List of NFL career passing yards leaders

This list shows the top National Football League quarterbacks with over 32,000 career regular season passing yards, the NFL playoff passing yards leaders with at least 2,500 yards, 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.

In American football, passing, along with running (also referred to as rushing), is one of the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field. Passes are typically attempted by the quarterback, but any offensive player can attempt a pass provided they are behind the line of scrimmage.^[1] To qualify as a passing play, the ball must have initially moved forward after leaving the hands of the passer; if the ball initially moved laterally or backwards, the play would instead be considered a running play.^[2] The amount of passing yards recorded by each quarterback is a recorded stat in football games.

Regular season career passing yards leaders

Tom Brady is the career passing yards leader with 89,214 yards and career playoff passing yards leader with 13,400.

Drew Brees is second all-time in passing yards with 80,358.

Aaron Rodgers, with over 60,000 passing yards, is the active leader in career yardage.

Legend

Symbol	Meaning
Yds	Career passing yardage
GP	Games played
YPG	Average yardage per game
†	Pro Football Hall of Famer
^	Active

Through 2024 season.

NFL regular season career passing yards leaders

Rank	Player	Yds	GP	YPG	Team(s)	Seasons	Refs
1	Tom Brady	89,214	335	266.3	New England Patriots	2000–2019	[3][4]
					Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2020–2022
2	Drew Brees	80,358	287	280	San Diego Chargers	2001–2005	[3][5]
					New Orleans Saints	2006–2020
3	Peyton Manning†	71,940	266	270.5	Indianapolis Colts	1998–2011	[3][6]
					Denver Broncos	2012–2015
4	Brett Favre†	71,838	302	237.9	Atlanta Falcons	1991	[3][7]
					Green Bay Packers	1992–2007
					New York Jets	2008
					Minnesota Vikings	2009–2010
5	Ben Roethlisberger	64,088	249	257.4	Pittsburgh Steelers	2004–2021	[3][8]
6	Philip Rivers	63,440	244	260	San Diego/L.A. Chargers	2004–2019	[3][9]
					Indianapolis Colts	2020
7	Aaron Rodgers^	62,952	247	254.9	Green Bay Packers	2005–2022	[3][10]
					New York Jets	2023–2024
					Pittsburgh Steelers	2025–present
8	Matt Ryan	62,792	234	268.3	Atlanta Falcons	2008–2021	[3][11]
					Indianapolis Colts	2022
9	Dan Marino†	61,361	243	253.6	Miami Dolphins	1983–1999	[3][12]
10	Matthew Stafford^	59,809	222	269.4	Detroit Lions	2009–2020	[3][13]
					Los Angeles Rams	2021–present
11	Eli Manning	57,023	236	241.6	New York Giants	2004–2019	[3][14]
12	John Elway†	51,475	234	220	Denver Broncos	1983–1998	[3][15]
13	Warren Moon†	49,325	208	237.1	Houston Oilers	1984–1993	[3][16]
					Minnesota Vikings	1994–1996
					Seattle Seahawks	1997–1998
					Kansas City Chiefs	1999–2000
14	Fran Tarkenton†	47,003	246	191.1	Minnesota Vikings	1961–1966, 1972–1978	[3][17]
					New York Giants	1967–1971
15	Carson Palmer	46,247	182	254.1	Cincinnati Bengals	2003–2010	[3][18]
					Oakland Raiders	2011–2012
					Arizona Cardinals	2013–2017
16	Vinny Testaverde	46,233	233	198.4	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1987–1992	[3][19]
					Cleveland Browns	1993–1995
					Baltimore Ravens	1996–1997
					New York Jets	1998–2003, 2005
					Dallas Cowboys	2004
					New England Patriots	2006
					Carolina Panthers	2007
17	Russell Wilson^	46,135	199	231.8	Seattle Seahawks	2012–2021	[3][20]
					Denver Broncos	2022–2023
					Pittsburgh Steelers	2024
					New York Giants	2025–present
18	Joe Flacco^	45,697	196	233.1	Baltimore Ravens	2008–2018	[3][21]
					Denver Broncos	2019
					New York Jets	2020, 2021–2022
					Philadelphia Eagles	2021
					Cleveland Browns	2023, 2025–present
					Indianapolis Colts	2024
19	Drew Bledsoe	44,611	194	230	New England Patriots	1993–2001	[3][22]
					Buffalo Bills	2002–2004
					Dallas Cowboys	2005–2006
20	Dan Fouts†	43,040	181	237.8	San Diego Chargers	1973–1987	[3][23]
