Monday, November 14, 2016

Reader Mail: Longest Non-Scoring Plays in NFL History (updated 11/14/2016)

Is there a list of the longest plays that didn't result a touchdown?

Elias probably has a list (they verified that Percy Harvin's 104-yard kickoff return was the longest non-scoring play in NFL history), but I've never seen one published.

Both scrimmage (runs and passes) and non-scrimmage (returns) plays are included in the lists below of plays of 80 yards and longer that didn't result in touchdowns.

Notes:

The lists below should be complete for 1983-2015; nearly-complete for 1960-1982 or for anything that would be a record play in franchise history; mostly-complete for 1941-1959; and spotty for anything before 1941.

Everything that appears on the lists below has been confirmed via the actual play-by-play or contemporary articles with the exception of a few pre-1960 plays.

Longest non-scoring runs in NFL history:
RusherDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Hap Moran11/23/193091*NYGGBNYG8GB1*disputed;
Giants accept this as 91-yard run
but other sources have it as 84.
NY Times on 11/24/30 details a play
starting from NYG15 with Moran
receiving snap in punt formation.
Johnny Johnson9/25/199490NYJCHINYJ3CHI7
Bo Jackson12/16/199088L.A.
Raiders
CINLA11CIN1
Barry Sanders10/2/199485DETTBDET10TB5
Barry Sanders10/23/199484DETCHIDET3CHI13
Doug Martin11/22/201584TBPHITB15PHI1
Jess Phillips11/2/196983CINOAKCIN7OAK10
Billy Sims9/30/198481DETSDDET18SD1
Le'Veon Bell9/21/201481PITCARPIT8CAR11
Wilbur Jackson11/27/197780SFNOSF1NO19
Leroy Harris11/25/197980PHIGBPHI1GB19
Larry Moriarty9/11/198380Houston
Oilers
L.A.
Raiders
HOU7LA13
Jessie Clark9/29/198580GBSt. Louis
Cardinals
GB10STL10
Troy Hambrick9/30/200180DALPHIDAL5PHI15
Jamaal Charles12/19/201080KCSTLKC18STL2



Longest non-scoring passes in NFL history:
ReceiverPasserDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Bobby Moore
(Ahmad Rashad)
Jim Hart12/10/197298St. Louis
Cardinals
L.A. RamsSTL1LA1
Walter RobertsBilly Kilmer11/19/196796NOPHINO2PHI2
Vincent JacksonJosh Freeman10/21/201295TBNOTB4NO1
Herschel WalkerRandall Cunningham9/4/199493PHINYGPHI6NYG1
Marcus AllenMarc Wilson10/7/198492L.A.
Raiders
SEALA3SEA5
Derrick AlexanderEric Zeier12/7/199792BALSEABAL7SEA1
Richard CasterJoe Namath10/26/197591NYJBaltimore
Colts
NYJ8BAL1
Dwight StoneBubby Brister10/14/199090PITDENPIT6DEN4
Alvin HarperTroy Aikman11/13/199490DALSFDAL6SF4
Byron ChamberlainBrian Griese10/17/199988DENGBDEN10GB2
Milt MorinBill Nelsen11/24/196887CLEPHICLE10PHI3
Calvin JohnsonMatthew Stafford10/27/201387DETDALDET10DAL3Johnson finished the game
with 329 receiving yards.
Steve WatsonCraig Morton12/6/198186DENKCDEN9KC5
Vance JohnsonJohn Elway9/26/198886DENL.A.
Raiders
DEN13LA1
Emmitt SmithBernie Kosar11/14/199386DALPhoenix
Cardinals
DAL12PHX2
Marcus PollardJoey Harrington10/16/200586DETCARDET9CAR5
Wes ChandlerArchie Manning9/23/197985NOSFNO13SF2
Emery MooreheadMike Tomczak11/16/198685CHIATLCHI14ATL1
Homer JonesFran Tarkenton9/15/196884NYGPITNYG12PIT4
Ken BurrowBob Berry12/19/197184ATLNOATL13NO3not to be confused with
fellow 70's WR Ken Burrough
Alvin GarrettJoe Theismann10/23/198384WASDETWAS5DET11
Eric MartinBobby Hebert9/14/198684NOGBNO9GB7Martin's second catch of the game;
the first went for 72 and a TD.
Malcolm KellyJason Campbell1/3/201084WASSDWAS12SD4
Jerome SimpsonAndy Dalton9/18/201184CINDENCIN7DEN9
Sammy WatkinsKyle Orton10/26/201484BUFNYJBUF11NYJ5Watkins started 
celebrating at the 15.
Koren RobinsonTrent Dilfer10/20/200283SEASTLSEA15STL2
Kevin JohnsonKelly Holcomb1/5/200383CLEPITCLE16PIT1AFC Wild Card game.
Santonio HolmesBen Roethlisberger12/20/200783PITSTLPIT4STL13
Ed MarshallJoe Pisarcik10/23/197782NYGWASNYG3WAS15
Leonard ThompsonScott Hunter10/7/197982DETNEDET9NE9
Terry KirbySteve Young10/19/199782SFATLSF17ATL1
Armanti EdwardsCam Newton11/4/201282CARWASCAR9WAS9
Jackie SmithGary Hammond10/13/197481St. Louis
Cardinals
DALSTL13DAL6pass thrown by wide receiver
Jessie HesterJack Trudeau11/22/199281INDPITIND18PIT1
Pat ColemanCody Carlson9/25/199481Houston
Oilers
CINHOU14CIN5
Terence MathisJeff George12/4/199481ATLSFATL10SF9
Corey BradfordDavid Carr10/13/200281HOUBUFHOU10BUF9
Devery HendersonDrew Brees9/28/200881NOSFNO17SF2
Johnny KnoxCaleb Hanie11/27/201181CHIOAKCHI10OAK9
Johnny PerkinsPhil Simms10/25/198180NYGATLNYG18ATL2
Jimmie GilesJack Thompson10/9/198380TBDALTB11DAL9
Todd PinkstonDonovan McNabb12/12/200480PHIWASPHI16WAS4
Reggie WayneAndrew Luck12/28/200480INDTENIND19TEN1


