List_of_National_Football_League_annual_passing_yards_leaders

List of NFL annual passing yards 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 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 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.^[6]

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.^[7] Brees has also passed for over 5,000 yards in a season five times, whereas no other player has done so more than twice.^[8] 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.^[9]^[10]

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[a-16] The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season, instead setting a minimum.^[15]

[SingleSeasonYardageRecord-1] [1]
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Clay, Mike (August 16, 2021). "This NFL record is in jeopardy: How six QBs could break it in 2021 -- and hit 6K yards". ESPN. Archived from the original on July 17, 2023. Retrieved July 17, 2023.

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[leaders-17] [16]
"NFL Passing Yards Year-by-Year Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[HerberPFR-18] [17]
"Arnie Herber Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[19] [18]
"Harry Newman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[20] [19]
"Ed Danowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[BaughPFR-21] [20]
"Sammy Baugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[22] [21]
"Ace Parker Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[23] [22]
"Davey O'Brien Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[IsbellPFR-24] [23]
"Cecil Isbell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[LuckmanPFR-25] [24]
"Sid Luckman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[26] [25]
"Irv Comp Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on January 30, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[27] [26]
"Johnny Lujack Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[LaynePFR-28] [27]
"Bobby Layne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[GrahamPFR-29] [28]
"Otto Graham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[30] [29]
"Norm Van Brocklin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

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"Jim Finks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[32] [31]
"Tobin Rote Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[UnitasPFR-33] [32]
"Johnny Unitas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[34] [33]
"Billy Wade Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[JurgensenPFR-35] [34]
"Sonny Jurgensen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[36] [35]
"Charley Johnson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[BrodiePFR-37] [36]
"John Brodie Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[HadlPFR-38] [37]
"John Hadl Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[NamathPFR-39] [38]
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[40] [39]
"Roman Gabriel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[AndersonPFR-41] [40]
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[42] [41]
"Bert Jones Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[43] [42]
"Joe Ferguson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[44] [43]
"Fran Tarkenton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[FoutsPFR-45] [44]
"Dan Fouts Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[46] [45]
"Lynn Dickey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[MarinoPFR-47] [46]
"Dan Marino Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[48] [47]
"Neil Lomax Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[49] [48]
"Don Majkowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[MoonPFR-50] [49]
"Warren Moon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[51] [50]
"John Elway Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 16, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[52] [51]
"Drew Bledsoe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[FavrePFR-53] [52]
"Brett Favre Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[54] [53]
"Mark Brunell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[55] [54]
"Jeff George Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[56] [55]
"Steve Beuerlein Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[ManningPFR-57] [56]
"Peyton Manning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[58] [57]
"Kurt Warner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[59] [58]
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[60] [59]
"Daunte Culpepper Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 12, 2023.

[BradyPFR-61] [60]
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[BreesPFR-62] [61]
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[63] [62]
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[BlandaPFR-71] [70]
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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^{[upper-alpha 1]}
†	Pro Football Hall of Fame member
^	The player is an active player
*	Player set the single-season passing yards record
(#)	Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list

