List of National Football League career passing yards leaders
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This list shows the top 50 National Football League quarterbacks with the highest career regular season passing yards, the top 25 NFL playoff passing yards leaders, and the historical progression of regular season record holders.
Tom Brady holds both the regular season record, with 89,214 passing yards, and the playoff record, with 13,400 yards, for a combined record total of 102,614 yards.
Regular season career passing yards leaders [ edit ]
Through 2022 season.
Rank | Player | Team(s) by season | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
first | Tom Brady | New England Patriots (2000–2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2022) |
89,214 | 335 | 266.3 |
2 | Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–2020) |
80,358 | 287 | 280.0 |
3 | Peyton Manning ^ | Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015) |
71,940 | 266 | 270.5 |
4 | Brett Favre ^ | Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
71,838 | 302 | 237.9 |
5 | Ben Roethlisberger | Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–2021) | 64.088 | 249 | 257.4 |
6 | Philip Rivers | San Diego/L.A. Chargers (2004–2019) Indianapolis Colts (2020) |
63,440 | 244 | 260.0 |
7 | Matt Ryan * | Atlanta Falcons (2008–2021) Indianapolis Colts (2022–present) |
62,792 | 234 | 268.3 |
8 | And Marino ^ | Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) | 61,361 | 242 | 253.6 |
9 | Aaron Rodgers * | Green Bay Packers (2005–present) | 59,055 | 230 | 256.8 |
ten | Ie manning | New York Giants (2004–2019) | 57.023 | 236 | 241.6 |
11 | Matthew Stafford * | Detroit Lions (2009–2020) Los Angeles Rams (2021–present) |
52,082 | 191 | 272.7 |
twelfth | John Elway ^ | Denver Broncos (1983–1998) | 51,475 | 234 | 220.0 |
13 | Warren Moon ^ | Houston Oilers (1984–1993) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) |
49,325 | 208 | 237.1 |
14 | Fran ^ | Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966, 1972–1978) New York Giants (1967–1971) |
47,003 | 246 | 191.1 |
15 | Carson Palmer | Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2010) Oakland Raiders (2011–2012) Arizona Cardinals (2013–2017) |
46,247 | 182 | 254.1 |
16 | Vinny testaverde | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1992) Cleveland Browns (1993–1995) Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997) New York Jets (1998–2003, 2005) Dallas Cowboys (2004) New England Patriots (2006) Carolina Panthers (2007) |
46,233 | 233 | 198.4 |
17 | Drew Bledsoe | New England Patriots (1993–2001) Buffalo Bills (2002–2004) Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006) |
44,611 | 194 | 230.0 |
18 | And Fouts ^ | San Diego Chargers (1973–1987) | 43.040 | 181 | 237.8 |
19 | Joe Flacco * | Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019) New York Jets (2020, 2021–present) Philadelphia Eagles (2021) |
42,320 | 183 | 231.3 |
20 | Kerry Collins | Carolina Panthers (1995–1998) [a] New Orleans Saints (1998) New York Giants (1999–2003) Oakland Raiders (2004–2005) Tennessee Titans (2006–2010) Indianapolis Colts (2011) |
40,922 | 198 | 206.7 |
21 | Russell Wilson * | Seattle Seahawks (2012–2021) Denver Broncos (2022–present) |
40,583 | 173 | 234.6 |
22 | Joe Montana ^ | San Francisco 49ers (1979-1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994) |
40.551 | 192 | 211.2 |
23 | Johnny Unitas ^ | Baltimore Colts (1956–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) |
40,239 | 211 | 190.7 |
24 | Andy Dalton * | Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2019) Dallas Cowboys (2020) Chicago Bears (2021) New Orleans Saints (2022–present) |
38,150 | 166 | 229.8 |
25 | Dave War | Seattle Seahawks (1980–1991) Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993) Detroit Lions (1994) Arizona Cardinals (1995) Chicago Bears (1996) Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998) |
38,147 | 213 | 179.1 |
26 | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1992, 1997) New York Jets (1993–1995) Arizona Cardinals (1996) |
37,920 | 187 | 202.8 |
27 | Donovan McNabb | Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011) |
37,276 | 167 | 223.2 |
28 | Kirk Cousins * | Washington Redskins (2012–2017) Minnesota Vikings (2018–present) |
37,140 | 142 | 261.5 |
29 | Matt Hasselbeck | Green Bay Packers (1999–2000) Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011–2012) Indianapolis Colts (2013–2015) |
36,638 | 209 | 175.3 |
30 | Alex Smith | San Francisco 49ers (2005–2012) Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2017) Washington Redskins/Football Team (2018), (2020) |
35,650 | 174 | 204.9 |
thirty first | Jim Kelly ^ | Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) | 35,467 | 160 | 221.7 |
32 | Derek Carr * | Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014–2022) New Orleans Saints (2023–present) |
35,222 | 142 | 248.0 |
33 | Jay Cutler | Denver Broncos (2006–2008) Chicago Bears (2009–2016) Miami Dolphins (2017) |
35,133 | 153 | 229.6 |
34 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | St. Louis Rams (2005–2006) Cincinnati Bengals (2007–2008) Buffalo Bills (2009–2012) Tennessee Titans (2013) Houston Texans (2014) New York Jets (2015–2016) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017–2018) Miami Dolphins (2019–2020) Washington Football Team (2021) |
34,990 | 166 | 210.8 |