Longest non-scoring kickoff returns in NFL history:
ReturnerDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Percy Harvin11/27/2011104MINATLMIN-7ATL3
Ameer Abdullah11/15/2015104DETGBDET-5GB1
Benny Cunningham12/17/2015102STLTBSTL-5TB3
Jalen Saunders12/21/201499NOATLNO0ATL1
Adam Jones10/12/201497CINCARCIN0CAR3
Joe Arenas12/16/195696SFBALSF2BAL2
Maurice Jones-Drew1/5/200896JAXPITJAX3PIT1AFC Wild Card Game
Art Powell10/4/195995PHINYGPHI4NYG1
Bob Neff9/14/196895MIAHouston
Oilers
MIA0HOIL5
Ken Jenkins11/24/198595WASPITWAS2PIT3
Tim Brown11/28/198895L.A.
Raiders
SEALA2SEA3
Kevin Faulk11/15/199995NENYJNE-3NYJ8
Eddie Royal11/2/200895DENMIADEN0MIA5
Leon Washington12/8/201395TENDENTEN2DEN3
Tom Watkins11/21/196594DETCHI??
Dick Gordon9/16/196694CHIL.A. Rams??
Doug Cunningham10/22/196794SFNO??
Tim McGee11/23/198694CINMINCIN1MIN5
Tab Perry12/4/200594CINPITCIN3PIT3
Leon Washington9/22/200894NYJSDNYJ1SD5
Kyle Williams9/23/201294SFMINSF-8MIN14
Danieal Manning1/13/201380HOUNEHOU-6NE12AFC Divisional Round
Gary Ballman11/3/196393PITGBPIT5GB2
Glyn Milburn9/26/199993CHIOAKCHI-2OAK9
Brock Marion10/4/199993MIABUFMIA3BUF4
Tom Farmer?/?/194692L.A. Rams???unverified
Dave Osborn10/4/196592MINL.A. Rams??
Billy Lefear11/23/197592CLECINCLE6CIN2Lefear broke his leg when tackled;
Lefear's last play in NFL
Leeland McElroy10/27/199692ARINYJARI0NYJ8
Jerious Norwood12/28/200892ATLSTLATL0STL8
Darren Sproles12/26/201192NOATLNO-6ATL14
Lynn Chandnois9/30/195691PITWASPIT-5WAS14
Mel Blount10/3/197091PITCLEPIT4CLE5
Reggie Barlow10/25/199891JAXDENJAX5DEN4
Terry Fair9/19/199991DETGBDET1GB8
Desmond Howard10/28/200191DETCINDET0CIN9
Eddie Drummond12/15/200291DETTBDET4TB5
Antonio Cromartie11/26/200691SDOAKSD-3OAK12
Bryan McCann12/24/201191OAKKCOAK-5KC14
Bob Neff11/13/196690MIAKCMIA0KC10The Dolphins were intercepted 
shortly after each of Neff's long returns.
Don Shy11/17/196890PITCLE??
Kendall Williams10/2/198390Baltimore
Colts
CINBAL1CIN9
James Dixon10/8/198990DALGBDAL4GB6
Donnie Elder12/30/199090SDL.A.
Raiders
SD3LA7
Jason Tucker10/15/200090DALNYGDAL8NYG2
Allen Rossum11/6/200090GBMINGB8MIN2
Brad Pyatt10/6/200390INDTBIND-2TB12first play of Colts comeback
from down 21 with 5:09 left
Reggie Swinton11/20/200590ARISTLARI5STL5
Josh Cribbs11/11/200790CLEPITCLE7PIT3
Dwayne Harris10/13/201390DALWASDAL-5WAS15
Floyd Little11/10/196889DENOAKDEN-2OAK13
Ike Thomas11/12/197289GBCHIGB0CHI11
Larry Brunson10/14/197989OAKATLOAK5ATL6
Rod Hill1/16/198389DALGBDAL2GB9NFC Divisional game
