List of NFL annual passing yards leaders

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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.[2] 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.[3] A player who catches a forward pass is a receiver. Passing yards are measured in flat yards along one direction of the field, always starting from the line of scrimmage and ending at the point that the receiver is ruled down. If the receiver reaches the end zone and scores a touchdown, then the yardage measurement ends at the opposing team's goal line (the zero-yard line). Passing yards do not include incomplete throws.[4]

Peyton Manning holding his helmet
Peyton Manning holds the single-season passing yards record, passing for 5,477 yards in 2013.[1]

The National Football League (NFL) did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[5] In addition to the overall NFL passing yards leaders, league record books recognize the passing yards leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970. The NFL also recognizes the statistics of the All-America Football Conference, which operated from 1946 to 1949 before three of its teams were merged into the NFL, since 2025.[6][7]

The record for passing yards in a season is held by Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos who passed for 5,477 yards in 2013.[1] Drew Brees has led the NFL in passing yards in seven seasons, more than any other quarterback in NFL history.[8] Brees has also passed for over 5,000 yards in a season five times, whereas no other player has done so more than twice.[9] Patrick Mahomes led the league in passing yards in 2022 and became the first player in the Super Bowl era to do so and win a league championship in the same season.[10][11]

NFL annual passing yards leaders

Johnny Unitas in his Baltimore Colts uniform and helmet
Johnny Unitas, who led the league in passing four times, passed for 3,099 yards in 1960. This marked the first time that a player passed for over 3,000 in a season.[12]
Joe Namath without a helmet holding a football
Joe Namath was the first player to pass for over 4,000 yards in a season, doing so in the 1967 AFL season.[13]
Head shot of Dan Fouts from the shoulders up
Dan Fouts led the league in four consecutive seasons (1979–1982).[14]
Dan Marino head shot with microphone and ear piece
In 1984, Dan Marino passed for 5,084 yards, setting the single-season passing yards record. He was the first player to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season and led the league in passing five times.[15]
Drew Brees holding a football
Drew Brees led the league in passing yards in 2006, the first of his record seven times.[8]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing yards in the NFL
Yds The total number of passing yards the player had
GP The number of games played by a player during the season[A]
† Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
^ Active player
* Set the single-season passing yards record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
NFL annual passing yards leaders by season
Season Leader Yds GP Team Refs
1932 Arnie Herber† 639* 14 Green Bay Packers [17][18]
1933 Harry Newman 973* 14 New York Giants [17][19]
1934 Arnie Herber† (2) 799 11 Green Bay Packers [17][18]
1935 Ed Danowski 794 12 New York Giants [17][20]
1936 Arnie Herber† (3) 1,239* 12 Green Bay Packers [17][18]
1937 Sammy Baugh† 1,127 11 Washington Redskins [17][21]
1938 Ace Parker† 865 11 Brooklyn Dodgers [17][22]
1939 Davey O'Brien 1,324* 11 Philadelphia Eagles [17][23]
1940 Sammy Baugh† (2) 1,367* 11 Washington Redskins [17][21]
1941 Cecil Isbell 1,479* 11 Green Bay Packers [17][24]
1942 Cecil Isbell (2) 2,021* 11 Green Bay Packers [17][24]
1943 Sid Luckman† 2,194* 10 Chicago Bears [17][25]
1944 Irv Comp 1,159 10 Green Bay Packers [17][26]
1945 Sid Luckman† (2) 1,727 10 Chicago Bears [17][25]
1946 Sid Luckman† (3) 1,826 11 Chicago Bears [17][25]
1947 Sammy Baugh† (3) 2,938* 12 Washington Redskins [17][21]
1948 Sammy Baugh† (4) 2,599 12 Washington Redskins [17][21]
1949 Johnny Lujack 2,658 12 Chicago Bears [17][27]
1950 Bobby Layne† 2,323 12 Detroit Lions [17][28]
1951 Bobby Layne† (2) 2,403 12 Detroit Lions [17][28]
1952 Otto Graham† 2,816 12 Cleveland Browns [17][29]
1953 Otto Graham† (2) 2,722 12 Cleveland Browns [17][29]
1954 Norm Van Brocklin† 2,637 12 Los Angeles Rams [17][30]
