List of NFL career interceptions leaders


In American football, an interception, also known as a pick, occurs when a pass intended for a player of the same team is caught by an opposition player, who then gains possession for their team. The National Football League did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season and did not begin tracking interceptions until 1940. As a result of the AFL–NFL merger, league record books also recognize statistics from the American Football League, which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970.
There have been 39 players who have recorded at least 50 interceptions. Paul Krause is the all-time leader, with 81 interceptions. Due to rule changes and increasingly detailed offensive schemes, among other factors, the rate of interceptions has dropped considerably from 1971 to 2018. As of, no active player has at least 40 interceptions.

Players with at least 50 interceptions

SymbolMeaning
IntsThe total number of interceptions the player had
Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
^Active player

RankPlayerPositionTeam
1 SafetyWashington Redskins 81
1 SafetyMinnesota Vikings 81
2 Defensive backNew York Giants 79
2 Defensive backGreen Bay Packers 79
3 Defensive backPittsburgh Steelers 71
3 Defensive backSan Francisco 49ers 71
3 Defensive backBaltimore Ravens 71
3 Defensive backOakland Raiders 71
4 CornerbackLos Angeles Rams 68
4 CornerbackChicago Cardinals 68
4 CornerbackDetroit Lions 68
5 CornerbackCincinnati Bengals 65
5 Defensive backOakland Raiders 65
5 Defensive backGreen Bay Packers 65
7 SafetyBaltimore Ravens 64
7 SafetyHouston Texans 64
7 SafetyNew York Jets 64
8 Defensive backSan Francisco 49ers 63
8 Defensive backLos Angeles Raiders 63
8 Defensive backNew York Jets 63
8SafetyGreen Bay Packers 63
8SafetyMinnesota Vikings 63
8SafetyNew Orleans Saints 63
10Defensive backPittsburgh Steelers 62
10Defensive backSeattle Seahawks 62
10Defensive backGreen Bay Packers 62
10 Defensive backDetroit Lions 62
12 Defensive backKansas City Chiefs 58
13 Defensive backPittsburgh Steelers 57
13CornerbackBaltimore Colts 57
13SafetySeattle Seahawks 57
13SafetyGreen Bay Packers 57
13SafetyAtlanta Falcons 57
13SafetyCarolina Panthers 57
13 Defensive backDallas Texans / Kansas City Chiefs 57
13CornerbackDallas Cowboys 57
13CornerbackNew York Giants 57
13CornerbackCleveland Browns 57
18 CornerbackDetroit Lions 56
18Defensive backSt. Louis Cardinals 56
18Defensive backWashington Redskins 56
20 Defensive backPhoenix / Arizona Cardinals 55
20 Defensive backSt. Louis Rams 55
21 Defensive backWashington Redskins 54
21 CornerbackDenver Broncos 54
21 CornerbackOakland Raiders 54
21 CornerbackPhiladelphia Eagles 54
21 CornerbackNew Orleans Saints 54
21 CornerbackOakland Raiders 54
24 CornerbackNew England Patriots 53
24 CornerbackNew York Jets 53
24 CornerbackKansas City Chiefs 53
24 CornerbackDenver Broncos 53
24 CornerbackAtlanta Falcons 53
24 CornerbackSan Francisco 49ers 53
24 CornerbackDallas Cowboys 53
24 CornerbackWashington Redskins 53
24 CornerbackBaltimore Ravens 53
26 CornerbackWashington Redskins 52
26 CornerbackDenver Broncos 52
26 Defensive backPittsburgh Steelers 52
26 Defensive backGreen Bay Packers 52
26SafetyNew York Giants 52
26 Defensive backDallas Cowboys 52
26 SafetySt. Louis Cardinals 52
32Defensive backMinnesota Vikings 51
32CornerbackNew England Patriots 51
32CornerbackPhiladelphia Eagles 51
32CornerbackAtlanta Falcons 51
32 Defensive backPittsburgh Steelers 51
35Defensive backGreen Bay Packers 50
35Defensive backMiami Dolphins 50
35Defensive backDenver Broncos 50
35Defensive backNew England Patriots 50
35Defensive backNew York Jets 50
35Defensive backNew York Giants 50
35SafetyLos Angeles Rams 50
35SafetyPhiladelphia Eagles 50
35SafetyKansas City Chiefs 50
35SafetySeattle Seahawks 50
35SafetyMinnesota Vikings 50
35 Defensive backDetroit Lions 50

Historical career interceptions leaders

PlayerTeam while leaderSeason
1Don HutsonGreen Bay Packers6
1Ace ParkerBrooklyn Dodgers6
1Kent RyanDetroit Lions6
2George McAfeeChicago Bears10
3Don HutsonGreen Bay Packers14
4Sammy BaughWashington Redskins23
4Sammy BaughWashington Redskins27
4Sammy BaughWashington Redskins31
5Tied Irv CompGreen Bay Packers31
5Irv CompGreen Bay Packers34
6Frank ReaganPhiladelphia Eagles35
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		40
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		46
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		54
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		61
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		67
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		73
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		74
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		76
7Emlen TunnellNew York Giants
Green Bay Packers 		79
8–presentPaul KrauseMinnesota Vikings81