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American Football
The pick-six explained: One of the NFL's most exciting plays, plus all-time and current leaders
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The momentum of an NFL game can swing in an instant, and few plays achieve this quite like a pick-six.
The stuff of a quarterback's nightmares, DAZN News explains the details behind one of the most exciting plays in football, and presents the current and all-time leaders on both sides of the ball.
What is a pick-six?
Quite simply, a pick-six occurs when an interception is made by a defensive player and subsequently returned for a touchdown.
The term comes from the word "pick" to describe an interception, and the six points that are awarded for a touchdown.
It's a devastating defensive play because it can turn the tide of a game immediately, and the team that scores a pick-six does so without its offensive players even touching the ball.
Which quarterback has thrown the most pick-six
This isn't exactly an honour that QBs strive for, but some of the biggest legends of the sport are among the pick-six leaders.
The number of games a quarterback has played is clearly a major factor in making this list. After all, you can’t pile up interceptions without attempting passes.
Most pick-sixes thrown by quarterbacks in NFL history
| Rank | Quarterback | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brett Favre | 32 | 1991–2010 |
| 2 | Matthew Stafford | 30 | 2009–2024 |
| 3 | Dan Marino | 29 | 1983–1999 |
| 4 | Joe Namath | 28 | 1965–1977 |
| 5 | Drew Brees | 27 | 2001–2020 |
| 5 | Peyton Manning | 27 | 1998–2015 |
| 7 | Philip Rivers | 25 | 2004–2020 |
| 8 | Carson Palmer | 23 | 2004–2017 |
| 8 | Vinny Testaverde | 23 | 1987–2007 |
| 10 | Eli Manning | 22 | 2004–2019 |
Most pick-sixes thrown by active quarterbacks
| Rank | Quarterback | Total | Seasons Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Stafford | 30 | 2009–2024 |
| 2 | Andy Dalton | 19 | 2011–2024 |
| 3 | Derek Carr | 17 | 2014–2024 |
| 4 | Kirk Cousins | 15 | 2012–2024 |
| 5 | Joe Flacco | 14 | 2008–2024 |
| 5 | Jameis Winston | 14 | 2015–2024 |
| 7 | Geno Smith | 10 | 2013–2024 |
| 7 | Ryan Tannehill | 10 | 2012–2023 |
| 9 | Jared Goff | 9 | 2016–2024 |
| 9 | Dak Prescott | 9 | 2016–2024 |
Who has returned the most interception for touchdowns?
Unsurprisingly, this list is filled with a veritable "Who's Who" of the best defensive backs to ever play the game.
Most interception returned for a touchdown in NFL history
| Rank | Player | Total | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rod Woodson | 12 | 1987–2003 |
| 2 | Darren Sharper | 11 | 1997–2010 |
| 2 | Charles Woodson | 11 | 1998–2015 |
| 4 | Aqib Talib | 10 | 2008–2019 |
| 5 | Ken Houston | 9 | 1967–1980 |
| 5 | Deion Sanders | 9 | 1989–2005 |
| 5 | Aeneas Williams | 9 | 1991–2004 |
| 8 | Eric Allen | 8 | 1988–2001 |
| 8 | Ronde Barber | 8 | 1997–2012 |
| 8 | Janoris “Jackrabbit” Jenkins | 8 | 2012–2022 |
Most interception returned for a touchdown among active NFL players
| Rank | Player | Total | Seasons Listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marcus Peters | 7 | 2015–2023 |
| 2 | DaRon Bland | 5 | 2022–2024 |
| 2 | Deion Jones | 5 | 2016–2024 |
| 4 | Minkah Fitzpatrick | 4 | 2018–2024 |
| 4 | Jack Jones | 4 | 2022–2024 |
| 4 | Tyrann Mathieu | 4 | 2013–2024 |
| 4 | Harrison Smith | 4 | 2012–2024 |
| 4 | Daniel Sorensen | 4 | 2014–2023 |
| 9 | Josh Norman | 3 | 2012–2023 |
| 9 | Jimmie Ward | 3 | 2014–2024 |
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