Move over, Golden Boy

It finally happened. No, not someone breaking the NFL record for touchdowns in single season. That record was only a year old. Yes, the scoring record that was exceeded this past Sunday evening was for most points in a single season. It has stood since 1960. 1960? Wow, that's 46 years! I really can't believe that no one else has come close to breaking Paul Hornung's scoring record of 176 points.

In the years and decades after the 1960 season, even with the advent of the now omnipresent soccer style kicker (thank you, Pete Gogolak and Charlie Gogolak for pioneering this kicking style in the NFL and AFL [and for helping to bring about the merger]), no kicker had come any closer than 12 points to the Golden Boy's record. The only season that came closer was last year when the previous single season touchdown record was set.

Likely the reason for the scoring record lasting so long was that Hornung combined scoring touchdowns with his kicking prowess. In 1960 he scored 15 touchdowns, kicked 15 field goals and added 41 extra points (sadly, no rouges are included in this total). No other player since has had the multiple skills of kicking, running and pass receiving (with the possible exception of George Blanda who combined kicking and quarterbacking duties for my beloved Oakland Raiders in the late 60s and early 70s, more than 10 years after he "retired" from the NFL).

Hornung's record is even more remarkable as it was achieved in only 12 games, not the current 16-game seasons that began in the 70s. The new record this season is also impressive as it came in the first 14 games. Hats off to you, LT.