Season	Leader	Yds	GP	Team	Refs
1932	Arnie Herber†	639*	14	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[17]
1933	Harry Newman	973*	14	New York Giants	^[16]^[18]
1934	Arnie Herber† (2)	799	11	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[17]
1935	Ed Danowski	794	12	New York Giants	^[16]^[19]
1936	Arnie Herber† (3)	1,239*	12	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[17]
1937	Sammy Baugh†	1,127	11	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[20]
1938	Ace Parker†	865	11	Brooklyn Dodgers	^[16]^[21]
1939	Davey O'Brien	1,324*	11	Philadelphia Eagles	^[16]^[22]
1940	Sammy Baugh† (2)	1,367*	11	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[20]
1941	Cecil Isbell	1,479*	11	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[23]
1942	Cecil Isbell (2)	2,021*	11	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[23]
1943	Sid Luckman†	2,194*	10	Chicago Bears	^[16]^[24]
1944	Irv Comp	1,159	10	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[25]
1945	Sid Luckman† (2)	1,727	10	Chicago Bears	^[16]^[24]
1946	Sid Luckman† (3)	1,826	11	Chicago Bears	^[16]^[24]
1947	Sammy Baugh† (3)	2,938*	12	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[20]
1948	Sammy Baugh† (4)	2,599	12	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[20]
1949	Johnny Lujack	2,658	12	Chicago Bears	^[16]^[26]
1950	Bobby Layne†	2,323	12	Detroit Lions	^[16]^[27]
1951	Bobby Layne† (2)	2,403	12	Detroit Lions	^[16]^[27]
1952	Otto Graham†	2,816	12	Cleveland Browns	^[16]^[28]
1953	Otto Graham† (2)	2,722	12	Cleveland Browns	^[16]^[28]
1954	Norm Van Brocklin†	2,637	12	Los Angeles Rams	^[16]^[29]
1955	Jim Finks†	2,270	12	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[16]^[30]
1956	Tobin Rote	2,203	12	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[31]
1957	Johnny Unitas†	2,550	12	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[32]
1958	Bill Wade	2,875	12	Los Angeles Rams	^[16]^[33]
1959	Johnny Unitas† (2)	2,899	12	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[32]
1960	Johnny Unitas† (3)	3,099*	12	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[32]
1961	Sonny Jurgensen†	3,723*	14	Philadelphia Eagles	^[16]^[34]
1962	Sonny Jurgensen† (2)	3,261	14	Philadelphia Eagles	^[16]^[34]
1963	Johnny Unitas† (4)	3,481	14	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[32]
1964	Charley Johnson	3,045	14	St. Louis Cardinals	^[16]^[35]
1965	John Brodie	3,112	13	San Francisco 49ers	^[16]^[36]
1966	Sonny Jurgensen† (3)	3,209	14	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[34]
1967	Sonny Jurgensen† (4)	3,747*	14	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[34]
1968	John Brodie (2)	3,020	14	San Francisco 49ers	^[16]^[36]
1969	Sonny Jurgensen† (5)	3,102	14	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[34]
1970	John Brodie (3)	2,941	14	San Francisco 49ers	^[16]^[36]
1971	John Hadl	3,075	14	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[37]
1972	Joe Namath†	2,816	13	New York Jets	^[16]^[38]
1973	Roman Gabriel	3,219	14	Philadelphia Eagles	^[16]^[39]
1974	Ken Anderson	2,667	13	Cincinnati Bengals	^[16]^[40]
1975	Ken Anderson (2)	3,169	13	Cincinnati Bengals	^[16]^[40]
1976	Bert Jones	3,104	14	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[41]
1977	Joe Ferguson	2,803	14	Buffalo Bills	^[16]^[42]
1978	Fran Tarkenton†	3,468	16	Minnesota Vikings	^[16]^[43]
1979	Dan Fouts†	4,082*	16	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[44]
1980	Dan Fouts† (2)	4,715*	16	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[44]
1981	Dan Fouts† (3)	4,802*	16	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[44]
1982	Dan Fouts† (4)	2,883	9	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[44]
1983	Lynn Dickey	4,458	16	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[45]
1984	Dan Marino†	5,084*	16	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
1985	Dan Marino† (2)	4,137	16	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
1986	Dan Marino† (3)	4,746	16	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
1987	Neil Lomax	3,387	12	St. Louis Cardinals	^[16]^[47]
1988	Dan Marino† (4)	4,434	16	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
1989	Don Majkowski	4,318	16	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[48]
1990	Warren Moon†	4,689	15	Houston Oilers	^[16]^[49]
1991	Warren Moon† (2)	4,690	16	Houston Oilers	^[16]^[49]
1992	Dan Marino† (5)	4,116	16	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
1993	John Elway†	4,030	16	Denver Broncos	^[16]^[50]
1994	Drew Bledsoe	4,555	16	New England Patriots	^[16]^[51]
1995	Brett Favre†	4,413	16	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[52]
1996	Mark Brunell	4,367	16	Jacksonville Jaguars	^[16]^[53]
1997	Jeff George	3,917	16	Oakland Raiders	^[16]^[54]
1998	Brett Favre† (2)	4,212	16	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[52]
1999	Steve Beuerlein	4,436	16	Carolina Panthers	^[16]^[55]
2000	Peyton Manning†	4,413	16	Indianapolis Colts	^[16]^[56]
2001	Kurt Warner†	4,830	16	St. Louis Rams	^[16]^[57]
2002	Rich Gannon	4,689	16	Oakland Raiders	^[16]^[58]
2003	Peyton Manning† (2)	4,267	16	Indianapolis Colts	^[16]^[56]
2004	Daunte Culpepper	4,717	16	Minnesota Vikings	^[16]^[59]
2005	Tom Brady	4,110	16	New England Patriots	^[16]^[60]
2006	Drew Brees	4,418	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2007	Tom Brady (2)	4,806	16	New England Patriots	^[16]^[60]
2008	Drew Brees (2)	5,069	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2009	Matt Schaub	4,770	16	Houston Texans	^[16]^[62]
2010	Philip Rivers	4,710	16	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[63]
2011	Drew Brees (3)	5,476*	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2012	Drew Brees (4)	5,177	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2013	Peyton Manning† (3)	5,477*	16	Denver Broncos	^[16]^[56]
2014	Drew Brees (5)	4,952	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2014	Ben Roethlisberger	4,952	16	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[16]^[64]
2015	Drew Brees (6)	4,870	15	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2016	Drew Brees (7)	5,208	16	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
2017	Tom Brady (3)	4,577	16	New England Patriots	^[16]^[60]
2018	Ben Roethlisberger (2)	5,129	16	Pittsburgh Steelers	^[16]^[64]
2019	Jameis Winston^	5,109	16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	^[16]^[65]
2020	Deshaun Watson^	4,823	16	Houston Texans	^[16]^[66]
2021	Tom Brady (4)	5,316	17	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	^[16]^[60]
2022	Patrick Mahomes^	5,250	17	Kansas City Chiefs	^[16]^[67]
2023	Tua Tagovailoa^	4,624	17	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[68]