21	Kirk Cousins^	42,979	164	262.1	Washington Redskins	2012–2017	[3][24]
					Minnesota Vikings	2018–2023
					Atlanta Falcons	2024–present
22	Derek Carr	41,245	169	244.1	Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders	2014–2022	[3][25]
					New Orleans Saints	2023–2024
23	Kerry Collins	40,922	198	206.7	Carolina Panthers	1995–1998[a]	[3][26]
					New Orleans Saints	1998
					New York Giants	1999–2003
					Oakland Raiders	2004–2005
					Tennessee Titans	2006–2010
					Indianapolis Colts	2011
24	Joe Montana†	40,551	192	211.2	San Francisco 49ers	1979–1992	[3][27]
					Kansas City Chiefs	1993–1994
25	Johnny Unitas†	40,239	211	190.7	Baltimore Colts	1956–1972	[3][28]
					San Diego Chargers	1973
26	Andy Dalton^	39,500	174	227	Cincinnati Bengals	2011–2019	[3][29]
					Dallas Cowboys	2020
					Chicago Bears	2021
					New Orleans Saints	2022
					Carolina Panthers	2023–present
27	Dave Krieg	38,147	213	179.1	Seattle Seahawks	1980–1991	[3][30]
					Kansas City Chiefs	1992–1993
					Detroit Lions	1994
					Arizona Cardinals	1995
					Chicago Bears	1996
					Tennessee Oilers	1997–1998
28	Boomer Esiason	37,920	187	202.8	Cincinnati Bengals	1984–1992, 1997	[3][31]
					New York Jets	1993–1995
					Arizona Cardinals	1996
29	Donovan McNabb	37,276	167	223.2	Philadelphia Eagles	1999–2009	[3][32]
					Washington Redskins	2010
					Minnesota Vikings	2011
30	Matt Hasselbeck	36,638	209	175.3	Green Bay Packers	1999–2000	[3][33]
					Seattle Seahawks	2001–2010
					Tennessee Titans	2011–2012
					Indianapolis Colts	2013–2015
31	Alex Smith	35,650	174	204.9	San Francisco 49ers	2005–2012	[3][34]
					Kansas City Chiefs	2013–2017
					Washington Redskins/Football Team	2018–2020
32	Jim Kelly†	35,467	160	221.7	Buffalo Bills	1986–1996	[3][35]
33	Jay Cutler	35,133	153	229.6	Denver Broncos	2006–2008	[3][36]
					Chicago Bears	2009–2016
					Miami Dolphins	2017
34	Jared Goff^	35,058	134	261.6	Los Angeles Rams	2016–2020	[3][37]
					Detroit Lions	2021–present
35	Ryan Fitzpatrick	34,990	166	210.8	St. Louis Rams	2005–2006	[3][38]
					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
36	Ryan Tannehill	34,881	155	225	Miami Dolphins	2012–2018	[3][39]
					Tennessee Titans	2019–2023
37	Jim Everett	34,837	158	220.5	Los Angeles Rams	1986–1993	[3][40]
					New Orleans Saints	1994–1996
					San Diego Chargers	1997
38	Jim Hart	34,665	201	172.5	St. Louis Cardinals	1966–1983	[3][41]
					Washington Redskins	1984
39	Steve DeBerg	34,241	206	166.2	San Francisco 49ers	1978–1980	[3][42]
					Denver Broncos	1981–1983
					Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1984–1987, 1992–1993[b]
					Kansas City Chiefs	1988–1991
					Miami Dolphins	1993
					Atlanta Falcons	1998
40	Tony Romo	34,183	156	219.1	Dallas Cowboys	2003–2016	[3][43]
41	John Hadl	33,503	224	149.6	San Diego Chargers	1962–1972	[3][44]
					Los Angeles Rams	1973–1974[c]
					Green Bay Packers	1974–1975
					Houston Oilers	1976–1977
42	Phil Simms	33,462	164	204	New York Giants	1979–1993	[3][45]
43	Steve Young†	33,124	169	196	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1985–1986	[3][46]
					San Francisco 49ers	1987–1999
44	Troy Aikman†	32,942	165	199.6	Dallas Cowboys	1989–2000	[3][47]
45	Ken Anderson	32,838	192	171	Cincinnati Bengals	1971–1986	[3][48]
46	Cam Newton	32,382	148	218.8	Carolina Panthers	2011–2019, 2021	[3][49]
					New England Patriots	2020
47	Patrick Mahomes^	32,352	112	288.9	Kansas City Chiefs	2017–present	[3][50]
48	Kurt Warner†	32,344	124	260.8	St. Louis Rams	1998–2003	[3][51]
					New York Giants	2004
					Arizona Cardinals	2005–2009
49	Sonny Jurgensen†	32,224	218	147.8	Philadelphia Eagles	1957–1963	[3][52]
					Washington Redskins	1964–1974
50	Mark Brunell	32,072	193	166.2	Green Bay Packers	1993–1994	[3][53]
					Jacksonville Jaguars	1995–2003
					Washington Redskins	2004–2007
					New Orleans Saints	2008–2009
					New York Jets	2010–2012
Rank	Player	Yds	GP	YPG	Team(s)	Seasons	Refs

