There are a lot of fun and profitable ways to bet the NFL. One of them that we’ve been tracking over the last several seasons is the First Touchdown Scorer market. I took over this article a couple of seasons ago from our Executive Producer Stephanie Kamerschak, who also put together the snazzy Google Sheet document that I’ve used ever since to track team and individual records in that department.
While everybody starts with a clean slate here in 2026, we have 10 new head coaches, a whole new set of coordinators, and some of those head coaches were guys who did very well in this department in their previous roles as OCs. There are also some holdover coaches and coordinators who were very successful when it came to putting the game’s first TD up on the board.
Not only do I track the teams and players on the spreadsheet, but I also track first TDs by position. It is always interesting to see some of the patterns that emerge, whether they are temporary or become a league-wide trend. One of the biggest year-over-year trends that I tracked was that the tight end position was much more popular last season than it was the prior season. Note, when I track by position, that is the “Team First TD”, not necessarily the first TD for the game.
First TD Scorers by Position
| Season | QB | RB | WR | TE | D/ST | No TD |
| 2025 | 36 | 176 | 187 | 82 | 26 | 36 |
| 2024 | 46 | 190 | 198 | 63 | 21 | 35 |
- Both seasons had one first TD by an offensive lineman, which is graded ‘No Action’ since it’s not offered
Given the sample size, there’s some pretty nice consistency there, but you can definitely see a spike from the TE position. Based on my recollection, TEs actually started off really hot and well above the previous season’s pace, but then tailed off a little bit later in the year.
Again, that is the first TD for each team in a game. It doesn’t mean it was the first TD of the game, just the team’s first TD of the game.
Here is the success rate for teams scoring the first TD of the game over the last two seasons, listed alphabetically so that you can find your favorite team easier.
2024
| 49ers | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Bears | 5/17 (29.4%) |
| Bengals | 11/17 (64.7%) |
| Bills | 9/20 (45%) |
| Broncos | 9/18 (50%) |
| Browns | 5/17 (29.4%) |
| Bucs | 11/18 (61.1%) |
| Cardinals | 11/17 (64.7%) |
| Chargers | 9/18 (50%) |
| Chiefs | 11/20 (55%) |
| Colts | 11/17 (64.7%) |
| Commanders | 10/20 (50%) |
| Cowboys | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Dolphins | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Eagles | 16/21 (76.2%) |
| Falcons | 9/17 (52.9%) |
| Giants | 4/17 (23.5%) |
| Jaguars | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Jets | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Lions | 12/18 (66.7%) |
| Packers | 11/18 (61.1%) |
| Panthers | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Patriots | 9/17 (52.9%) |
| Raiders | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Rams | 6/19 (31.6%) |
| Ravens | 16/19 (84.2%) |
| Saints | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Seahawks | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Steelers | 4/18 (22.2%) |
| Texans | 11/19 (57.9%) |
| Titans | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Vikings | 11/18 (61.1%) |
2025
| 49ers | 10/19 (52.6%) |
| Bears | 10/19 (52.6%) |
| Bengals | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Bills | 10/19 (52.6%) |
| Broncos | 11/19 (57.9%) |
| Browns | 9/17 (52.9%) |
| Bucs | 10/17 (58.8%) |
| Cardinals | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Chargers | 8/18 (44.4%) |
| Chiefs | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Colts | 15/17 (88.2%) |
| Commanders | 5/17 (29.4%) |
| Cowboys | 9/17 (52.9%) |
| Dolphins | 8/17 (47.1%) |
| Eagles | 12/18 (66.7%) |
| Falcons | 7/17 (41.2%) |
| Giants | 10/17 (58.8%) |
| Jaguars | 13/18 (72.2%) |
| Jets | 3/17 (17.6%) |
| Lions | 11/17 (64.7%) |
| Packers | 11/18 (61.1%) |
| Panthers | 7/18 (38.9%) |
| Patriots | 9/21 (42.9%) |
| Raiders | 5/17 (29.4%) |
| Rams | 12/20 (60%) |
| Ravens | 9/17 (52.9%) |
| Saints | 3/17 (17.6%) |
| Seahawks | 15/20 (75%) |
| Steelers | 9/18 (50%) |
| Texans | 10/19 (52.6%) |
| Titans | 6/17 (35.3%) |
| Vikings | 6/17 (35.3%) |
I think there are a handful of interesting things here:
When the Vikings had a real QB in Sam Darnold, they were pretty good here. Speaking of, the Seahawks were one of the top teams in 2025 with Darnold at the helm.
