Most pick-sixes in single season: Cowboys DB DaRon Bland ties NFL record with fourth interception TD of 2023

Bryan Murphy

•
Most pick-sixes in single season: Cowboys DB DaRon Bland ties NFL record with fourth interception TD of 2023 image

The Cowboys have a ton of weapons on their team that are capable of finding the end zone. Whether it's Dak Prescott, Tony Pollard, CeeDee Lamb or Jake Ferguson, Dallas has plenty of go-to options in the red zone. 

However, there's an argument to be made that their best scorer plays on the other side of the ball. 

Get NFL Game Pass to watch every regular and postseason match, including the Super Bowl - All live and on demand.

Dallas defensive back DaRon Bland found himself hitting paydirt yet again on Sunday, as the second-year cornerback picked off Panthers rookie Bryce Young and proceeded to take it back 30 yards to the house. 

The pick-six not only extended the Cowboys' lead in the fourth quarter, but it also put Bland into the NFL history books. That was his fourth interception returned for a touchdown, pulling him into a tie for the NFL record of most pick-sixes in a single season. 

MORE: Why Jerry Jones is finally inducting Jimmy Johnson into the Cowboys Ring of Honor

Most pick-sixes in a single season

Bland now holds a share of the top of the leaderboard for the most pick-6s in a single season. His fourth interception return for a TD brings him into a tie with Eric Allen, Jim Kearney and Ken Houston for the most pick-sixes in a single season. 

If there is going to be anyone to hit five, Bland has the best opportunity. He's recorded four through the first nine games of 2023, and with seven contests left on the Cowboys' schedule, there's as good a chance as ever that Bland will take sole possession of first on the list by the time this season is over. 

Player Season Team Pick-6s
Eric Allen 1993 Philadelphia Eagles 4
Jim Kearney 1972 Kansas City Chiefs 4
Ken Houston 1971 Houston Oilers 4
DaRon Bland 2023 Dallas Cowboys 4

DaRon Bland pick-sixes 2023

Week 1 vs. Giants

Bland's 2023 season got out to a hot start, recording his first pick-six of the year in the very first week. 

In Dallas' Week 1 blowout of the Giants on "Sunday Night Football", the Cowboys defensive back benefitted from a lucky bounce. On third-and-19, Giants QB Daniel Jones tried to play it safe by dumping it off to Saquon Barkley, however Cowboys corner Trevon Diggs popped the New York running back, causing the ball to fly up in the air and into the arms of Bland. 

The Cowboys CB wasted no time sprinting into the end zone for his first TD in his NFL career. 

Week 4 vs. Patriots

In Week 4, Bland managed to get into the end zone again, this time during the Cowboys' dismantling of the Patriots. 

With the Patriots driving in the final minutes of the half, Mac Jones tried to find Kendrick Bourne on the outside. However, the pass attempt was jumped by Bland, who took it 52 yards to the house with not a single blue New England jersey in sight. 

Week 8. vs. Rams 

The Week 8 matchup between the Rams and Cowboys gave Bland his third pick-six of the season. Late in the first quarter, Matthew Stafford tried to find Cooper Kupp on a curl route, but the quarterback threw the pass behind the wide receiver. 

With Kupp turning the other way, Bland stepped up on the attempt and caught it, securing the interception and bringing it all the way into the Rams end zone for the score. 

Week 11 vs. Panthers

Bland secured his fourth pick-six in Week 11 against the Panthers. Dallas had just scored a touchdown to go up two scores when Carolina got the ball back early in the fourth quarter. 

On the very next offensive play, the Cowboys made it a three-score game when Bland cut in front of Jonathan Mingo to come up with the diving catch. He immediately got up and raced in for a 25-yard touchdown. 

With his fourth pick-six, Bland became the first player in the 21st century with four in a single season. And now, if he makes another house call on defense, Bland would become the only player ever in NFL history with five. 

Sporting News may earn an affiliate commission through our links. The Sporting News' affiliates have no influence over the editorial content included in this article.

Bryan Murphy

Bryan Murphy Photo

Bryan Murphy joined The Sporting News in 2022 as the NHL/Canada content producer. Previously he worked for NBC Sports on their national news desk reporting on breaking news for the NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL, in addition to covering the 2020 and 2022 Olympic Games. A graduate of Quinnipiac University, he spent time in college as a beat reporter covering the men’s ice hockey team.