From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Wikipedia list article
Template:NFL lists
This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks by total career passing yards . This list includes the top 50 quarterbacks who have the most career passing yards during the regular season.
Regular season career passing yards leaders
Drew Brees is the all-time passing yards leader.
Tom Brady is second all-time in passing yards, regular season-wise, but is the all-time playoffs passing yards leader.
Through end of 2019 season
Rank
Player
Team(s) by season
Y/G
1
Drew Brees *
San Diego Chargers (2001 –2005 ) New Orleans Saints (2006 –present)
77,416
281.5
2
Tom Brady *
New England Patriots (2000 –2019 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 –present)
74,571
261.7
3
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts (1998 –2011 )Denver Broncos (2012 –2015 )
71,940
270.5
4
Brett Favre ^
Atlanta Falcons (1991 )Green Bay Packers (1992 –2007 )New York Jets (2008 )Minnesota Vikings (2009 –2010 )
71,838
237.9
5
Dan Marino ^
Miami Dolphins (1983 –1999 )
61,361
253.6
6
Philip Rivers *
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004 –2019 )Indianapolis Colts (2020 –present)
59,271
260.0
7
Eli Manning
New York Giants (2004 –2019 )
57,023
241.6
8
Ben Roethlisberger *
Pittsburgh Steelers (2004 –present)
56,545
259.4
9
John Elway ^
Denver Broncos (1983 –1998 )
51,475
220.0
10
Matt Ryan *
Atlanta Falcons (2008 –present)
51,186
270.8
11
Warren Moon ^
Houston Oilers (1984 –1993 )Minnesota Vikings (1994 –1996 )Seattle Seahawks (1997 –1998 )Kansas City Chiefs (1999 –2000 )
49,325
237.1
12
Fran Tarkenton ^
Minnesota Vikings (1961 –1966 , 1972 –1978 )New York Giants (1967 –1971 )
47,003
191.1
13
Aaron Rodgers *
Green Bay Packers (2005 –present)
46,946
259.4
14
Carson Palmer
Cincinnati Bengals (2003 –2010 )Oakland Raiders (2011 –2012 )Arizona Cardinals (2013 –2017 )
46,247
254.1
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
198.4
16
Drew Bledsoe
New England Patriots (1993 –2001 )Buffalo Bills (2002 –2004 )Dallas Cowboys (2005 –2006 )
44,611
230.0
17
Dan Fouts ^
San Diego Chargers (1973 –1987 )
43,040
237.8
18
Matthew Stafford *
Detroit Lions (2009 –present)
41,025
275.3
19
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
206.7
20
Joe Montana ^
San Francisco 49ers (1979 –1992 )Kansas City Chiefs (1993 –1994 )
40,551
211.2
21
Johnny Unitas ^
Baltimore Colts (1956 –1972 )San Diego Chargers (1973 )
40,239
190.7
22
Joe Flacco
Baltimore Ravens (2008 –2018 )Denver Broncos (2019 ),New York Jets (2020 -present)
40,067
234.3
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
179.1
24
Boomer Esiason
Cincinnati Bengals (1984 -1992 , 1997 )New York Jets (1993 –1995 )Arizona Cardinals (1996 )
37,920
202.8
25
Donovan McNabb
Philadelphia Eagles (1999 –2009 )Washington Redskins (2010 )Minnesota Vikings (2011 )
37,276
223.2
26
Matt Hasselbeck
Green Bay Packers (1998 –2000 )Seattle Seahawks (2001 –2010 )Tennessee Titans (2011 –2012 )Indianapolis Colts (2013 –2015 )
36,638
175.3
27
Jim Kelly ^
Buffalo Bills (1986 –1996 )
35,467
221.7
28
Jay Cutler
Denver Broncos (2006 –2008 )Chicago Bears (2009 –2016 )Miami Dolphins (2017 )
35,133
229.6
29
Jim Everett
Los Angeles Rams (1986 –1993 )New Orleans Saints (1994 –1996 )San Diego Chargers (1997 )
34,837
220.5
30
Jim Hart
St. Louis Cardinals (1966 –1983 )Washington Redskins (1984 )
34,665
172.5
31
Steve DeBerg
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
166.2
32
Tony Romo
Dallas Cowboys (2003 –2016 )
34,183
219.1
33
Alex Smith *
San Francisco 49ers (2005 –2012 )Kansas City Chiefs (2013 –2017 )Washington Redskins (2018 –present)
34,068
205.2
34
John Hadl
San Diego Chargers (1962 –1972 )Los Angeles Rams (1973 –1974 )[ c] Green Bay Packers (1974 –1975 )Houston Oilers (1976 –1977 )
33,503
149.6
35
Phil Simms
New York Giants (1979 –1993 )
33,462
204.0
36
Steve Young ^
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985 –1986 )San Francisco 49ers (1987 –1999 )
33,124
196.0
37
Troy Aikman ^
Dallas Cowboys (1989 –2000 )
32,942
199.6
38
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)
32,886
210.8
39
Ken Anderson
Cincinnati Bengals (1971 –1986 )
32,838
171.0
40
Kurt Warner ^
St. Louis Rams (1998 –2003 )New York Giants (2004 )Arizona Cardinals (2005 –2009 )
32,344
260.8
41
Sonny Jurgensen ^
Philadelphia Eagles (1957 –1963 )Washington Redskins (1964 –1974 )
