase. In 2018, his breakthrough season, Henry rushed for 99 yards against the Jaguars while playing for the Titans. It was the next season he’d rush for over 2,000 yards. In 2024, his first season with the Ravens, he had an 87-yard touchdown and fell just short of another 2,000-yard campaign. Whether or not he is the last, Henry is legendary to be sure.

How long ago was the first 99-yard touchdown in NFL history? The team on the defensive end of things was the Pittsburgh Pirates. Also, Washington had a racist team nickname. Okay, so maybe that was the case for a bit later than 1939. Washington trounced Pittsburgh 44-14 in October, and the 99-yard touchdown feels about right for the era. Filchock hit Farkas at around the 10-yard line and then he ran behind his blockers the rest of the way. One imagines Filchock is happy he has this place in NFL history. Otherwise, he might be best remembered for being banned by the NFL in 1947 for his associations with gamblers and went up to Canada to continue his career. (Filchock is 30, Farkas is 44)

Once again, a Washington quarterback threw a 99-yard touchdown. It took a while for this to happen, though, as the second-ever 99-yard touchdown came in 1963. Playing against the Browns, this one was a bit of a fluke. Izo flipped up a prayer of a pass, but Mitchell caught it around midfield and found himself with an open field in front of him. However, this time around Washington lost, with Cleveland picking up a 37-14 win. (If we gleaned this correctly, Mitchell is third from the right in the back row)

The NFL in 1966 was still a very different league. Case in point, in 1966 Studstill led the NFL in receiving yards AND punting yards. Also, that season Studstill became the first non-Washington receiver to reel in a 99-yard touchdown. His skills as a return specialist may have also helped, as Studstill caught Sweetan’s pass at full speed around the Detroit Lions’ 45-yard line and booked it into the end zone. However, the Lions were light on luck that day. The Baltimore Colts won 45-14.

Washington again! It’s truly bizarre that three of the first four 99-yard touchdowns in NFL history all were the product of the same team. This is a good addition to the list, though, in terms of name recognition. Jurgensen is a Hall of Fame quarterback who led the NFL in passing yards five times. Oddly, 1968 was not one of those years. Early in the 1968 season Jurgensen hit Allen for this 99-yard touchdown against the Bears. It proved important, as Washington only won 38-28.

The shoe’s on the other foot now! Washington was on the defensive end of a 99-yard touchdown this time. In terms of total talent, Plunkett-to-Branch is in the running for the best 99-yard touchdown. Branch is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and while Plunkett didn’t make it to that level, he’s in the College Football Hall of Fame. He won a Heisman and a Super Bowl MVP. What he and Branch didn’t win, though, was this game. Washington eked out a 37-35 win over the Raiders in 1983.

This was the coolest 99-yard touchdown pass. That’s not because Jaworski, a famous face on ESPN for many years, was involved. In 1985, the Eagles and Falcons played a game that went into overtime. In said overtime, “Jaws” hit Quick at about the 20-yard line, and Quick did the rest. That’s right, this was a walk-off 99-yard touchdown.

The 1994 season was the peak for the Chargers. They made it to the Super Bowl that year, though there they got trounced by the 49ers. Earlier in the season, though, the Chargers got a sign that maybe this was going to be a good season for the team. Humphries hit Martin for a 99-yard touchdown against the Seahawks. Both the quarterback and the receiver had good careers, if not remarkable ones. Still, the 99-yard touchdown connection put them in rarified air.

This is, perhaps, the most famous 99-yard touchdown pass. Not just because Favre was involved. This is the only 99-yard touchdown pass in primetime. The Packers were playing the Bears on Monday Night Football in 1995. Poor Bears defensive back Donnell Woodford bit hard on a pump fake on a post route run by Brooks. Brooks then took off down the field and had nothing but space in front of him.

Boerigter had one glorious moment in the NFL. He played his college ball at fabled football program Hastings College. The receiver started his career in Canada, but he was an all-star in 2001 with the Calgary Stampeders. That earned him a shot with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his rookie campaign, he had 20 catches for 420 yards and eight touchdowns. He’d finish his career with 39 catches for 697 yards and…eight touchdowns. Part of that rookie campaign in 2002? A 99-yard touchdown reception. One-seventh of his career receiving yards came on one catch against the Chargers.

Garcia bounced all over the NFL. He made three Pro Bowls, but also played for seven teams. Garcia spent a single season with the Browns in 2004. Against divisional rivals the Bengals, Garcia hit Davis for a 99-yard touchdown. It was, comfortably, the highlight of Garcia’s tenure as a Brown.

Frerotte joined the NFL in 1994. He finished his NFL career in 2008. In much of that time he was a backup. One time, he smashed his head into a wall to celebrate a touchdown and sprained his neck. In one of his very last NFL games, on November 30, 2008, Frerotte was playing for the Vikings against the Bears. He connected with Berrian, a former Bear, for a 99-yard touchdown. Maybe neither of these guys were famous players, but this was a cool moment for both of them.

Ultimately, Brady and Welker probably have Plunkett and Branch beat. Sure, Branch had a better career than Welker, but Brady is the greatest quarterback of all-time. Brady worked with Randy Moss, and he worked with Rob Gronkowski, and those were the big-play guys. Welker was the “possession receiver.” On this occasion in 2011, though, Welker caught a ball against the Dolphins at the 17-yard line. After that, Welker did the rest.

Later that very 2011 season, Brady’s nemesis the New York Giants had a 99-yard touchdown pass of their own. Also, this is the most recent 99-yard passing touchdown in NFL history. That makes this the longest drought since the time between Jurgensen-to-Allen and Plunkett-to-Branch. Cruz came out of nowhere in 2011 for the Giants, including this remarkable 99-yard touchdown catch. Oh, and at the end of this season the Giants beat the Patriots for the Super Bowl.