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

Season	Leader	Yds	GP	Team	Refs
1960	Frank Tripucka	3,038*	14	Denver Broncos	^[16]^[69]
1961	George Blanda†	3,330*	14	Houston Oilers	^[16]^[70]
1962	Frank Tripucka (2)	2,917	14	Denver Broncos	^[16]^[69]
1963	George Blanda† (2)	3,003	14	Houston Oilers	^[16]^[70]
1964	Babe Parilli	3,465*	14	Boston Patriots	^[16]^[71]
1965	John Hadl	2,798	14	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[37]
1966	Joe Namath†	3,379	14	New York Jets	^[16]^[38]
1967	Joe Namath† (2)	4,007*	14	New York Jets	^[16]^[38]
1968	John Hadl (2)	3,473	14	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[37]
1969	Daryle Lamonica	3,302	14	Oakland Raiders	^[16]^[72]

Count	Player	Seasons	Team(s)	Refs
7	Drew Brees	2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2014–2016	New Orleans Saints	^[16]^[61]
5	Sonny Jurgensen	1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1969	Philadelphia Eagles (2), Washington Redskins (3)	^[16]^[34]
5	Dan Marino	1984–1986, 1988, 1992	Miami Dolphins	^[16]^[46]
4	Sammy Baugh	1937, 1940, 1947, 1948	Washington Redskins	^[16]^[20]
	Tom Brady	2005, 2007, 2017, 2021	New England Patriots (3), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)	^[16]^[60]
	Dan Fouts	1979–1982	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[44]
	Johnny Unitas	1957, 1959, 1960, 1963	Baltimore Colts	^[16]^[32]
3	John Brodie	1965, 1968, 1970	San Francisco 49ers	^[16]^[36]
	John Hadl	1965, 1968, 1971	San Diego Chargers	^[16]^[37]
	Arnie Herber	1932, 1934, 1936	Green Bay Packers	^[16]^[17]
	Peyton Manning	2000, 2003, 2013	Indianapolis Colts (2), Denver Broncos (1)	^[16]^[56]

List_of_National_Football_League_annual_passing_yards_leaders

List of NFL annual passing yards leaders

NFL annual passing yards leaders

AFL annual passing yards leaders

Most seasons leading the league

See also

Notes

References

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