32,224
147.8
42
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
166.2
43
Andy Dalton *
Cincinnati Bengals (2011 –2019 )Dallas Cowboys (2020 –present)
31,594
237.5
44
John Brodie
San Francisco 49ers (1957 –1973 )
31,548
157.0
45
Steve McNair
Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1995 –2005 )Baltimore Ravens (2006 –2007 )
31,304
194.4
46
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
173.0
47
Randall Cunningham
Philadelphia Eagles (1985 –1995 )Minnesota Vikings (1997 –1999 )Dallas Cowboys (2000 )Baltimore Ravens (2001 )
29,979
186.2
48
Joe Ferguson
Buffalo Bills (1973 –1984 )Detroit Lions (1985 –1987 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988 –1989 )Indianapolis Colts (1990 )
29,817
160.3
49
Jon Kitna
Seattle Seahawks (1997 –2000 )Cincinnati Bengals (2001 –2005 )Detroit Lions (2006 –2008 )Dallas Cowboys (2009 –2011 ; 2013 )
29,745
211.0
50
Russell Wilson *
Seattle Seahawks (2012 –present)
29,734
232.3
Note: 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]
Players with at least 3,000 postseason career passing yards
Through end of 2019 playoffs [ 4]
Rank
Player
Team(s) by season
1
Tom Brady *
New England Patriots (2000 –2019 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020 –present)
11,388
2
Peyton Manning
Indianapolis Colts (1998 –2011 ) Denver Broncos (2012 –2015 )
7,339
3
Brett Favre ^
Atlanta Falcons (1991 )Green Bay Packers (1992 –2007 ) New York Jets (2008 )Minnesota Vikings (2009 –2010 )
5,855
4
Joe Montana ^
San Francisco 49ers (1979 –1992 )Kansas City Chiefs (1993 –1994 )
5,772
5
Ben Roethlisberger *
Pittsburgh Steelers (2004 –present)
5,256
6
Aaron Rodgers *
Green Bay Packers (2005 –present)
5,027
7
Drew Brees *
San Diego Chargers (2001 –2005 )New Orleans Saints (2006 –present)
4,967
8
John Elway ^
Denver Broncos (1983 –1998 )
4,964
9
Dan Marino ^
Miami Dolphins (1983 –1999 )
4,510
10
Kurt Warner ^
St. Louis Rams (1998 –2003 )New York Giants (2004 )Arizona Cardinals (2005 –2009 )
3,952
11
Jim Kelly ^
Buffalo Bills (1986 –1996 )
3,863
12
Troy Aikman ^
Dallas Cowboys (1989 –2000 )
3,849
13
Terry Bradshaw ^
Pittsburgh Steelers (1970 –1983 )
3,833
14
Donovan McNabb
Philadelphia Eagles (1999 –2009 )Washington Redskins (2010 )Minnesota Vikings (2011 )
3,752
15
Russell Wilson *
Seattle Seahawks (2012 –present)
3,612
16
Steve Young ^
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985 –1986 )San Francisco 49ers (1987 –1999 )
3,326
17
Joe Flacco *
Baltimore Ravens (2008 –2018 )Denver Broncos (2019 )New York Jets (2020 –present)
3,223
Players with the most career passing yards including playoff games
Active players are in bold ; minimum 60K yards.
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.
Player
Team(s) while leader
Career passing yards
Season(s)
1932 –1942 (11 years)
Arnie Herber ^ [ 6]
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 ^ [ 7]
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 ^ [ 8]
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 ^ [ 9]
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 Tarkenton ^ [ 10]
Minnesota Vikings
41,801
1976
43,535
1977
47,003
1978–1994
1995 –2006 (12 years)
Dan Marino ^ [ 11]
Miami Dolphins
48,841
1995
51,636
1996
55,416
1997
58,913
1998
61,361
1999–2006
2007 –2014 (8 years)
Brett Favre ^ [ 12]
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 [ 13]
Denver Broncos
71,940
2015–2017
Since 2018 ( 7 years)
Drew Brees [ 14]
New Orleans Saints
74,437
2018
77,416
2019
See also
Notes
^ 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.
References
General
Footnotes
^ Pavlick, Ed (1980). "Pro Football Records Should Include the AAFC" (PDF) . The Coffin Corner . 2 (7). Professional Football Researchers Association. Retrieved September 12, 2017 .
^ Roberts, Jerry (2015). Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s (illustrated ed.). McFarland. p. 137. ISBN 078649946X . 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 February 3, 2020 .
^ Bryan Frye (March 9, 2016). "History of the Career Passing Yards Record" . Grid Fe. Retrieved November 28, 2017 .
^ "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 Tarkenton stats" . Pro football reference.com . Retrieved May 6, 2018 .
^ "Dan 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 .
General Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Defense
Special teams
Scoring