1955 Jim Finks† 2,270 12 Pittsburgh Steelers [17][31]
1956 Tobin Rote 2,203 12 Green Bay Packers [17][32]
1957 Johnny Unitas† 2,550 12 Baltimore Colts [17][33]
1958 Bill Wade 2,875 12 Los Angeles Rams [17][34]
1959 Johnny Unitas† (2) 2,899 12 Baltimore Colts [17][33]
1960 Johnny Unitas† (3) 3,099* 12 Baltimore Colts [17][33]
1961 Sonny Jurgensen† 3,723* 14 Philadelphia Eagles [17][35]
1962 Sonny Jurgensen† (2) 3,261 14 Philadelphia Eagles [17][35]
1963 Johnny Unitas† (4) 3,481 14 Baltimore Colts [17][33]
1964 Charley Johnson 3,045 14 St. Louis Cardinals [17][36]
1965 John Brodie 3,112 13 San Francisco 49ers [17][37]
1966 Sonny Jurgensen† (3) 3,209 14 Washington Redskins [17][35]
1967 Sonny Jurgensen† (4) 3,747* 14 Washington Redskins [17][35]
1968 John Brodie (2) 3,020 14 San Francisco 49ers [17][37]
1969 Sonny Jurgensen† (5) 3,102 14 Washington Redskins [17][35]
1970 John Brodie (3) 2,941 14 San Francisco 49ers [17][37]
1971 John Hadl 3,075 14 San Diego Chargers [17][38]
1972 Joe Namath† 2,816 13 New York Jets [17][39]
1973 Roman Gabriel 3,219 14 Philadelphia Eagles [17][40]
1974 Ken Anderson 2,667 13 Cincinnati Bengals [17][41]
1975 Ken Anderson (2) 3,169 13 Cincinnati Bengals [17][41]
1976 Bert Jones 3,104 14 Baltimore Colts [17][42]
1977 Joe Ferguson 2,803 14 Buffalo Bills [17][43]
1978 Fran Tarkenton† 3,468 16 Minnesota Vikings [17][44]
1979 Dan Fouts† 4,082* 16 San Diego Chargers [17][45]
1980 Dan Fouts† (2) 4,715* 16 San Diego Chargers [17][45]
1981 Dan Fouts† (3) 4,802* 16 San Diego Chargers [17][45]
1982 Dan Fouts† (4) 2,883 9 San Diego Chargers [17][45]
1983 Lynn Dickey 4,458 16 Green Bay Packers [17][46]
1984 Dan Marino† 5,084* 16 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
1985 Dan Marino† (2) 4,137 16 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
1986 Dan Marino† (3) 4,746 16 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
1987 Neil Lomax 3,387 12 St. Louis Cardinals [17][48]
1988 Dan Marino† (4) 4,434 16 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
1989 Don Majkowski 4,318 16 Green Bay Packers [17][49]
1990 Warren Moon† 4,689 15 Houston Oilers [17][50]
1991 Warren Moon† (2) 4,690 16 Houston Oilers [17][50]
1992 Dan Marino† (5) 4,116 16 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
1993 John Elway† 4,030 16 Denver Broncos [17][51]
1994 Drew Bledsoe 4,555 16 New England Patriots [17][52]
1995 Brett Favre† 4,413 16 Green Bay Packers [17][53]
1996 Mark Brunell 4,367 16 Jacksonville Jaguars [17][54]
1997 Jeff George 3,917 16 Oakland Raiders [17][55]
1998 Brett Favre† (2) 4,212 16 Green Bay Packers [17][53]
1999 Steve Beuerlein 4,436 16 Carolina Panthers [17][56]
2000 Peyton Manning† 4,413 16 Indianapolis Colts [17][57]
2001 Kurt Warner† 4,830 16 St. Louis Rams [17][58]
2002 Rich Gannon 4,689 16 Oakland Raiders [17][59]
2003 Peyton Manning† (2) 4,267 16 Indianapolis Colts [17][57]
2004 Daunte Culpepper 4,717 16 Minnesota Vikings [17][60]
2005 Tom Brady 4,110 16 New England Patriots [17][61]
2006 Drew Brees† 4,418 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2007 Tom Brady (2) 4,806 16 New England Patriots [17][61]
2008 Drew Brees† (2) 5,069 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2009 Matt Schaub 4,770 16 Houston Texans [17][63]
2010 Philip Rivers 4,710 16 San Diego Chargers [17][64]
2011 Drew Brees† (3) 5,476* 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2012 Drew Brees† (4) 5,177 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2013 Peyton Manning† (3) 5,477* 16 Denver Broncos [17][57]
2014 Drew Brees† (5) 4,952 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
Ben Roethlisberger 16 Pittsburgh Steelers [17][65]
2015 Drew Brees† (6) 4,870 15 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2016 Drew Brees† (7) 5,208 16 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
2017 Tom Brady (3) 4,577 16 New England Patriots [17][61]
2018 Ben Roethlisberger (2) 5,129 16 Pittsburgh Steelers [17][65]
2019 Jameis Winston^ 5,109 16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers [17][66]
2020 Deshaun Watson^ 4,823 16 Houston Texans [17][67]
2021 Tom Brady (4) 5,316 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers [17][61]
2022 Patrick Mahomes^ 5,250 17 Kansas City Chiefs [17][68]
2023 Tua Tagovailoa^ 4,624 17 Miami Dolphins [17][69]
2024 Joe Burrow^ 4,918 17 Cincinnati Bengals [17][70]
2025 Matthew Stafford^ 4,707 17 Los Angeles Rams [17][71]
Close

