All-Time NFL Pick Six Leaders: DaRon Bland streaks up the list

The Dallas Cowboys appeared to be in deep trouble when emerging young star Trevon Diggs tore his ACL in October, but they had someone else on the roster who was ready to take off. DaRon Bland has been nothing short of sensational, as his fifth interception return for a touchdown on Thanksgiving set a single season record. Bland is moving up a pretty special list in a short time.

The second year player has been a football magnet in his brief but impressive NFL career. Bland picked off five passes as a rookie, and has picked up right where he left off. Dallas has to be awfully happy with his production, as they selected the cornerback in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

As evidenced by his draft standing, there weren’t a lot of people who saw Bland’s incredible production coming. As a senior at Fresno State University, he accumulated two interceptions in 13 games. That ratio didn’t exactly lend itself to a ballhawking reputation, but the Cowboys deserve credit for developing him and imaging what Bland could become.

At the rate he’s going, Bland might have the record for all time interceptions returned for touchdowns before fans can count to 10. The current leader in that department is Football Hall of Famer Rod Woodson, who brought 12 passes back to the house during his illustrious career. Bland has a great chance to pass some iconic names as his career progresses.

Another notable name on the list is Charles Woodson, who scored on 11 interceptions during his career. He came into the NFL with a lot of fanfare, as he won the Heisman Trophy with the University of Michigan before turning professional. Woodson would eventually win a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers later in his career.

He might be known as the coolest college football coach to a younger generation, but Deion Sanders was bringing passes back to the house with style and swagger during his playing days. Widely thought to be the greatest cornerback of all time, Sanders picked off nine passes for touchdowns, and was a menace on punt returns as well.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defenses of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s are often remembered for outspoken players like Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks and John Lynch, but the understated Ronde Barber was just as important to their success. He returned eight interceptions for touchdowns, including a monumental one in the NFC title game in 2003.

Charles Tillman was perhaps most intimately linked with his punches that forced crucial fumbles, but he could snatch passes out of the air as well. Peanut, as he was known during his playing days, returned eight picks for touchdowns during his career, most of which was spent with the Chicago Bears.

Some fans might have thought Ed Reed was a little bit higher on the career pick six list, but seven of them is nothing to sneeze at. His break on the ball might have been the best in league history, and his ability to weave in and out of return lanes made him fun to watch as he put points on the board for his team.