The NFL single-season passing touchdowns record of 55, set by Peyton Manning in 2013, remains untouched despite 17-game schedules and evolving offenses. Through mid-October 2026, league leaders such as Brock Purdy, Kirk Cousins, and Jared Goff sit at 13-14 touchdowns after five or six games, projecting to roughly 40-45 over a full season—well short of record pace. Elite volume passers like Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Matthew Stafford have posted strong recent form in prior years but have not approached 50 touchdowns since 2018. Defenses, quarterback injuries, offensive line issues, and conservative late-season strategies continue to cap scoring rates, supporting trader consensus that no passer will eclipse the benchmark this year.