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List of NFL career passing touchdowns 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 throw one, provided they are behind the line of scrimmage.[2] To qualify as a passing play, the ball must move forward upon leaving the passer's hands; if it moves laterally or backward, the play is considered a running play.[3] A player catching a forward pass is called a receiver. A touchdown pass occurs when a pass results in a touchdown, either by being caught and advanced into the end zone or caught within its boundaries.[4] The number of passing touchdowns a player makes is a recorded statistic in football games. In addition to the overall National Football League (NFL) passing touchdown leaders, league record books recognize the passing touchdown leaders of the American Football League, which operated from 1960 to 1969 before merging with the NFL in 1970.[5] In 2025, the league announced that they would acknowledge records from the All-American Football Conference (AAFC), which operated from 1946 to 1949 before merging with the NFL in 1950.[6]

Tom Brady on the field in uniform
Tom Brady has 649 passing touchdowns, the most in NFL history.[1]

Tom Brady holds the record for most passing touchdowns with 649, followed by Drew Brees with 571 and Peyton Manning with 539. Aaron Rodgers leads all active players with 527 career passing touchdowns. Brady is also the record holder for the most career playoff passing touchdowns with 88. He is followed by Patrick Mahomes with 46, and Joe Montana and Rodgers, tied for third at 45. Mahomes leads all active players in career playoff passing touchdowns. The longest career passing touchdown record holder is Fran Tarkenton, who held the record from 1975 to 1994.[7]

Regular season career passing touchdowns leaders

Drew Brees on the field in a throwing motion
Drew Brees has the second most career passing touchdowns with 571.[8]
Peyton Manning on the field beginning a pass
Peyton Manning's 539 career passing touchdowns ranks third in NFL history.[8]
Aaron Rodgers smiling on the field in uniform
Aaron Rodgers is the leader in touchdown passes among active players.[9]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Legend
Symbol Meaning
TDs The total number of passing touchdowns the player had during their career
GP The number of games played by a player during their career
† Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
^ Active player
Close

Through 2025 season. Top 50 are listed below.

