List of National Football League passing yardage leaders

This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks by total career passing yards as of Week 17 of the 2011 Season.

Rank[1] Player Seasons by team Total passing yards[2] Year of induction into
Pro Football Hall of Fame
1 Brett Favre Atlanta Falcons (1991)
Green Bay Packers (1992–2007)
New York Jets (2008)[3]
Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)		 71,838 Not applicable[4]
2 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) 61,361 2005
3 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts (1998–Present)[3] 54,828 Not applicable[4]
4 John Elway Denver Broncos (1983–1998) 51,475 2004
5 Warren Moon Houston Oilers (1984–1993)
Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996)
Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998)
Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000)		 49,325 2006
6 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966)
New York Giants (1967–1971)
Minnesota Vikings (1972–1978)		 47,003 1986
7 Vinny Testaverde Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1992)
Cleveland Browns (1993–1995)
Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997)
New York Jets (1998–2003)
Dallas Cowboys (2004)
New York Jets (2005)
New England Patriots (2006)
Carolina Panthers (2007)[3]		 46,233 Not applicable[4]
8 Drew Bledsoe New England Patriots (1993–2001)
Buffalo Bills (2002–2004)
Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006)		 44,611 Not applicable[4]
9 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers (1973–1987) 43,040 1993
10 Kerry Collins Carolina Panthers (1995–1998[5])
New Orleans Saints (1998)
New York Giants (1999–2003)
Oakland Raiders (2004–2005)
Tennessee Titans (2006–2010)[3]
Indianapolis Colts (2011–Present)		 40,922 Not applicable[4]
11 Drew Brees San Diego Chargers (2001–2005)
New Orleans Saints (2006–Present)		 40,742 Not applicable[4]
12 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992)
Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)		 40,551 2000
13 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts (1956–1972)
San Diego Chargers (1973)		 40,239 1979
14 Tom Brady New England Patriots (2000–Present) 39,979 Not applicable[4]
15 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 None
16 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1992)
New York Jets (1993–1995)
Arizona Cardinals (1996)
Cincinnati Bengals (1997)		 37,920 None
17 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009)
Washington Redskins (2010)
Minnesota Vikings (2011)		 37,276 Not applicable[4]
18 Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) 35,467 2002
19 Jim Everett Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993)
New Orleans Saints (1994–1996)
San Diego Chargers (1997)		 34,837 None
20 Jim Hart St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983)
Washington Redskins (1984)		 34,665 None
21 Steve DeBerg San Francisco 49ers (1978–1980)
Denver Broncos (1981–1983)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1987)
Kansas City Chiefs (1988–1991)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992–1993[6])
Miami Dolphins(1993)
Atlanta Falcons (1998)		 34,241 None
22 John Hadl San Diego Chargers (1962–1972)
Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974[7])
Green Bay Packers (1974–1975)
Houston Oilers (1976–1977)		 33,503 None
23 Phil Simms New York Giants (1979–1993) 33,462 None
24 Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers (1998–2000)
Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010)
Tennessee Titans (2011–Present)		 33,150 Not applicable[4]
25 Steve Young Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986)
San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999)		 33,124 2005
26 Y.A. Tittle Baltimore Colts (1948–1950)
San Francisco 49ers (1951–1960)
New York Giants (1961–1964)		 33,070 1971
27 Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) 32,942 2006
28 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals (1971–1986) 32,838 None
29 Kurt Warner St. Louis (1998–2003)
New York Giants (2004–2004)
Arizona (2005–2009)		 32,344 Not applicable[4]
30 Sonny Jurgensen Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963)
Washington Redskins (1964–1974)		 32,224 1983
31 Mark Brunell Green Bay Packers (1993–1994)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2003)
Washington Redskins (2004–2006)
New Orleans Saints (2008–2009)
New York Jets (2010–Present)		 32,072 Not applicable[4]
32 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers (1957–1973)
 31,548 None
33 Steve McNair Houston Oilers / Tennessee Oilers / Tennessee Titans (1995–2005)

Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007)

 31,304 Not applicable[4]
34 Norm Snead Washington Redskins (1961–1963)
Philadelphia Eagles (1964–1970)
Minnesota Vikings (1971–1971)
New York Giants (1972–1974)
San Francisco 49ers (1974–1975)
New York Giants (1976–1976)		 30,797 None
35 Randall Cunningham Philadelphia Eagles (1985–1995)
Minnesota Vikings (1997–1999)
Dallas Cowboys (2000)
Baltimore Ravens (2001)		 29,979 None
36 Joe Ferguson Buffalo Bills (1973–1984)
Detroit Lions (1985–1987)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1988–1989)
Indianapolis Colts (1990)		 29,817 None
37 Jon Kitna Seattle Seahawks (1997–2000)
Cincinnati Bengals (2001–2005)
Detroit Lions (2006–2008)
Dallas Cowboys (2009–Present)		 29,745 Not applicable[4]

Contents

Notable

Fran Tarkenton was the first quarterback of the expansion Minnesota Vikings in 1961, and Kerry Collins was the first quarterback of the expansion Carolina Panthers in 1995. Both got the first starts of their NFL careers with these teams, and these are the only quarterbacks to get their first starts with an expansion team that went on to pass for 40,000 plus yards.

See also

References

  1. ^ Rank is as of week 1 of the 2010 season.
  2. ^ Total is through week 1 of the 2010 season.
  3. ^ a b c d Player was on an active roster during the 2008 season
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m A player is not eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame until he has been fully retired for five calendar years or is deceased; player was not eligible for induction upon the commencement of the 2007 season.
  5. ^ Collins was traded during the pendency of the 1998 season; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints.
  6. ^ DeBerg was traded during the pendency of the 1993 season; he played three games for the Buccaneers and eight for the Dolphins.
  7. ^ Hadl was traded during the pendency of the 1974 season; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers.

External links