Ron Brown11/10/198589L.A. RamsNYGLA0NYG11
Mel Gray10/25/199289DETTBDET7TB4
Herschel Walker10/20/199689DALATLDAL0ATL11
Veryl Switzer10/30/195488GBPHIGB2PHI10
Walter Roberts11/7/196588CLEPHICLE2PHI10
Clarence Childs12/8/196888CHIL.A. RamsCHI10LA2
Randy Montgomery10/22/197288DENOAKDEN-4OAK16
Steve Odom10/3/197688GBDETGB10DET2
Jimmy Rogers11/24/198088NOL.A. RamsNO-3LA15
Carl Roaches9/13/198188Houston
Oilers
CLEHOU1CLE11
Buster Rhymes12/22/198588MINPHIMIN4PHI8broke rookie record for KR yards
in a season on this return;
not that Busta Rhymes
Mel Gray10/6/199688Houston
Oilers
CINHOU2CIN10
Anthony Marshall 
(lateral from Bobby Engram)
11/24/199688CHIDETCHI-3DET15Engram returned the kickoff 13 yards
then lateraled to Marshall for next 75
Eddie Drummond12/22/200288DETATLDET-3ATL15
Terrence McGee11/12/200688BUFINDBUF0IND12
Pierre Thomas12/7/200888NOATLNO4ATL8
Rod McNeill12/21/197588NOCHI??
Joe McKnight10/9/201188NYJNENYJ-8NE20
Willie West10/16/196087St. Louis
Cardinals
PITSTL-7PIT20tripped over teammate
Earl Christy9/29/196887NYJBUFNYJ6BUF7
Jerry LeVias11/9/196987Houston
Oilers
CIN??
Don Bessillieu9/21/198087MIAATLMIA-5ATL18
Jamie Holland11/11/199087L.A.
Raiders
GBLA11GB2
Kevin Williams11/24/199487DALGBDAL8GB5
B.J. Sams12/11/200587BALDENBAL3DEN10
Jerome Mathis12/3/200687HOUOAKHOU10OAK3
Rock Cartwright12/14/200887WASCINWAS0CIN13
Aaron Brown9/13/200987DETNODET1NO12
Courtney Roby10/25/200987NOMIANO-3MIA16
Chris Owusu12/28/201487NYJMIANYJ1MIA12
Fred Morrison?/?/195186CHI???unverified
Joe Geri10/1/195186PITNYGPIT13NYG1
Emlen Tunnell11/1/195386NYGChicago
Cardinals
NYG2CHI12
Gene Howard11/2/196986NOSt. Louis
Cardinals
??
Keith Wright10/22/197886CLEKCCLE-4KC18
Brian Mitchell9/11/199486WASNOWAS-1NO15
Glyn Milburn11/19/199586DENSDDEN1SD13
Steve Broussard9/15/199686SEAKCSEA3KC11
Herschel Walker11/3/199686DALPHIDAL8PHI6Walker's third appearance on these lists.
Allen Rossum11/14/199986PHIWASPHI0WAS14
Aaron Stecker12/23/200186TBNOTB0NO14TB wouldn't score the first kick return TD
in franchise history for another 6 years.
Brad Smith10/11/201086NYJMINNYJ-5MIN19
Travis Benjamin10/20/201386CLEGBCLE-6GB20
Tommy Wilson12/6/195985L.A. RamsGBLARM4GB11unverified
Jug Girard11/1/195385DETL.A. Rams??
Barry Redden12/18/198285L.A. RamsL.A.
Raiders
LARM-2LARD17
Don Beebe11/5/198985BUFATLBUF7ATL8
David Dunn11/23/199785CINJAXCIN12JAX3
Adam Jones11/20/200585TENJAXTEN4JAX11
Josh Cribbs9/16/200785CLECINCLE4CIN11
Jerious Norwood10/12/200885ATLCHIATL-2CHI17