More information Rank, Player ...
NFL regular season career passing touchdown leaders
Rank Player TDs GP Team(s) Seasons Refs.
1 Tom Brady 649 335 New England Patriots 2000–2019 [9][10]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020–2022
2 Drew Brees† 571 287 San Diego Chargers 2001–2005 [9][11]
New Orleans Saints 2006–2020
3 Peyton Manning† 539 266 Indianapolis Colts 1998–2011 [9][12]
Denver Broncos 2012–2015
4 Aaron Rodgers^ 527 264 Green Bay Packers 2005–2022 [9][13]
New York Jets 2023–2024
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025–present
5 Brett Favre† 508 302 Atlanta Falcons 1991 [9][14]
Green Bay Packers 1992–2007
New York Jets 2008
Minnesota Vikings 2009–2010
6 Philip Rivers 425 247 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers 2004–2019 [9][15]
Indianapolis Colts 2020, 2025
7 Matthew Stafford^ 423 239 Detroit Lions 2009–2020 [9][16]
Los Angeles Rams 2021-present
8 Dan Marino† 420 242 Miami Dolphins 1983–1999 [9][17]
9 Ben Roethlisberger 418 249 Pittsburgh Steelers 2004–2021 [9][18]
10 Matt Ryan 381 234 Atlanta Falcons 2008–2021 [9][19]
Indianapolis Colts 2022
11 Eli Manning 366 236 New York Giants 2004–2019 [9][20]
12 Russell Wilson 353 205 Seattle Seahawks 2012–2021 [9][21]
Denver Broncos 2022–2023
Pittsburgh Steelers 2024
New York Giants 2025
13 Fran Tarkenton† 342 246 Minnesota Vikings 1961–1966, 1972–1978 [9][22]
New York Giants 1967–1971
14 John Elway† 300 234 Denver Broncos 1983–1998 [9][23]
15 Kirk Cousins^ 298 174 Washington Redskins 2012–2018 [9][24]
Minnesota Vikings 2018–2023
Atlanta Falcons 2024–2025
Las Vegas Raiders 2026-present
16 Carson Palmer 294 182 Cincinnati Bengals 2004–2010 [9][25]
Oakland Raiders 2011–2012
Arizona Cardinals 2013–2017
17 Warren Moon† 291 208 Houston Oilers 1984–1993 [9][26]
Minnesota Vikings 1994–1996
Seattle Seahawks 1997–1998
Kansas City Chiefs 1999–2000
18 Johnny Unitas† 290 211 Baltimore Colts 1956–1972 [9][27]
San Diego Chargers 1973
19 Vinny Testaverde 275 233 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1987–1992 [9][28]
Cleveland Browns 1993–1995
Baltimore Ravens 1996–1997
New York Jets 1998–2003, 2005
Dallas Cowboys 2004
New England Patriots 2006
Carolina Panthers 2007
20 Joe Montana† 273 192 San Francisco 49ers 1979–1992 [9][29]
Kansas City Chiefs 1993–1994
21 Joe Flacco^ 272 209 Baltimore Ravens 2008–2018 [9][30]
Denver Broncos 2019
New York Jets 2020, 2021–2022
Philadelphia Eagles 2021
Cleveland Browns 2023, 2025
Indianapolis Colts 2024
Cincinnati Bengals 2025–present
22 Patrick Mahomes^ 267 126 Kansas City Chiefs 2017–present [9][31]
23 Dave Krieg 261 213 Seattle Seahawks 1980–1991 [9][32]
Kansas City Chiefs 1992–1993
Detroit Lions 1994
Arizona Cardinals 1995
Chicago Bears 1996
Tennessee Oilers 1997–1998
24 Derek Carr 257 169 Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders 2014–2022 [9][33]
New Orleans Saints 2023–2024
25 Jared Goff^ 256 151 Los Angeles Rams 2016–2020 [9][34]
Detroit Lions 2021–present
26 Sonny Jurgensen† 255 218 Philadelphia Eagles 1957–1963 [9][35]
Washington Redskins 1964–1974
27 Andy Dalton^ 254 179 Cincinnati Bengals 2011–2019 [9][36]
Dallas Cowboys 2020
Chicago Bears 2021
New Orleans Saints 2022
Carolina Panthers 2023–2025
Philadelphia Eagles 2026–present
Dan Fouts† 181 San Diego Chargers 1973–1987 [9][37]
29 Drew Bledsoe 251 194 New England Patriots 1993–2001 [9][38]
Buffalo Bills 2002–2004
Dallas Cowboys 2005–2006
30 Tony Romo 248 156 Dallas Cowboys 2004–2016 [9][39]
31 Boomer Esiason 247 187 Cincinnati Bengals 1984–1992, 1997 [9][40]
New York Jets 1993–1995
Arizona Cardinals 1996
32 John Hadl 244 224 San Diego Chargers 1962–1972 [9][41]
Los Angeles Rams 1973–1974[a]
Green Bay Packers 1974–1975
Houston Oilers 1976–1977
33 Dak Prescott^ 243 139 Dallas Cowboys 2016–present [9][42]
34 Y. A. Tittle† 242 204 Baltimore Colts 1948—1950 [9][43]
San Francisco 49ers 1951–1960
New York Giants 1961–1964
35 Len Dawson† 239 211 Pittsburgh Steelers 1957–1959 [9][44]
Cleveland Browns 1960–1961
Dallas Texans 1962
Kansas City Chiefs 1963–1975
36 Jim Kelly† 237 160 Buffalo Bills 1986–1996 [9][45]
37 George Blanda† 236 340 Chicago Bears 1949, 1950–1958[b] [9][46]
Baltimore Colts 1950
Houston Oilers 1960–1966
Oakland Raiders 1967–1975
38 Donovan McNabb 234 167 Philadelphia Eagles 1999–2009 [9][47]
Washington Redskins 2010
Minnesota Vikings 2011
39 Steve Young† 232 169 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1985–1986 [9][48]
San Francisco 49ers 1987–1999
40 Jay Cutler 227 153 Denver Broncos 2006–2008 [9][49]
Chicago Bears 2009–2016
Miami Dolphins 2017
41 Ryan Fitzpatrick 223 166 St. Louis Rams 2005–2006 [9][50]
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
42 Josh Allen^ 220 127 Buffalo Bills 2018–present [9][51]
43 Ryan Tannehill 216 155 Miami Dolphins 2012–2018 [9][52]
Tennessee Titans 2019–2023
44 John Brodie 214 201 San Francisco 49ers 1957–1973 [9][53]
45 Terry Bradshaw† 212 168 Pittsburgh Steelers 1970–1983 [9][54]
Matt Hasselbeck 209 Green Bay Packers 1999–2000 [9][55]
Seattle Seahawks 2001–2010
Tennessee Titans 2011–2012
Indianapolis Colts 2013–2015
47 Jim Hart 209 201 St. Louis Cardinals 1966–1983 [9][56]
Washington Redskins 1984
48 Kerry Collins 208 198 Carolina Panthers 1995–1998[c] [9][57]
New Orleans Saints 1998
New York Giants 1999–2003
Oakland Raiders 2004–2005
Tennessee Titans 2006–2010
Indianapolis Colts 2011
Kurt Warner† 124 St. Louis Rams` 1998–2003 [9][58]
New York Giants 2004
Arizona Cardinals 2005–2009
50 Randall Cunningham 207 161 Philadelphia Eagles 1985–1995 [9][59]
Minnesota Vikings 1997–1999
Dallas Cowboys 2000
Baltimore Ravens 2001
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Playoff career passing touchdowns leaders

