List of National Football League career passing yards leaders

This is the top 50 National Football League quarterbacks with the highest total career regular season passing yards. Only two have under 30,000 yards.

NFL lists
Current season
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Receivers
Defense
Special teams
Other lists

Drew Brees holds the record at 80,358.

Regular season career passing yards leaders
Drew Brees is the all-time regular season career passing yards leader.
Key
^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Denotes player who is still active

Through end of 2020 season.

Rank Player Team(s) by season Yards YPG
1

Drew Brees*

 San Diego Chargers (2001–2005)
New Orleans Saints (2006-present)		 80,358 279.99
2 Tom Brady* New England Patriots (2000–2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present)		 79,204 263.14
3 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011)
Denver Broncos (2012–2015)		 71,940 270.45
4 Brett Favre^ Atlanta Falcons (1991)
Green Bay Packers (1992–2007)
New York Jets (2008)
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)		 71,838 237.87
5 Philip Rivers San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004–2019)
Indianapolis Colts (2020)		 63,440 260.00
6 Dan Marino^ Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) 61,361 253.56
7 Ben Roethlisberger* Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present) 60,348 259.01
8 Eli Manning New York Giants (2004–2019) 57,023 241.62
9 Matt Ryan* Atlanta Falcons (2008–present) 55,767 272.03
10 John Elway^ Denver Broncos (1983–1998) 51,475 219.98
11 Aaron Rodgers* Green Bay Packers (2005–present) 51,245 260.13
12 Warren Moon^ Houston Oilers (1984–1993)
Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996)
Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998)
Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000)		 49,325 237.14
13 Fran Tarkenton^ Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966, 1972–1978)
New York Giants (1967–1971)		 47,003 191.07
14 Carson Palmer Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2010)
Oakland Raiders (2011–2012)
Arizona Cardinals (2013–2017)		 46,247 254.10
15 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)		 46,233 198.42
16 Matthew Stafford* Detroit Lions (2009–2020)
Los Angeles Rams (2021-present)		 45,109 273.39
17 Drew Bledsoe New England Patriots (1993–2001)
Buffalo Bills (2002–2004)
Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006)		 44,611 229.95
18 Dan Fouts^ San Diego Chargers (1973–1987) 43,040 237.79
19 Joe Flacco* Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018)
Denver Broncos (2019)
New York Jets (2020–present)		 40,931 232.56
20 Kerry Collins Carolina Panthers (1995–1998)[lower-alpha 1]
New Orleans Saints (1998)
New York Giants (1999–2003)
Oakland Raiders (2004–2005)
Tennessee Titans (2006–2010)
Indianapolis Colts (2011)		 40,922 206.68
21 Joe Montana^ San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)		 40,551 211.20
22 Johnny Unitas^ Baltimore Colts (1956–1972)
San Diego Chargers (1973)		 40,239 190.71
23 Dave Krieg Seattle Seahawks (1980–1991)
Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993)
Detroit Lions (1994)
Arizona Cardinals (1995)
Chicago Bears (1996)
Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)		 38,147 179.09
24 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals (1984-1992, 1997 )
New York Jets (1993–1995)
Arizona Cardinals (1996)		 37,920 202.78
25 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009)
Washington Redskins (2010)
Minnesota Vikings (2011)		 37,276 223.21
26 Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers (1998–2000)
Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010)
Tennessee Titans (2011–2012)
Indianapolis Colts (2013–2015)		 36,638 175.30
27 Alex Smith* San Francisco 49ers (2005–2012)
Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2017)
Washington Redskins/Football Team (2018–present)		 35,650 204.89
28 Jim Kelly^ Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) 35,467 221.67
29 Jay Cutler Denver Broncos (2006–2008)
Chicago Bears (2009–2016)
Miami Dolphins (2017)		 35,133 229.63
30 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–present)		 34,977 211.98
31 Jim Everett Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993)
New Orleans Saints (1994–1996)
San Diego Chargers (1997)		 34,837 220.49
32 Jim Hart St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983)
Washington Redskins (1984)		 34,665 172.46
33 Steve DeBerg San Francisco 49ers (1978–1980)
Denver Broncos (1981–1983)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1987, 1992–1993)[lower-alpha 2]
Kansas City Chiefs (1988–1991)
Miami Dolphins (1993)
Atlanta Falcons (1998)		 34,241 166.22
34 Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys (2003–2016) 34,183 219.12
35 Russell Wilson* Seattle Seahawks (2012–present) 33,946 235.74
36 Andy Dalton* Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2019)
Dallas Cowboys (2020–present)		 33,763 234.47
37 John Hadl San Diego Chargers (1962–1972)
Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974)[lower-alpha 3]
Green Bay Packers (1974–1975)
Houston Oilers (1976–1977)		 33,503 149.57
37 Phil Simms New York Giants (1979–1993) 33,462 204.04
39 Steve Young^ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986)
San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999)		 33,124 196.00
40 Troy Aikman^ Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) 32,942 199.65
41 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals (1971–1986) 32,838 171.03
42 Kurt Warner^ St. Louis Rams (1998–2003)
New York Giants (2004)
Arizona Cardinals(2005–2009)		 32,344 260.84
43 Sonny Jurgensen^ Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963)
Washington Redskins (1964–1974)		 32,224 147.82
44 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)		 32,072 166.18
45 Cam Newton* Carolina Panthers (2011–2019)
New England Patriots (2020–present)		 31,698 226.42
46 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers (1957–1973) 31,548 156.96
47 Steve McNair Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1995–2005)
Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007)		 31,304 194.43
48 Norm Snead Washington Redskins (1961–1963)
Philadelphia Eagles (1964–1970)
Minnesota Vikings (1971)
New York Giants (1972–1974, 1976)
San Francisco 49ers (1974–1975)		 30,797 173.02
49 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles (1985–1995)
Minnesota Vikings (1997–1999)
Dallas Cowboys (2000)
Baltimore Ravens (2001)		 29,979 186.20
50 Joe Ferguson Buffalo Bills (1973–1984)
Detroit Lions (1985–1987)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988–1989)
Indianapolis Colts (1990)		 29,817 160.31
  • Y. A. Tittle passed for 33,070 yards in his professional career. However, 4,731 of those yards came in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). The NFL does not recognise statistics and records accrued in the AAFC.[1][2] As such, his career passing yards total in the NFL stands at 28,339.[3]