AFL annual passing yards leaders

George Blanda, thought to be washed up in the NFL at 33, revived his career in the AFL, where he led the league in passing yards in two of the league's first three seasons (1961, 1963) while winning the AFL MVP in 1961.
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing yards in the AFL
Yds The total number of passing yards the player had
GP The number of games played by a player during the season
† Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* Player set the single-season passing yards record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
AFL annual passing yards leaders by season
Season Leader Yds GP Team Refs
1960 Frank Tripucka 3,038* 14 Denver Broncos [17][72]
1961 George Blanda† 3,330* 14 Houston Oilers [17][73]
1962 Frank Tripucka (2) 2,917 14 Denver Broncos [17][72]
1963 George Blanda† (2) 3,003 14 Houston Oilers [17][73]
1964 Babe Parilli 3,465* 14 Boston Patriots [17][74]
1965 John Hadl 2,798 14 San Diego Chargers [17][38]
1966 Joe Namath† 3,379 14 New York Jets [17][39]
1967 Joe Namath† (2) 4,007* 14 New York Jets [17][39]
1968 John Hadl (2) 3,473 14 San Diego Chargers [17][38]
1969 Daryle Lamonica 3,302 14 Oakland Raiders [17][75]
Close

AAFC annual passing yards leaders

Otto Graham led in passing yards in three of the four seasons held by the AAFC. In 1952, he led the NFL in passing yards to become the first of only two people to lead in passing yards for two different professional football leagues.
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing yards in the AAFC
Yds The total number of passing yards the player had
GP The number of games played by a player during the season
† Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* Player set the single-season passing yards record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
AAFC annual passing yards leaders by season
Season Leader TDs GP Team Refs
1946 Glenn Dobbs 1,886 12 Brooklyn Dodgers [17][76]
1947 Otto Graham† 2,753 14 Cleveland Browns [17][29]
1948 Otto Graham† (2) 2,713 14 Cleveland Browns [17][29]
1949 Otto Graham† (3) 2,785 12 Cleveland Browns [17][29]
Close

Most seasons leading the league

More information Count, Player ...
Count Player Seasons Team(s) Refs
7 Drew Brees 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016 New Orleans Saints [17][62]
5 Otto Graham 1947, 1948, 1949, 1952, 1953 [a] Cleveland Browns [17][29]
Sonny Jurgensen 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969 Philadelphia Eagles (2), Washington Redskins (3) [17][35]
Dan Marino 1984–1986, 1988, 1992 Miami Dolphins [17][47]
4 Sammy Baugh 1937, 1940, 1947, 1948 Washington Redskins [17][21]
Tom Brady 2005, 2007, 2017, 2021 New England Patriots (3), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1) [17][61]
Dan Fouts 1979–1982 San Diego Chargers [17][45]
Johnny Unitas 1957, 1959, 1960, 1963 Baltimore Colts [17][33]
3 John Brodie 1965, 1968, 1970 San Francisco 49ers [17][37]
John Hadl 1965, 1968, 1971 San Diego Chargers [17][38]
Arnie Herber 1932, 1934, 1936 Green Bay Packers [17][18]
Peyton Manning 2000, 2003, 2013 Indianapolis Colts (2), Denver Broncos (1) [17][57]
2 George Blanda 1961, 1963 Houston Oilers [17][73]
John Hadl 1965, 1968 San Diego Chargers [17][38]
Joe Namath 1966, 1967 New York Jets [17][39]
Frank Tripucka 1960, 1962 Denver Broncos [17][72]
Ken Anderson 1974, 1975 Cincinnati Bengals [17][41]
Brett Favre 1995, 1998 Green Bay Packers [17][53]
Cecil Isbell 1941, 1942 Green Bay Packers [17][24]
Bobby Layne 1950, 1951 Detroit Lions [17][28]
Warren Moon 1990, 1991 Houston Oilers [17][50]
Ben Roethlisberger 2014, 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers [17][65]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [A]
    The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season, instead setting a minimum.[16]
  1. [a]
    AAFC statistics for Graham's 1947-1949 seasons were not recognized by the NFL until 2025.

References

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