#ThisDayThatYear: Kapp ties record for most touchdown passes in 1969
On this day (September 28) in 1969, in a historic performance, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Kapp tied the National Football League record with seven touchdown passes. The Vikings witnessed a dominant 52-14 victory over the Baltimore Colts at the Metropolitan Stadium. Kapp's 449-yard effort is still one of the most memorable quarterback displays in the NFL. Here we detail the record and his stats.
A record for the ages
Kapp's seven touchdown passes in a game matched an NFL record set by Chicago Bears' Sid Luckman in 1943. It was achieved by four players before Kapp. After Kapp's 1969 feat, there was a 44-year gap until 2013, when Peyton Manning and Nick Foles tied the record. Additionally, New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees is the most recent to do it, in 2015.
Record-setting game
In Minnesota's 1969 regular-season game against Baltimore, the Vikings held the Colts scoreless in the first and last quarters while scoring in all quarters. QB Kapp completed 28 of 43 passes for 449 yards and tied the NFL record with seven touchdowns, posting a 129.7 passer rating. Additionally, he also added two rushing attempts for 14 yards as the Vikings dominated the Colts 52-14.
QB's career stats
Kapp played 51 NFL games, completing 449 of 918 passes for 5,911 yards and managing 40 touchdowns. Known for his aggressive play, Kapp's downfield style defined his career despite a 48.9% completion rate. In the postseason, he threw 61 passes for 835 yards across four games, achieving a passer rating of 60.4, with three TDs and 208.8 yards per game.
Notable achievements in the NFL and Canadian Football League
Kapp led the Vikings to the 1969 NFL Championship (the franchise's only championship) and earned a Pro Bowl selection that same year. Before joining the NFL, he achieved considerable success in the CFL, winning the Grey Cup in 1964 and twice being named a CFL All-Star. His uniform No. 22 was later retired by the BC Lions, commemorating his impact on both leagues.
