List of NFL annual passing touchdowns leaders

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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 called a receiver. A touchdown pass is a pass thrown from a passer to a receiver that results in a touchdown being scored. To be counted as a touchdown pass, the ball can be caught within the field of play and advanced by the receiver into the end zone, or caught by a receiver within the boundaries of the end zone.[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 (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.[5][6] The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[7]

Peyton Manning throwing a football
Peyton Manning holds the single-season passing touchdowns record, throwing 55 touchdowns in 2013.[1]

Tom Brady has led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times, more than any other quarterback.[8] Johnny Unitas is the only player to lead the league four times consecutively, doing so from 1957 through 1960.[9] The record for touchdown passes in a season is held by Peyton Manning, who had 55 passing touchdowns in the 2013 season while playing for the Denver Broncos.[1] Only two other players have recorded 50 or more passing touchdowns in a season, Brady and Patrick Mahomes.[1]

NFL annual passing touchdowns leaders

Tom Brady with no helmet in his Patriots uniform
Tom Brady led the league in passing touchdowns five times, an NFL record.[8]
Johnny Unitas in his Baltimore Colts uniform and helmet
Johnny Unitas is the only player to have led the league in passing touchdowns in four consecutive seasons (1957–1960).[9]
Y. A. Tittle trading card, depicting Tittle in his San Francisco 49ers uniform
Y. A. Tittle held the record for most passing touchdowns in a season for 21 years and led the league in passing touchdowns three times.[10]
Matthew Stafford is the most recent passing touchdowns leader, having led the league with 46 passing touchdowns in the 2025 season.[11]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing touchdowns in the NFL
TDs The total number of passing touchdowns 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 touchdowns record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
NFL annual passing touchdowns leaders by season
Season Leader TDs GP Team Refs
1932 Arnie Herber† 9* 14 Green Bay Packers [11][13]
1933 Harry Newman 11* 14 New York Giants [11][14]
1934 Arnie Herber† (2) 8 11 Green Bay Packers [11][13]
1935 Ed Danowski 10 12 New York Giants [11][15]
1936 Arnie Herber† (3) 11 12 Green Bay Packers [11][13]
1937 Bernie Masterson 9 10 Chicago Bears [11][16]
1938 Bob Monnett 9 8 Green Bay Packers [11][17]
1939 Frank Filchock 11 11 Washington Redskins [11][18]
1940 Sammy Baugh† 12* 11 Washington Redskins [11][19]
1941 Cecil Isbell 15* 11 Green Bay Packers [11][20]
1942 Cecil Isbell (2) 24* 11 Green Bay Packers [11][20]
1943 Sid Luckman† 28* 10 Chicago Bears [11][21]
1944 Frank Filchock (2) 13 10 Washington Redskins [11][18]
1945 Sid Luckman† (2) 14 10 Chicago Bears [11][21]
Bob Waterfield† 10 Cleveland Rams [11][22]
1946 Sid Luckman† (3) 17 11 Chicago Bears [11][21]
Bob Waterfield† (2) 11 Los Angeles Rams [11][22]
1947 Sammy Baugh† (2) 25 12 Washington Redskins [11][19]
1948 Tommy Thompson 25 12 Philadelphia Eagles [11][23]
1949 Johnny Lujack 23 12 Chicago Bears [11][24]
1950 George Ratterman 22 12 New York Yanks [11][25]
1951 Bobby Layne† 26 12 Detroit Lions [11][26]
1952 Jim Finks† 20 12 Pittsburgh Steelers [11][27]
Otto Graham† 12 Cleveland Browns [11][28]
1953 Bobby Thomason 21 12 Philadelphia Eagles [11][29]
1954 Adrian Burk 23 12 Philadelphia Eagles [11][30]
1955 Y. A Tittle† 17 12 San Francisco 49ers [11][31]
Tobin Rote 12 Green Bay Packers [11][32]
1956 Tobin Rote (2) 18 12 Green Bay Packers [11][32]
1957 Johnny Unitas† 24 12 Baltimore Colts [11][33]
1958 Johnny Unitas† (2) 19 10 Baltimore Colts [11][33]
