Dallas Cowboys defender DaRon Bland lassoed in his fifth pick-six on Thanksgiving, and he is now the NFL record holder for most pick-sixes in a season.
With the Dallas Cowboys already headed toward a Thursday win over the Washington Commanders, Bland capped off the victory by picking off Sam Howell with less than five minutes left and returned it 63-yards into the end zone. It looked like Bland could’ve gotten tackled before crossing the goal line, but he was able to stay on his feet to get the record.
The second-year cornerback celebrated the touchdown by jumping into the Salvation Army bucket, capping off a 45-10 win for Dallas.
NFL pick-six season record
With his fifth pick-six of the 2023 season, DaRon Bland is in NFL history books for the most interceptions returned for a touchdown in a season in NFL history, doing it just 11 games into the season.
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The most recent defender to have gotten four pick-sixes in one season was 30 years ago when Eric Allen had four in a Pro Bowl year for the Philadelphia Eagles. Ken Houston also had four interception returns for a touchdown during the 1971 season for the Houston Oilers and Jim Kearney did so a season later for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The other four times Bland has reached the end zone to match the NFL record were in Week 1 against the New York Giants, Week 4 against the New England Patriots, Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams and Week 11 against the Carolina Panthers.
When Trevon Diggs tore his ACL in September and was benched for the season, Bland had the opportunity to step up.
‘Any time the ball comes near me, I’m trying to think, ‘What can I do to try and pick it?” Bland told ESPN, adding that part of his sauce is letting plays unfold naturally. ‘… It’s just opportunities. You can’t go in chasing a pick-six or you’re going to get a touchdown scored on you. … When it comes to you, just be ready.’
DaRon Bland stats
DaRon Bland had 10 tackles to go with the interception return in the Week 12 win over Washington.
On the season, he has 58 tackles and 7 interceptions through 11 games.
In his rookie campaign last year, Bland started eight games and played in all 17 matchups, registering 54 tackles and a team-high 5 interceptions.
He’s the only defender in the NFL to have 12 interceptions in the past two seasons.
