Safest Records

[Ronfitch]

I don't think anyone's gonna seriously threaten Tomlinson's 31 touchdowns in 2006.

Don't be so quick.

Nobody thought Hornung's record of 176 points in a season would be broken. Then the league added two games to the season ... twice.

[John Grasso]

Fred Dryer's two safeties in one game in 1973.

or the Giants three safeties in one quarter.

[John Grasso]

Sometime in the 1950s I remember reading an article about baseball's untouchable
records (although I haven't been able to find it).

Besides Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season and 714 lifetime
there was Ty Cobb's 96 stolen bases in a season and 892 lifetime
and of course, Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak of 2130.

At the time they all seemed unreachable.

[rhickok1109]

Sometime in the 1950s I remember reading an article about baseball's untouchable
records (although I haven't been able to find it).

Besides Babe Ruth's 60 home runs in a season and 714 lifetime
there was Ty Cobb's 96 stolen bases in a season and 892 lifetime
and of course, Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak of 2130.

At the time they all seemed unreachable.

But I bet Connie Mack's records for most years managing, most games won, and most games lost will never be broken. (Of course, a manager's longevity tends to increase if he owns the team.)

[ChrisBabcock]

The Bears' 6 ties in 1932.

[Gary Najman]

At this point, given the changes in how the game is played I think that Night Train's 14 Int's in 1952 might be the safest record on the books, ironically given that there are 33% more games every season now.

And Paul Krause 81 career interceptions is also safe (the active leader is DeAngelo Hall with 43).

[JWL]

And, if I recall correctly, the 2000 NFL magazine/publication had an article about "unbreakable records," including Lenny Moore's TD streak and Unitas's consecutive game touchdown pass record.
The latter, especially, seemed unassailable.

I didn't find the Unitas one to be unreachable at all. I had written as much on a previous version of this forum. With the way the passing game had been evolving by about 2000 or so, I figured that the Unitas TD streak was going down.

[ChrisBabcock]

I didn't find the Unitas one to be unreachable at all. I even wrote on a previous version of this forum. With the way the passing game had been evolving by about 2000 or so, I figured that the Unitas TD streak was going down.

Unrelated topic, but speaking of the way the passing game is going, I firmly believe we'll see 2000 yard receiving seasons on a regular basis within 15-20 years... if not sooner.

[Ronfitch]

George Halas' 40 total seasons as the head coach for one franchise.

Curly Lambeau's 29 consecutive seasons as the head coach for one franchise.

Belichick has 17 at NE now, but is 64 ... maybe the 29 consecutive seasons at one franchise isn't so safe afterall.

[LJP]

Bill Osmanski still holds the Bears record for the longest run from scrimmage, 86 yard TD on October 15 1939.

Only two players have come close since then, Rick Casares 81 yard TD in 1955 and Neal Anderson 80 yard TD in 1988.

This post pretty much guarantees that it will be broken on Week 1 of the 2017 season, on a fake punt, with the punter running 97 yards, but not scoring.