Leodis McKelvin11/9/200885BUFNEBUF1NE14
Andy Farkas10/25/194384WASChicago
Cardinals
WAS0CHI16fumbled OOB
Tom Moore12/4/196084GBCHI??
Ozzie Clay10/4/196484WASSt. Louis
Cardinals
??
Ken Ellis11/4/197384GBCHI??
James Hunter12/11/197684DETL.A. RamsDET12LARM4
Mike Nelms11/1/198184WASSt. Louis
Cardinals
WAS4STL12
Dennis Gentry11/3/198684CHIL.A. RamsCHI11LA5
Herman Fontenot10/30/198884CLECINCLE7CIN9
Thomas Lewis8/31/199784NYGPHINYG8PHI8
Dante Hall9/9/200784STLCARSTL-1CAR17
David Reed11/21/201084BALCARBAL-2CAR18
Danny Amendola12/26/201084STLSFSTL4SF12
Alex Erickson11/14/201684CINNYGCIN3 NYG13
Jerry Davis?/?/194883Chicago
Cardinals
???unverified
Howard Stevens12/4/197683Baltimore
Colts
St. Louis
Cardinals
BAL7STL10
Jimmy Edwards11/25/197983MINTBMIN-3TB20
Tyrone Hughes11/26/199583NOCARNO4CAR13
Adrian Madise12/28/200383DENGBDEN5GB12
Domenik Hixon11/23/200883NYGARINYG0ARI17
Clifton Smith11/8/200983TBGBTB0GB17
Stefan Logan12/6/200983PITOAKPIT-2OAK19
Leon Washington9/9/201283SEAARISEA-7ARI24
LeGarrette Blount12/29/201383NEBUFNE-3BUF20
Billy Baggett11/16/195282Dallas
Texans
(NFL)
DETDAL5DET13
Joe Arenas9/27/195382SFPHISF2PHI16
Abner Haynes11/6/196082Dallas
Texans
(AFL)
BUFDTX5BUF13
Charlie West12/8/196882MINSFMIN7SF11
Jim Butler11/22/197182ATLGBATL-1GB19
Steve Davis10/29/197282PITBUFPIT0BUF18
Mark Logan12/6/199282SFMIASF10MIA8
Steve Smith12/2/200182CARNOCAR6NO12
Brandon Bennett11/17/200282CINCLECIN11CLE7
Terrence McGee10/2/200582BUFNOBUF15NO3last play of 2Q
Travaris Cadet11/17/201382NOSFNO-3SF21
Charlie Sumner?/?/195581CHI???unverified
Clancy Williams11/6/196681L.A. RamsSFLA1SF18
Len Walterscheid10/1/197881CHIOAKCHI3OAK16
Steve Brown11/27/198381Houston
Oilers
TBHOU10TB9
Herman Fontenot12/15/198581CLEHouston
Oilers
CLE3HOU16
Kevin L. Williams9/26/199981NYJWASNYJ3WAS16fumbled OOB
Charlie Rogers10/15/200081SEAINDSEA-2IND21
Troy Edwards11/25/200181PITTENPIT2TEN17
Ellis Hobbs9/21/200881NEMIANE-4MIA23
Danny Amendola11/23/201481NEDETNE-3DET22
Dave Grayson10/11/196480KCDENKC2DEN18KC's drive after the return: 
1-10-DEN18: holding for -15;
1-25-DEN33: sack for -14;
2-39-DEN48: run for -5;
3-44-KC47: run for 19;
4-25-DEN33: pass for 33 and TD
Gary Ballman11/8/196480PITSt. Louis
Cardinals
??
Ron Smith11/27/196680ATLCHIATL14CHI6
Ellis Hobbs1/21/200780NEINDNE-1IND21AFC Championship Game
Rock Cartwright10/21/200780WASARIWAS-1ARI21
Devin Hester9/15/201380CHIMINCHI-3MIN23
Pacman Jones12/22/201480CINDENCIN-7DEN27




