List of NFL career passing yards leaders
This list shows the top National Football League quarterbacks with the top 50 players with the most career regular season passing yards, the NFL playoff passing yards leaders with at least 2,500 yards, and the historical progression of regular season record holders. Quarterback totals from the American Football League and All-American Football Conference are also recognized by the NFL and are included.
Tom Brady holds both the regular season record, with 89,214 passing yards, and the playoff record, with 13,400 yards.
In American football, passing, along with running, 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. 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. The amount of passing yards recorded by each quarterback is a recorded stat in football games.
Regular season career passing yards leaders
| Symbol | Meaning |
| Yds | Career passing yardage |
| GP | Games played |
| YPG | Average yardage per game |
| Pro Football Hall of Famer | |
| ^ | Active |
Through season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Seasons | ||||
| 1 | 89,214 | 335 | 266.3 | New England Patriots | |||
| 1 | 89,214 | 335 | 266.3 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||
| 2 | 80,358 | 287 | 280 | San Diego Chargers | |||
| 2 | 80,358 | 287 | 280 | New Orleans Saints | |||
| 3 | 71,940 | 266 | 270.5 | Indianapolis Colts | |||
| 3 | 71,940 | 266 | 270.5 | Denver Broncos | |||
| 4 | 71,838 | 302 | 237.9 | Atlanta Falcons | |||
| 4 | 71,838 | 302 | 237.9 | Green Bay Packers | |||
| 4 | 71,838 | 302 | 237.9 | New York Jets | |||
| 4 | 71,838 | 302 | 237.9 | Minnesota Vikings | |||
| 5 | ^ | 66,274 | 264 | 251 | Green Bay Packers | ||
| 5 | ^ | 66,274 | 264 | 251 | New York Jets | ||
| 5 | ^ | 66,274 | 264 | 251 | Pittsburgh Steelers | –present | |
| 6 | ^ | 64,516 | 239 | 269.9 | Detroit Lions | ||
| 6 | ^ | 64,516 | 239 | 269.9 | Los Angeles Rams | –present | |
| 7 | 64,088 | 249 | 257.4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | |||
| 8 | 63,984 | 247 | 259 | San Diego/L.A. Chargers | |||
| 8 | 63,984 | 247 | 259 | Indianapolis Colts | , | ||
| 9 | 62,792 | 234 | 268.3 | Atlanta Falcons | |||
| 9 | 62,792 | 234 | 268.3 | Indianapolis Colts | |||
| 10 | 61,361 | 243 | 253.6 | Miami Dolphins | |||
| 11 | 57,023 | 236 | 241.6 | New York Giants | |||
| 12 | 51,475 | 234 | 220 | Denver Broncos | |||
| 13 | 49,325 | 208 | 237.1 | Houston Oilers | |||
| 13 | 49,325 | 208 | 237.1 | Minnesota Vikings | |||
| 13 | 49,325 | 208 | 237.1 | Seattle Seahawks | |||
| 13 | 49,325 | 208 | 237.1 | Kansas City Chiefs | |||
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Baltimore Ravens | ||
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Denver Broncos | ||
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | New York Jets | , | |
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Cleveland Browns | , | |
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Indianapolis Colts | ||
| 14 | ^ | 48,176 | 209 | 230.5 | Cincinnati Bengals | –present | |
| 15 | 47,003 | 246 | 191.1 | Minnesota Vikings | , | ||
| 15 | 47,003 | 246 | 191.1 | New York Giants | |||
| 16 | ^ | 46,966 | 205 | 229.1 | Seattle Seahawks | ||
| 16 | ^ | 46,966 | 205 | 229.1 | Denver Broncos | ||
| 16 | ^ | 46,966 | 205 | 229.1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| 16 | ^ | 46,966 | 205 | 229.1 | New York Giants | –present | |
| 17 | 46,247 | 182 | 254.1 | Cincinnati Bengals | |||
| 17 | 46,247 | 182 | 254.1 | Oakland Raiders | |||
| 17 | 46,247 | 182 | 254.1 | Arizona Cardinals | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | Cleveland Browns | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | Baltimore Ravens | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | New York Jets | , | ||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | Dallas Cowboys | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | New England Patriots | |||
| 18 | 46,233 | 233 | 198.4 | Carolina Panthers | |||
| 19 | ^ | 44,700 | 174 | 256.9 | Washington Redskins | ||
| 19 | ^ | 44,700 | 174 | 256.9 | Minnesota Vikings | ||
| 19 | ^ | 44,700 | 174 | 256.9 | Atlanta Falcons | -Present | |
| 20 | 44,611 | 194 | 230 | New England Patriots | |||
| 20 | 44,611 | 194 | 230 | Buffalo Bills | |||
| 20 | 44,611 | 194 | 230 | Dallas Cowboys | |||
| 21 | 43,040 | 181 | 237.8 | San Diego Chargers | |||
| 22 | 41,245 | 169 | 244.1 | Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders | |||
| 22 | 41,245 | 169 | 244.1 | New Orleans Saints | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | Carolina Panthers | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | New Orleans Saints | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | New York Giants | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | Oakland Raiders | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | Tennessee Titans | |||