The Buccaneers, Colts, Eagles, Lions, and Packers have been excellent the last two seasons
The Saints were actually worse with Kellen Moore in 2025 than the year prior; I think that changes this season
Conversely, the Jaguars were way better with Liam Coen at the helm
Very curious about the Ravens, who were awesome in 2024 and less awesome in 2025 as they start 2026 with a new staff
One of the other things I track is the frequency with which players score the first TD for their teams and whether or not that was the game’s first TD. This is a long list, so I’ll only post 2025:
| Top players (minimum 3 team-firsts) | Team’s First TD | Game’s First TD |
| Derrick Henry (BAL) | 9 | 4 |
| Kyren Williams (LAR) | 7 | 4 |
| Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | 6 | 5 |
| De’Von Achane (MIA) | 6 | 4 |
| Christian McCaffrey (SF) | 6 | 3 |
| Courtland Sutton (DEN) | 6 | 3 |
| Harold Fannin Jr. (CLE) | 5 | 4 |
| Jonathan Taylor (IND) | 5 | 4 |
| James Cook (BUF) | 5 | 3 |
| Dallas Goedert (PHI) | 5 | 3 |
| D’Andre Swift (CHI) | 5 | 3 |
| Javonte Williams (DAL) | 5 | 3 |
| Tyler Allgeier (ATL) | 5 | 2 |
| Quentin Johnston (LAC) | 5 | 2 |
| Bijan Robinson (ATL) | 5 | 2 |
| Josh Jacobs (GB) | 5 | 1 |
| Hunter Henry (NE) | 5 | 1 |
| Zach Charbonnet (SEA) | 4 | 3 |
| Nico Collins (HOU) | 4 | 3 |
| DeMario Douglas (NE) | 4 | 3 |
| Kenneth Gainwell (PIT) | 4 | 3 |
| Quinshon Judkins (CLE) | 4 | 3 |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) | 4 | 3 |
| Davante Adams (LAR) | 4 | 2 |
| Parker Washington (JAX) | 4 | 2 |
| Christian Watson (GB) | 4 | 2 |
| Michael Wilson (ARI) | 4 | 2 |
| Brock Bowers (LV) | 4 | 1 |
| Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) | 4 | 1 |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt (WAS) | 4 | 1 |
| Kareem Hunt (KC) | 4 | 1 |
| Tetairoa McMillan (CAR) | 4 | 1 |
| Chris Olave (NO) | 4 | 1 |
| Chuba Hubbard (CAR) | 4 | 0 |
| Chase Brown (CIN) | 3 | 3 |
| Romeo Doubs (GB) | 3 | 3 |
| Rico Dowdle (CAR) | 3 | 3 |
| Travis Etienne (JAX) | 3 | 3 |
| Puka Nacua (LAR) | 3 | 3 |
| Alec Pierce (IND) | 3 | 3 |
| Seahawks D/ST | 3 | 3 |
| Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX) | 3 | 3 |
| Tyler Warren (IND) | 3 | 3 |
| Saquon Barkley (PHI) | 3 | 2 |
| A.J. Brown (PHI) | 3 | 2 |
| Jaxson Dart (NYG) | 3 | 2 |
| Connor Heyward (PIT) | 3 | 2 |
| Jayden Higgins (HOU) | 3 | 2 |
| Ashton Jeanty (LV) | 3 | 2 |
| Jauan Jennings (SF) | 3 | 2 |
| Dalton Kincaid (BUF) | 3 | 2 |
| Drake London (ATL) | 3 | 2 |
| Woody Marks (HOU) | 3 | 2 |
| Ladd McConkey (LAC) | 3 | 2 |
| Bo Nix (DEN) | 3 | 2 |
| Josh Oliver (MIN) | 3 | 2 |
| Rashee Rice (KC) | 3 | 2 |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | 3 | 2 |
| Caleb Williams (CHI) | 3 | 2 |
| Josh Allen (BUF) | 3 | 1 |
| Emeka Egbuka (TB) | 3 | 1 |
| Zach Ertz (WAS) | 3 | 1 |
| Marvin Harrison Jr. (ARI) | 3 | 1 |
| Jalen Hurts (PHI) | 3 | 1 |
| Christian Kirk (HOU) | 3 | 1 |
| Patrick Mahomes (KC) | 3 | 1 |
| Trey McBride (ARI) | 3 | 1 |
| Rome Odunze (CHI) | 3 | 1 |
| Isaac TeSlaa (DET) | 3 | 1 |
| Tre Tucker (LV) | 3 | 1 |
| Bam Knight (ARI) | 3 | 0 |
| DK Metcalf (PIT) | 3 | 0 |
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. (WAS) | 3 | 0 |
| Raiders No Touchdown | 5 | 0 |
| Chargers No Touchdown | 3 | 0 |
| Jets No Touchdown | 3 | 0 |
| Titans No Touchdown | 3 | 0 |
| Vikings No Touchdown | 3 | 0 |
One note I’ll add is that Kyren Williams, who had seven first team TDs in 2025, had 13 first team TDs in 2024. Twenty is easily the most over the two-year span, with Derrick Henry (15) next. James Cook (13) and Josh Jacobs/Jahmyr Gibbs (12) after that.
Kind of an obvious point, but even with more WR TD than RB TD to start the scoring, you can see that all the guys with the highest frequency over the two-year sample are running backs since the ball isn’t spread around nearly as much at that position. That is obviously priced into the first TD scorer odds.
There were 12 players with 6+ first team TDs in 2024 and just five players in 2025. I’m not sure if that’s a coincidence or an indication of offensive and defensive play-calling, but something to consider.
For Week 1, I’ll post this article on Wednesday because of the Wednesday night game. Going forward, I’ll post the First TD Tracker and my picks for the week on Thursdays.