Note: Y. A. Tittle passed for 33,070 yards in his professional career, which would place him in 44th on this list, but 4,731 of those yards came in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), which the NFL does not recognize statistics and records from to date.^[54][55] Thus, Tittle's career passing yards total in the NFL stands at 28,339.^[56]

Playoff leaders

Through 2024–25 NFL playoffs. Based on at least 2,500 postseason passing yards.

Rank	Player	Yds	GP	YPG	Team(s)	Seasons	Refs
1	Tom Brady	13,400	48	279.2	New England Patriots	2000–2019	[57][4]
					Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2020–2022
2	Peyton Manning†	7,339	27	271.8	Indianapolis Colts	1998–2011	[57][6]
					Denver Broncos	2012–2015
3	Ben Roethlisberger	5,972	23	259.7	Pittsburgh Steelers	2004–2021	[57][8]
4	Aaron Rodgers^	5,894	22	267.9	Green Bay Packers	2005–2022	[57][10]
					New York Jets	2023–2024
5	Brett Favre†	5,855	24	244	Atlanta Falcons	1991	[57][7]
					Green Bay Packers	1992–2007
					New York Jets	2008
					Minnesota Vikings	2009–2010
6	Patrick Mahomes^	5,814	21	276.9	Kansas City Chiefs	2017–present	[57][58]
7	Joe Montana†	5,772	23	251	San Francisco 49ers	1979–1992	[57][27]
					Kansas City Chiefs	1993–1994
8	Drew Brees	5,366	18	298.1	San Diego Chargers	2001–2005	[57][5]
					New Orleans Saints	2006–2020
9	John Elway†	4,964	22	225.6	Denver Broncos	1983–1998	[57][15]
10	Dan Marino†	4,510	18	250.6	Miami Dolphins	1983–1999	[57][12]
11	Russell Wilson^	4,056	17	238.6	Seattle Seahawks	2012–2021	[57][59]
					Denver Broncos	2022–2023
					Pittsburgh Steelers	2024
					New York Giants	2025–present
12	Kurt Warner†	3,952	13	304	St. Louis Rams	1998–2003	[57][51]
					New York Giants	2004
					Arizona Cardinals	2005–2009
13	Jim Kelly†	3,863	17	227.2	Buffalo Bills	1986–1996	[57][35]
14	Troy Aikman†	3,849	16	240.6	Dallas Cowboys	1989–2000	[57][47]
15	Terry Bradshaw†	3,833	19	201.7	Pittsburgh Steelers	1970–1983	[57][60]
16	Donovan McNabb	3,752	16	234.5	Philadelphia Eagles	1999–2009	[57][32]
					Washington Redskins	2010
					Minnesota Vikings	2011
17	Joe Flacco^	3,530		220.6	Baltimore Ravens	2008–2018	[57][21]
					Denver Broncos	2019
					New York Jets	2020, 2021–2022
					Philadelphia Eagles	2021
					Cleveland Browns	2023, 2025
					Indianapolis Colts	2024
18	Josh Allen^	3,359	13	258.4	Buffalo Bills	2018–present	[57][61]
19	Steve Young†	3,326	22	151.2	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	1985–1986	[57][46]
					San Francisco 49ers	1987–1999
20	Matthew Stafford^	2,996	10	299.6	Detroit Lions	2009–2020	[57][62]
					Los Angeles Rams	2021–present