34 | Jim Everett | Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993) New Orleans Saints (1994–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997) |
34,837 | 158 | 220.5 |
36 | Jim Hart | St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983) Washington Redskins (1984) |
34,665 | 201 | 172.5 |
37 | Steve Debg | San Francisco 49ers (1978-1980) Denver Broncos (1981–1983) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1987, 1992–1993) [b] Kansas City Chiefs (1988–1991) Miami Dolphins (1993) Atlanta Falcons (1998) |
34,241 | 206 | 166.2 |
38 | Tony Romo | Dallas Cowboys (2003–2016) | 34,183 | 156 | 219.1 |
39 | John Walk | San Diego Chargers (1962–1972) Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974) [c] Green Bay Packers (1974–1975) Houston Oilers (1976–1977) |
33,503 | 224 | 149.6 |
40 | Phil Simms | New York Giants (1979–1993) | 33,462 | 164 | 204.0 |
41 | Ryan Tannehill * | Miami Dolphins (2012–2018) Tennessee Titans (2019–present) |
33,265 | 145 | 229.4 |
42 | Steve Young ^ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987-1997) |
33,124 | 169 | 196.0 |
43 | Troy Aikman ^ | Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) | 32,942 | 165 | 199.6 |
44 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals (1971–1986) | 32,838 | 192 | 171.0 |
45 | Cam Newton | Carolina Panthers (2011–2019, 2021) New England Patriots (2020) |
32,382 | 148 | 218.8 |
forty six | Kurt Warner ^ | St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009) |
32,344 | 124 | 260.8 |
47 | Sonny Jurgensen ^ | Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963) Washington Redskins (1964–1974) |
32,224 | 218 | 147.8 |
48 | Mark Brunell | Green Bay Packers (1993–1994) Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2003) Washington Redskins (2004–2006) New Orleans Saints (2008–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011) |
32.072 | 193 | 166.2 |
49 | John Brodie | San Francisco 49ers (1957-1973) | 31,548 | 201 | 157.0 |
50 | Steve McNair | Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1995–2005) Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007) |
31,304 | 161 | 194.4 |
Note: Y. A. Tittle passed for 33,070 yards in his professional career, which would place him in 43rd on this list, but 4,731 of those yards came in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), which the NFL does not recognise statistics and records from to date. [first] [2] Thus, Tittle’s career passing yards total in the NFL stands at 28,339. [3]
Playoff leaders [ edit ]
Through 2022–23 NFL playoffs. [4] Here is a list of the top 25 NFL players with the most postseason passing yards.
Rank | Player | Team(s) by season | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
first | Tom Brady | New England Patriots (2000–2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–2022) |
13,400 | 279.2 |
2 | Peyton Manning ^ | Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015) |
7,339 | 271.8 |
3 | Ben Roethlisberger | Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–2021) | 5,972 | 259.7 |
4 | Aaron Rodgers * | Green Bay Packers (2005–present) | 5,894 | 267.9 |
5 | Brett Favre ^ | Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
5,855 | 244.0 |
6 | Joe Montana ^ | San Francisco 49ers (1979-1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994) |
5,772 | 251.0 |
7 | Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–2020) |
5,366 | 298.1 |
8 | John Elway ^ | Denver Broncos (1983–1998) | 4,964 | 225.6 |
9 | And Marino ^ | Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) | 4,510 | 250.6 |
ten | Patrick Mahomes * | Kansas City Chiefs (2017–present) | 4,084 | 291.7 |
11 | Kurt Warner ^ | St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009) |
3,952 | 304.0 |
twelfth | Jim Kelly ^ | Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) | 3.863 | 227.2 |
13 | Troy Aikman ^ | Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) | 3.849 | 240.6 |
14 | Terry Bradshaw ^ | Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1983) | 3,833 | 201.7 |
15 | Russell Wilson * | Seattle Seahawks (2012–2021) Denver Broncos (2022–present) |
3,786 | 236.6 |
16 | Donovan McNabb | Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011) |
3.752 | 234.5 |
17 | Steve Young ^ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987-1999) |
3,326 | 151.2 |
18 | Joe Flacco * | Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019) New York Jets (2020, 2021–present) Philadelphia Eagles (2021) |
3.223 | 214.9 |
19 | Philip Rivers | San Diego/L.A. Chargers (2004–2019) Indianapolis Colts (2020) |
2.965 | 247.1 |
20 | Warren Moon ^ | Houston Oilers (1984–2003) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) |
2.870 | 287.0 |
21 | Roger Staubach ^ | Dallas Cowboys (1969–1979) | 2.817 | 140.9 |
22 | Ie manning | New York Giants (2004–2019) | 2.815 | 234.6 |
23 | Matt Hasselbeck | Green Bay Packers (1998–2000) Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011–2012) Indianapolis Colts (2013–2015) |
2.741 | 249.2 |
24 | Matt Ryan * | Atlanta Falcons (2008–2021) Indianapolis Colts (2022–present) |
2.672 | 267.2 |
25 | Ken stacks ^ | Oakland Raiders (1970–1979) Houston Oilers (1980–1981) New Orleans Saints (1982–1984) |
2.641 | 203.2 |
Historical passing yards leaders [ edit ]
Eleven players are recognised as having held the record as the NFL’s career passing yardage leader. The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton, who held the record for nineteen years.