Playoff leaders

Through start of Super Bowl LV of 2020–21 NFL playoffs.[4] At least 2,500 passing yards.

Rank Player Team(s) by season Yards YPG
1 Tom Brady* New England Patriots (2000–2019)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present)		 12,248 278.36
2 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011)
Denver Broncos (2012–2015)		 7,339 271.81
3 Brett Favre^ Atlanta Falcons (1991)
Green Bay Packers (1992–2007)
New York Jets (2008)
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)		 5,855 243.96
4 Joe Montana^ San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)		 5,772 250.96
5 Ben Roethlisberger* Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present) 5,757 261.68
6 Aaron Rodgers* Green Bay Packers (2005–present) 5,669 269.95
7 Drew Brees* San Diego Chargers (2001–2005)
New Orleans Saints (2006–2020)		 5,366 298.11
8 John Elway^ Denver Broncos (1983–1998) 4,964 225.64
9 Dan Marino^ Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) 4,510 250.56
10 Kurt Warner^ St. Louis Rams (1998–2003)
New York Giants (2004)
Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009)		 3,952 304.00
11 Jim Kelly^ Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) 3,863 227.24
12 Troy Aikman^ Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) 3,849 240.56
13 Terry Bradshaw^ Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1983) 3,833 201.74
14 Russell Wilson* Seattle Seahawks (2012–present) 3,786 236.63
15 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009)
Washington Redskins (2010)
Minnesota Vikings (2011)		 3,752 234.50
16 Steve Young^ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986)
San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999)		 3,326 151.18
17 Joe Flacco* Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018)
Denver Broncos (2019)
New York Jets (2020–present)		 3,223 214.87
18 Philip Rivers San Diego/L.A. Chargers (2004–2019)
Indianapolis Colts (2020)		 2,965 247.08
19 Warren Moon^ Houston Oilers (1984–2003)
Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996)
Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998)
Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000)		 2,870 287.00
20 Roger Staubach^ Dallas Cowboys (1969–1979) 2,817 140.85
21 Eli Manning New York Giants (2004–2019) 2,815 234.58
22 Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers (1998–2000)
Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010)
Tennessee Titans (2011–2012)
Indianapolis Colts (2013–2015)		 2,741 249.18
23 Matt Ryan* Atlanta Falcons (2008–present) 2,672 267.20
24 Ken Stabler^ Oakland Raiders (1970–1979)
Houston Oilers (1980–1981)
New Orleans Saints (1982–1984)		 2,641 203.15