1959 Johnny Unitas† (3) 32* 12 Baltimore Colts [11][33]
1960 Johnny Unitas† (4) 25 12 Baltimore Colts [11][33]
1961 Sonny Jurgensen† 32 14 Philadelphia Eagles [11][34]
1962 Y. A Tittle† (2) 33* 14 New York Giants [11][31]
1963 Y. A Tittle† (3) 36* 13 New York Giants [11][31]
1964 Frank Ryan 25 14 Cleveland Browns [11][35]
1965 John Brodie 30 13 San Francisco 49ers [11][36]
1966 Frank Ryan (2) 29 14 Cleveland Browns [11][35]
1967 Sonny Jurgensen† (2) 31 14 Washington Redskins [11][34]
1968 Earl Morrall 26 14 Baltimore Colts [11][37]
1969 Roman Gabriel 24 14 Los Angeles Rams [11][38]
1970 John Brodie (2) 24 14 San Francisco 49ers [11][36]
1971 John Hadl 21 14 San Diego Chargers [11][39]
1972 Billy Kilmer 19 12 Washington Redskins [11][40]
Joe Namath† 13 New York Jets [11][41]
1973 Roman Gabriel (2) 23 14 Philadelphia Eagles [11][38]
Roger Staubach† 14 Dallas Cowboys [11][42]
1974 Ken Stabler† 26 14 Oakland Raiders [11][43]
1975 Fran Tarkenton† 25 14 Minnesota Vikings [11][44]
Joe Ferguson 14 Buffalo Bills [11][45]
1976 Ken Stabler† (2) 27 12 Oakland Raiders [11][43]
1977 Bob Griese† 22 14 Miami Dolphins [11][46]
1978 Terry Bradshaw† 28 16 Pittsburgh Steelers [11][47]
1979 Steve Grogan 28 16 New England Patriots [11][48]
Brian Sipe 16 Cleveland Browns [11][49]
1980 Steve Bartkowski 31 16 Atlanta Falcons [11][50]
1981 Dan Fouts† 33 16 San Diego Chargers [11][51]
1982 Dan Fouts† (2) 17 9 San Diego Chargers [11][51]
Terry Bradshaw† (2) 9 Pittsburgh Steelers [11][47]
Joe Montana† 9 San Francisco 49ers [11][52]
1983 Lynn Dickey 32 16 Green Bay Packers [11][53]
1984 Dan Marino† 48* 16 Miami Dolphins [11][54]
1985 Dan Marino† (2) 30 16 Miami Dolphins [11][54]
1986 Dan Marino† (3) 44 16 Miami Dolphins [11][54]
1987 Joe Montana† (2) 31 13 San Francisco 49ers [11][52]
1988 Jim Everett 31 16 Los Angeles Rams [11][55]
1989 Jim Everett (2) 29 16 Los Angeles Rams [11][55]
1990 Warren Moon† 33 15 Houston Oilers [11][56]
1991 Jim Kelly† 33 15 Buffalo Bills [11][57]
1992 Steve Young† 25 16 San Francisco 49ers [11][58]
1993 Steve Young† (2) 29 16 San Francisco 49ers [11][58]
1994 Steve Young† (3) 35 16 San Francisco 49ers [11][58]
1995 Brett Favre† 38 16 Green Bay Packers [11][59]
1996 Brett Favre† (2) 39 16 Green Bay Packers [11][59]
1997 Brett Favre† (3) 35 16 Green Bay Packers [11][59]
1998 Steve Young† (4) 36 15 San Francisco 49ers [11][58]
1999 Kurt Warner† 41 16 St. Louis Rams [11][60]
2000 Peyton Manning† 33 16 Indianapolis Colts [11][61]
Daunte Culpepper 16 Minnesota Vikings [11][62]
2001 Kurt Warner† (2) 36 16 St. Louis Rams [11][60]
2002 Tom Brady 28 16 New England Patriots [11][63]
2003 Brett Favre† (4) 32 16 Green Bay Packers [11][59]
2004 Peyton Manning† (2) 49* 16 Indianapolis Colts [11][61]
2005 Carson Palmer 32 16 Cincinnati Bengals [11][64]
2006 Peyton Manning† (3) 31 16 Indianapolis Colts [11][61]
2007 Tom Brady (2) 50* 16 New England Patriots [11][63]
2008 Drew Brees† 34 16 New Orleans Saints [11][65]
Philip Rivers 16 San Diego Chargers [11][66]
2009 Drew Brees† (2) 34 16 New Orleans Saints [11][65]
2010 Tom Brady (3) 36 16 New England Patriots [11][63]
2011 Drew Brees† (3) 46 16 New Orleans Saints [11][65]
2012 Drew Brees† (4) 43 16 New Orleans Saints [11][65]
2013 Peyton Manning† (4) 55* 16 Denver Broncos [11][61]
2014 Andrew Luck 40 16 Indianapolis Colts [11][67]
2015 Tom Brady (4) 36 16 New England Patriots [11][63]
2016 Aaron Rodgers^ 40 16 Green Bay Packers [11][68]
2017 Russell Wilson^ 34 16 Seattle Seahawks [11][69]
2018 Patrick Mahomes^ 50 16 Kansas City Chiefs [11][70]
2019 Lamar Jackson^ 36 15 Baltimore Ravens [11][71]
2020 Aaron Rodgers^ (2) 48 16 Green Bay Packers [11][68]
2021 Tom Brady (5) 43 17 Tampa Bay Buccaneers [11][63]
2022 Patrick Mahomes^ (2) 41 17 Kansas City Chiefs [11][70]
2023 Dak Prescott^ 36 17 Dallas Cowboys [11][72]
2024 Joe Burrow^ 43 17 Cincinnati Bengals [11][73]
2025 Matthew Stafford^ 46 17 Los Angeles Rams [11][74]
Close