21	Philip Rivers	2,965	12	247.1	San Diego/L.A. Chargers	2004–2019	[57][9]
					Indianapolis Colts	2020
21	Warren Moon†	2,870	10	287	Houston Oilers	1984–2003	[57][16]
					Minnesota Vikings	1994–1996
					Seattle Seahawks	1997–1998
					Kansas City Chiefs	1999–2000
22	Roger Staubach†	2,817	20	140.9	Dallas Cowboys	1969–1979	[57][63]
23	Eli Manning	2,815	12	234.6	New York Giants	2004–2019	[57][14]
24	Matt Hasselbeck	2,741	11	249.2	Green Bay Packers	1998–2000	[57][33]
					Seattle Seahawks	2001–2010
					Tennessee Titans	2011–2012
					Indianapolis Colts	2013–2015
25	Matt Ryan	2,672	10	267.2	Atlanta Falcons	2008–2021	[57][64]
					Indianapolis Colts	2022
26	Ken Stabler†	2,641	13	203.2	Oakland Raiders	1970–1979	[57][65]
					Houston Oilers	1980–1981
					New Orleans Saints	1982–1984

Historical passing yards leaders

Eleven players are recognized 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.

Reign	Player	Team(s) while leader	Career passing yards	Season(s)	Refs
1932–1942 (11 years)	Arnie Herber†	Green Bay Packers	639	1932	[66]
			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†	Washington Redskins	8,379	1943	[67]
			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†	Pittsburgh Steelers	22,063	1959	[68]
			23,877	1960
			25,082	1961
			26,768	1962–1963
1964–1967 (4 years)	Y. A. Tittle†	New York Giants	28,339	1964–1967	[56]
1968–1975 (8 years)	Johnny Unitas†	Baltimore Colts (1968–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973)	33,160	1968	[28]
			35,502	1969
			37,715	1970
			38,657	1971
			39,768	1972
			40,239	1973–1975
1976–1994 (19 years)	Fran Tarkenton†	Minnesota Vikings	41,801	1976	[17]
			43,535	1977
			47,003	1978–1994
1995–2006 (12 years)	Dan Marino†	Miami Dolphins	48,841	1995	[12]
			51,636	1996
			55,416	1997
			58,913	1998
			61,361	1999–2006
2007–2014 (8 years)	Brett Favre†	Green Bay Packers (2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)	61,655	2007	[7]
			65,127	2008
			69,329	2009
			71,838	2010–2014
2015–2017 (3 years)	Peyton Manning†	Denver Broncos	71,940	2015–2017	[6]
2018–2020 (3 years)	Drew Brees	New Orleans Saints	74,437	2018	[5]
			77,416	2019
			80,358	2020
Since 2021 (5 years)	Tom Brady	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	84,520	2021	[4]
			89,214	2022–present

See also

• List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
• List of NFL annual passing yards leaders
• List of NFL career passing completions leaders
• List of NFL career passing touchdowns leaders
• List of NFL career quarterback wins leaders
• List of NFL individual records

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.