Based on at least 18 TD passes.

More information Legend, Meaning ...
NFL playoff career passing touchdown leaders
Legend Meaning
TDs The total number of passing touchdowns the player had during their playoff career
GP The number of games played by a player during their playoff career
† Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
^ Active player
Close

Updated through end of 2025–26 NFL playoffs.

More information Rank, Player ...
Rank Player TDs GP Team(s) Seasons Refs.
1 Tom Brady 88 48 New England Patriots 2000–2019 [60][10]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2020–2022
2 Patrick Mahomes^ 46 21 Kansas City Chiefs 2017–present [60][61]
3 Joe Montana† 45 23 San Francisco 49ers 1979–1992 [60][29]
Kansas City Chiefs 1993–1994
Aaron Rodgers^ Green Bay Packers 2005–2022 [60][13]
New York Jets 2023–2024
Pittsburgh Steelers 2025–present
5 Brett Favre† 44 24 Atlanta Falcons 1991 [60][14]
Green Bay Packers 1992–2007
New York Jets 2008
Minnesota Vikings 2009–2010
6 Peyton Manning† 40 27 Indianapolis Colts 1998–2011 [60][12]
Denver Broncos 2012–2015
7 Drew Brees† 37 18 San Diego Chargers 2001–2005 [60][11]
New Orleans Saints 2006–2020
8 Ben Roethlisberger 36 23 Pittsburgh Steelers 2004–2021 [60][18]
9 Dan Marino† 32 18 Miami Dolphins 1983–1999 [60][17]
10 Kurt Warner† 31 13 St. Louis Rams 1998–2003 [60][58]
New York Giants 2004
Arizona Cardinals 2005–2009
11 Terry Bradshaw† 30 19 Pittsburgh Steelers 1970–1983 [60][54]
12 Josh Allen^ 29 15 Buffalo Bills 2018-present [62][63]
13 John Elway† 27 22 Denver Broncos 1983–1998 [60][23]
Russell Wilson 17 Seattle Seahawks 2012–2021 [60][64]
Denver Broncos 2022–2023
Pittsburgh Steelers 2024
New York Giants 2025
15 Joe Flacco^ 26 16 Baltimore Ravens 2008–2018 [60][65]
Denver Broncos 2019
New York Jets 2020, 2021–2022
Philadelphia Eagles 2021
Cleveland Browns 2023, 2025
Indianapolis Colts 2024
Cincinnati Bengals 2025-present
16 Matthew Stafford^ 25 13 Detroit Lions 2009–2020 [62][16]
Los Angeles Rams 2021-present
17 Donovan McNabb 24 16 Philadelphia Eagles 1999–2009 [60][47]
Washington Redskins 2010
Minnesota Vikings 2011
Roger Staubach 20 Dallas Cowboys 1969–1979 [60][66]
19 Troy Aikman 23 16 1989–2000 [60][67]
20 Jim Kelly† 21 17 Buffalo Bills 1986–1996 [60][45]
21 Matt Ryan 20 10 Atlanta Falcons 2008–2021 [60][19]
Indianapolis Colts 2022
Steve Young† 22 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1985–1986 [60][48]
San Francisco 49ers 1987–1997
23 Daryle Lamonica 19 13 Buffalo Bills 1963–1966 [60][68]
Oakland Raiders 1967–1974
Ken Stabler† 1970–1979 [60][69]
Houston Oilers 1980–1981
New Orleans Saints 1982–1984
25 Matt Hasselbeck 18 11 Green Bay Packers 1999–2000 [60][55]
Seattle Seahawks 2001–2010
Tennessee Titans 2011–2012
Indianapolis Colts 2013–2015
Eli Manning 12 New York Giants 2004–2019 [60][20]
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Historical career passing touchdowns leaders