Longest non-scoring punt returns in NFL history:
ReturnerDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Brady Keys9/20/196490PITNYGPIT9NYG1
Skeets Quinlan?/?/195288L.A. Rams???unverified
T.J. Houshmandzadeh11/25/200186CINCLECIN9CLE5
Leon Washington12/5/201084SEACARSEA14CAR2
Eddie Dove9/29/196383NYGPHINYG14PHI3
Brady Keys9/22/196382PITNYGPIT17NYG1
Ray Buchanan11/3/199682INDSDIND9SD9
Danny Amendola11/15/201582NENYGNE11NYG7tripped by teammate
Bob Grim11/5/196781MINNYGMIN17NYG2
Dennis Northcutt11/5/200681CLESDCLE9SD10
Mel Gray12/6/198780NOTBNO16TB4
Desmond Howard10/29/200080DETINDDET18IND2


Longest non-scoring interception returns in NFL history:
ReturnerDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Champ Bailey1/14/2006100DENNEDEN-1NE1AFC Divisional game;
fumbled OOB just before reaching end zone
Brandon McDonald12/15/200898CLEPHICLE-5PHI7last play of half
Julius Peppers10/10/200497CARDENCAR0DEN3lost fumble into end zone,
but overturned on replay
Jimmy Conzelman11/2/192496Chicago
Cardinals
Milwaukee
Badgers
CRD0MIL4
Dennis Thurman9/6/198196DALWASDAL0WAS4
Charles Tillman12/4/200595CHIGBCHI-2GB7next-to-last play of 2Q
Nolan Cromwell12/14/198194STLATLSTL3ATL3
LeRoy Irvin12/26/198394STLDALSTL3DAL3NFC Wild Card game
Chad Williams10/24/200494BALBUFBAL0BUF6
Andy Studebaker11/22/200994KCPITKC-2PIT8
Ross Fichtner 
(lateral from Erich Barnes)
10/1/196793CLENOCLE5NO2Barnes returned the interception 5 yards
then lateraled to Fitchner for next 88
Jack Hinkle10/9/194391PHI/PIT
Steagles
NYG?? NY Times on 10/10/43
credits interception to Ernie Steele
Booker Edgerson11/1/196491BUFHouston
Oilers
??
Leslie Duncan12/6/196491SDNYJSD5NYJ4
Ryan Mundy9/8/201391NYGDALNYG8DAL1
Bob Smith11/9/195290DETPITDET0PIT10
Rick Volk10/13/196890Baltimore
Colts
SFBAL3SF7
Mike Richardson9/29/198590CHIWASCHI9WAS1
Bruce Maher11/10/196889NYGDALNYG5DAL6
Charlie West12/19/197189MINCHIMIN6CHI5
Lawrence Timmons11/30/200889PITNEPIT10NE1tackle made by Ben Watson,
who also tackled Bailey on the non-TD above
Dave Robinson12/12/196587GBBaltimore
Colts
GB3BAL10
Ron Hall9/18/196687NEDENNE6DEN7
Joe Blahak12/9/197387HOILPITHOIL8PIT5
Victor Green12/13/199887NYJMIANYJ4MIA9
Mike Gaechter11/3/196386DALWASDAL1WAS13
Dick Anderson12/20/197086MIABUFMIA-3BUF17
Brice McCain10/8/201286HOUNYJHOU5NYJ9
Raymond Clayborn10/7/198485NECLENE8CLE7next-to-last play of 4Q;
CLE trailed 17-16 and was in FG territory
Aaron Beasley9/12/200485ATLSFATL1SF14
Al Harris12/19/199984PHINEPHI5NE11fumbled, recovered by PHI
Joey Porter9/15/200284PITOAKPIT1OAK15illegally lateraled forward for TD
reversed on replay
Sabby Piscitelli12/28/200884TBOAKTB5OAK11
Kemal Ishmael12/20/201584ATLJAXATL0JAX16
Fred Marion11/17/198583NESEANE2SEA15
Lloyd Burruss10/28/199183KCL.A.
Raiders
KC2LA15
Carlton Williamson11/25/198582SFSEASF12SEA6
Rolland Lawrence10/21/197381ATLSD??
Paul Krause11/23/197581MINSD??
Leroy Irvin11/16/198080STLNESTL11NE9last play of half
John Holt11/30/198680INDSDIND7SD13
Cortland Finnegan9/10/200980TENPITTEN0PIT20last play of half
Ralph Brown1/3/201080ARIGBARI13GB7
Antoine Cason10/12/201480CARCINCAR10CIN10




Other 80+ yard non-scoring plays (non-comprehensive):
PlayerDateLengthTeamOpponentFromToNotes
Dale Dodrill12/14/195283PITL.A. RamsPIT8LA9blocked FG return
Andre Waters11/30/198681PHIL.A.
Raiders
PHI15LA4fumble return;
overtime

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