AFL annual passing touchdowns leaders

Len Dawson led the AFL in passing touchdowns four times.[75]
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing touchdowns in the AFL
TDs The total number of passing touchdowns 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 touchdowns record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
AFL annual passing touchdowns leaders by season
Season Leader TDs GP Team Refs
1960 Al Dorow 26* 14 New York Titans [11][76]
1961 George Blanda† 36* 14 Houston Oilers [11][77]
1962 Len Dawson† 29 14 Dallas Texans [11][78]
1963 Len Dawson† (2) 26 14 Kansas City Chiefs [11][78]
1964 Babe Parilli 31 14 Boston Patriots [11][79]
1965 Len Dawson† (3) 21 14 Kansas City Chiefs [11][78]
1966 Len Dawson† (4) 26 14 Kansas City Chiefs [11][78]
1967 Daryle Lamonica 30 14 Oakland Raiders [11][80]
1968 John Hadl 27 14 San Diego Chargers [11][39]
1969 Daryle Lamonica (2) 34 14 Oakland Raiders [11][80]
Close

AAFC annual passing touchdowns leaders

Frankie Albert threw 29 touchdown passes in the 1948 AAFC season, the most for any professional quarterback for eleven years.
More information Symbol, Meaning ...
Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most passing touchdowns in the AAFC
TDs The total number of passing touchdowns 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 touchdowns record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Close
More information Season, Leader ...
AAFC annual passing touchdowns leaders by season
Season Leader TDs GP Team Refs
1946 Otto Graham† 17 14 Cleveland Browns [11][81]
1947 Otto Graham† (2) 25 14 Cleveland Browns [11][81]
1948 Frankie Albert 29 14 San Francisco 49ers [11][82]
1949 Frankie Albert (2) 27 12 San Francisco 49ers [11][82]
Close

Most seasons leading the league

More information Count, Player ...
Count Player Seasons Team(s) Ref.
5 Tom Brady 2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021 New England Patriots (4) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1) [11]
4 Drew Brees 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 New Orleans Saints [11]
Len Dawson 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 Kansas City Chiefs [11]
Brett Favre 1995–1997, 2002 Green Bay Packers [11]
Peyton Manning 2000, 2004, 2006, 2013 Indianapolis Colts (3) / Denver Broncos (1) [11]
Johnny Unitas 1957–1960 Baltimore Colts [11]
Steve Young 1992–1994, 1998 San Francisco 49ers [11]
3 Otto Graham 1946, 1947, 1952 Cleveland Browns [11]
Arnie Herber 1932, 1934, 1936 Green Bay Packers [11]
Sid Luckman 1943, 1945, 1946 Chicago Bears [11]
Dan Marino 1984–1986 Miami Dolphins [11]
Y. A. Tittle 1955, 1962, 1963 San Francisco 49ers (1) / New York Giants (2) [11]
2 Frankie Albert 1948, 1949 San Francisco 49ers [11]
Sammy Baugh 1940, 1947 Washington Redskins [11]
Terry Bradshaw 1978, 1982 Pittsburgh Steelers [11]
John Brodie 1965, 1970 San Francisco 49ers [11]
Jim Everett 1988, 1989 Los Angeles Rams [11]
Frank Filchock 1939, 1944 Washington Redskins [11]
Dan Fouts 1981, 1982 San Diego Chargers [11]
Roman Gabriel 1969, 1971 Los Angeles Rams (1) / Philadelphia Eagles (1) [11]
John Hadl 1968, 1971 San Diego Chargers [11]
Cecil Isbell 1941, 1942 Green Bay Packers [11]
Sonny Jurgensen 1961, 1967 Philadelphia Eagles (1) / Washington Redskins (1) [11]
Daryle Lamonica 1967, 1969 Oakland Raiders [11]
Patrick Mahomes 2018, 2022 Kansas City Chiefs [11]
Joe Montana 1982, 1987 San Francisco 49ers [11]
Aaron Rodgers 2016, 2020 Green Bay Packers [11]
Tobin Rote 1955, 1956 Green Bay Packers [11]
Frank Ryan 1964, 1966 Cleveland Browns [11]
Ken Stabler 1974, 1976 Oakland Raiders [11]
Kurt Warner 1999, 2001 St. Louis Rams [11]
Bob Waterfield 1945, 1946 Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams [11]
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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.[12]

References

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