Player | Team(s) while leader | Career passing yards | Season(s) | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1932–1942 (11 years) |
Arnie Herber ^ [5] |
Green Bay Packers | 639 | 1932 |
1,295 | 1933 | |||
2.094 | 1934 | |||
2.823 | 1935 | |||
4,062 | 1936 | |||
4,746 | 1937 | |||
5,082 | 1938 | |||
6,189 | 1939 | |||
6,749 | 1940–1942 | |||
1943–1958 (16 years) |
Sammy Baugh ^ [6] |
Washington Redskins | 8,379 | 1943 |
9,228 | 1944 | |||
10,897 | 1945 | |||
12,060 | 1946 | |||
14,998 | 1947 | |||
17,597 | 1948 | |||
19,500 | 1949 | |||
20,630 | 1950 | |||
21,734 | 1951 | |||
21,886 | 1952–1958 | |||
1959–1963 (5 years) |
Bobby Layne ^ [7] |
Pittsburgh Steelers | 22,063 | 1959 |
23,877 | 1960 | |||
25,082 | 1961 | |||
26,768 | 1962–1963 | |||
1964–1967 (4 years) |
Y. A. Tittle ^ [3] |
New York Giants | 28,339 | 1964–1967 |
1968–1975 (8 years) |
Johnny Unitas ^ [8] |
Baltimore Colts (1968–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) |
33,160 | 1968 |
35,502 | 1969 | |||
37,715 | 1970 | |||
38,657 | 1971 | |||
39,768 | 1972 | |||
40,239 | 1973–1975 | |||
1976–1994 (19 years) |
Fran ^ [9] |
Minnesota Vikings | 41,801 | 1976 |
43,535 | 1977 | |||
47,003 | 1978–1994 | |||
1995–2006 (12 years) |
And Marino ^ [ten] |
Miami Dolphins | 48,841 | 1995 |
51,636 | 1996 | |||
55,416 | 1997 | |||
58,913 | 1998 | |||
61,361 | 1999–2006 | |||
2007–2014 (8 years) |
Brett Favre ^ [11] |
Green Bay Packers (2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
61,655 | 2007 |
65,127 | 2008 | |||
69,329 | 2009 | |||
71,838 | 2010–2014 | |||
2015–2017 (3 years) |
Peyton Manning ^ [twelfth] |
Denver Broncos | 71,940 | 2015–2017 |
2018–2020 (3 years) |
Drew Brees [13] |
New Orleans Saints | 74,437 | 2018 |
77,416 | 2019 | |||
80,358 | 2020 | |||
Since 2021 ( 2 years) |
Tom Brady [14] |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 84,520 | 2021 |
89,214 | 2022– 2023 |
- ^ Collins was traded during the 1998 season; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints.
- ^ DeBerg was cut during the 1993 season; he played three games for the Buccaneers and five for the Dolphins.
- ^ Hadl was traded during the 1974 season; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers.
See also [ edit ]
References [ edit ]
- General
- Footnotes
- ^ Pavlick, Ed (1980). “Pro Football Records Should Include the AAFC” (PDF) . The Coffin Corner . Professional Football Researchers Association. 2 (7) . Retrieved September 12, 2017 .
- ^ Roberts, Jerry (2015). Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s (illustrated ed.). McFarland. p. 137. ISBN 978-0786499465 . Retrieved September 12, 2017 .
- ^ a b “Y.A. Tittle” . NFl.com . National Football League . Retrieved September 12, 2017 .
- ^ “NFL Passing Yards Career Playoffs Leaders” . Profootballreference.com . Retrieved January 16, 2022 .
- ^ “Arnie Herber Stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Sammy Baugh stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Bobby Layne stats” . NFl.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Johnny Unitas stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Fran’s Tarranton Stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “And Marino Stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Brett Favre stats” . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Peyton Manning stats” . Pfref.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
- ^ “Drew Brees stats” . Pfref.com . Retrieved December 23, 2018 .
- ^ “Tom Brady stats” . Pfref.com . Retrieved September 27, 2021 .
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