| 23 | 40,922 | 198 | 206.7 | Indianapolis Colts | |||
| 24 | 40,551 | 192 | 211.2 | San Francisco 49ers | |||
| 24 | 40,551 | 192 | 211.2 | Kansas City Chiefs | |||
| 25 | 40,239 | 211 | 190.7 | Baltimore Colts | |||
| 25 | 40,239 | 211 | 190.7 | San Diego Chargers | |||
| 26 | ^ | 39,793 | 179 | 222.3 | Cincinnati Bengals | ||
| 26 | ^ | 39,793 | 179 | 222.3 | Dallas Cowboys | ||
| 26 | ^ | 39,793 | 179 | 222.3 | Chicago Bears | ||
| 26 | ^ | 39,793 | 179 | 222.3 | New Orleans Saints | ||
| 26 | ^ | 39,793 | 179 | 222.3 | Carolina Panthers | –present | |
| 27 | ^ | 39,622 | 151 | 262.4 | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| 27 | ^ | 39,622 | 151 | 262.4 | Detroit Lions | –present | |
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Seattle Seahawks | |||
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Kansas City Chiefs | |||
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Detroit Lions | |||
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Arizona Cardinals | |||
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Chicago Bears | |||
| 28 | 38,147 | 213 | 179.1 | Tennessee Oilers | |||
| 29 | 37,920 | 187 | 202.8 | Cincinnati Bengals | , | ||
| 29 | 37,920 | 187 | 202.8 | New York Jets | |||
| 29 | 37,920 | 187 | 202.8 | Arizona Cardinals | |||
| 30 | 37,276 | 167 | 223.2 | Philadelphia Eagles | |||
| 30 | 37,276 | 167 | 223.2 | Washington Redskins | |||
| 30 | 37,276 | 167 | 223.2 | Minnesota Vikings | |||
| 31 | 36,638 | 209 | 175.3 | Green Bay Packers | |||
| 31 | 36,638 | 209 | 175.3 | Seattle Seahawks | |||
| 31 | 36,638 | 209 | 175.3 | Tennessee Titans | |||
| 31 | 36,638 | 209 | 175.3 | Indianapolis Colts | |||
| 32 | ^ | 35,989 | 139 | 258.9 | Dallas Cowboys | –present | |
| 33 | ^ | 35,939 | 126 | 285.2 | Kansas City Chiefs | –present | |
| 34 | 35,650 | 174 | 204.9 | San Francisco 49ers | |||
| 34 | 35,650 | 174 | 204.9 | Kansas City Chiefs | |||
| 34 | 35,650 | 174 | 204.9 | Washington Redskins/Football Team | |||
| 35 | 35,467 | 160 | 221.7 | Buffalo Bills | |||
| 36 | 35,133 | 153 | 229.6 | Denver Broncos | |||
| 36 | 35,133 | 153 | 229.6 | Chicago Bears | |||
| 36 | 35,133 | 153 | 229.6 | Miami Dolphins | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | St. Louis Rams | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Cincinnati Bengals | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Buffalo Bills | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Tennessee Titans | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Houston Texans | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | New York Jets | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Miami Dolphins | |||
| 37 | 34,990 | 166 | 210.8 | Washington Football Team | |||
| 38 | 34,881 | 155 | 225 | Miami Dolphins | |||
| 38 | 34,881 | 155 | 225 | Tennessee Titans | |||
| 39 | 34,837 | 158 | 220.5 | Los Angeles Rams | |||
| 39 | 34,837 | 158 | 220.5 | New Orleans Saints | |||
| 39 | 34,837 | 158 | 220.5 | San Diego Chargers | |||
| 40 | 34,665 | 201 | 172.5 | St. Louis Cardinals | |||
| 40 | 34,665 | 201 | 172.5 | Washington Redskins | |||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | San Francisco 49ers | |||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | Denver Broncos | |||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | , | ||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | Kansas City Chiefs | |||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | Miami Dolphins | |||
| 41 | 34,241 | 206 | 166.2 | Atlanta Falcons | |||
| 42 | 34,183 | 156 | 219.1 | Dallas Cowboys | |||
| 43 | 33,503 | 224 | 149.6 | San Diego Chargers | |||
| 43 | 33,503 | 224 | 149.6 | Los Angeles Rams | |||
| 43 | 33,503 | 224 | 149.6 | Green Bay Packers | |||
| 43 | 33,503 | 224 | 149.6 | Houston Oilers | |||
| 44 | 33,462 | 164 | 204 | New York Giants | |||
| 45 | 33,124 | 169 | 196 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | |||
| 45 | 33,124 | 169 | 196 | San Francisco 49ers | |||
| 46 | 33,070 | 204 | 162.1 | Baltimore Colts | |||
| 46 | 33,070 | 204 | 162.1 | San Francisco 49ers | |||
| 46 | 33,070 | 204 | 162.1 | New York Giants | |||
| 47 | 32,942 | 165 | 199.6 | Dallas Cowboys | |||
| 48 | 32,838 | 192 | 171 | Cincinnati Bengals | |||
| 49 | 32,382 | 148 | 218.8 | Carolina Panthers | , | ||
| 49 | 32,382 | 148 | 218.8 | New England Patriots | |||
| 50 | 32,344 | 124 | 260.8 | St. Louis Rams | |||
| 50 | 32,344 | 124 | 260.8 | New York Giants | |||
| 50 | 32,344 | 124 | 260.8 | Arizona Cardinals | |||
| Rank | Player | Team | Seasons |