Sixteen players are recognized as having held outright or tied the record as the NFL's career passing touchdowns leader.[9]

Elmer Oliphant on the field staring forward
Elmer Oliphant, the first record holder
Fran Tarkenton attempting a pass
Fran Tarkenton held the record for 19 years, currently the longest period of time the record has been held by any quarterback in history.
More information No., Reign ...
NFL historical career passing touchdown leaders
No. Reign Player Team(s) while leader TDs Season(s) Ref.
1 1921–1922 Elmer Oliphant Buffalo All-Americans 7 1921–1922 [70][71]
2 1923 Lou Smyth Canton Bulldogs 8 1923 [72]
3 1924–1928 Curly Lambeau† Green Bay Packers 14 1924 [73]
19 1925 [74]
22 1926 [75]
23 1927 [76]
24 1928 [77]
4 Tied 1928 Red Dunn Green Bay Packers [77]
5 1929–1942 Benny Friedman† New York Giants (1929–1931)
Brooklyn Dodgers (1932–1934)		 40 1929 [78]
53 1930 [79]
56 1931 [80]
61 1932 [81]
66 1933–1942 [82][83]
6 Tied 1940–1942 Arnie Herber† Green Bay Packers 1940–1942 [84][83]
7 1943–1961 Sammy Baugh† Washington Redskins 80 1943 [85]
84 1944 [86]
95 1945 [87]
103 1946 [88]
128 1947 [89]
150 1948 [90]
168 1949 [91]
178 1950 [92]
185 1951 [93]
187 1952–1961 [94][95]
8 Tied 1961 Bobby Layne† Pittsburgh Steelers 1961 [95]
1962 196 1962 [96]
9 1963–1965 Y.A. Tittle† New York Giants
202 1963 [97]
212 1964–1965 [98][99]
10 1966–1974 Johnny Unitas† Baltimore Colts (1967–1972)
San Diego Chargers (1973)		 232 1966 [100]
252 1967 [101]
254 1968 [102]
266 1969 [103]
280 1970 [104]
283 1971 [105]
287 1972 [106]
290 1973–1974 [107]
11 1975–1994 Fran Tarkenton† Minnesota Vikings 291 1975 [108]
308 1976 [109]
317 1977 [110]
342 1978–1994 [111][112]
12 1995–2006 Dan Marino† Miami Dolphins 352 1995 [113]
369 1996 [114]
385 1997 [115]
408 1998 [116]
420 1999–2006 [117][118]
13 2007–2013 Brett Favre† Green Bay Packers (2007)
New York Jets (2008)
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)		 442 2007 [119]
464 2008 [120]
497 2009 [121]
508 2010–2013 [122][123]
14 2014–2018 Peyton Manning † Denver Broncos 530 2014 [124]
539 2015–2018 [125][126]
15 2019 Drew Brees † New Orleans Saints 547 2019 [127]
16 Since 2020
(6 years)		 Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneers 581 2020 [128]
624 2021 [129]
649 2022–present [130][131]
Close

See also

Notes

  1. [a]
    John Hadl was traded during the 1974 season; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers.
  2. [b]
    George Blanda was traded during the 1950 season; he played one game for the Colts and eleven games for the Bears.
  3. [c]
    Kerry Collins was traded during the 1998 season; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints.

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