Players with the most career passing yards including playoff games

Active players are in bold; minimum 65K yards.

1 Tom Brady 91,452
2 Drew Brees 85,724
3 Peyton Manning 79,279
4 Brett Favre 77,693
5 Philip Rivers 66,405
6 Ben Roethlisberger 66,106
7 Dan Marino 65,871

Historical passing yards leaders

Ten players are recognised as having held the record as the NFL's career passing yardage leader.[5] The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 19 years.

ReignPlayerTeam(s) while leaderCareer passing yardsSeason(s)
1932–1942
(11 years)		Arnie Herber^
[6]		Green Bay Packers6391932
1,2951933
2,0941934
2,8231935
4,0621936
4,7461937
5,0821938
6,1891939
6,7491940–1942
1943–1958
(16 years)		Sammy Baugh^
[7]		Washington Redskins8,3791943
9,2281944
10,8971945
12,0601946
14,9981947
17,5971948
19,5001949
20,6301950
21,7341951
21,8861952–1958
1959–1963
(5 years)		Bobby Layne^
[8]		Pittsburgh Steelers22,0631959
23,8771960
25,0821961
26,7681962–1963
1964–1967
(4 years)		Y. A. Tittle^
[3]		New York Giants28,3391964–1967
1968–1975
(8 years)		Johnny Unitas^
[9]		Baltimore Colts (1968–1972)
San Diego Chargers (1973)		33,1601968
35,5021969
37,7151970
38,6571971
39,7681972
40,2391973–1975
1976–1994
(19 years)		Fran Tarkenton^
[10]		Minnesota Vikings41,8011976
43,5351977
47,0031978–1994
1995–2006
(12 years)		Dan Marino^
[11]		Miami Dolphins48,8411995
51,6361996
55,4161997
58,9131998
61,3611999–2006
2007–2014
(8 years)		Brett Favre^
[12]		Green Bay Packers (2007)
New York Jets (2008)
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)		61,6552007
65,1272008
69,3292009
71,8382010–2014
2015–2017
(3 years)		Peyton Manning
[13]		 Denver Broncos 71,940 2015–2017
Since 2018
(3 years)		Drew Brees
[14]		 New Orleans Saints 74,4372018
77,4162019
80,3582020

Notes
  1. Collins was traded during the 1998 season; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints.
  2. DeBerg was cut during the 1993 season; he played three games for the Buccaneers and five for the Dolphins.
  3. Hadl was traded during the 1974 season; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers.

See also

References
General
  • "NFL Passing Yards Career Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
Footnotes
  1. Pavlick, Ed (1980). "Pro Football Records Should Include the AAFC" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 2 (7). Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  2. 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.
  3. "Y.A. Tittle". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
  4. "NFL Passing Yards Career Playoffs Leaders". ProFootballReference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  5. Bryan Frye (March 9, 2016). "History of the Career Passing Yards Record". Grid Fe. Retrieved November 28, 2017.
  6. "Arnie Herber stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  7. "Sammy Baugh stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  8. "Bobby Layne stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  9. "Johnny Unitas stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  10. "Fran Tarkenton stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  11. "Dan Marino stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  12. "Brett Favre stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  13. "Peyton Manning stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  14. "Drew Brees stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.