List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics


This is a list of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics for quarterbacks that have played outdoor professional football in North America. Below is a listing of the combined professional football league leaders for passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing completions, and passing attempts. Because indoor football is played on a much shorter field and heavily favors offensive scoring, its records are not included in the main list and are noted in [|a separate addendum below]; likewise, as is standard for statistical record-keeping, exhibition games, all-star games and preseason contests are not counted.
During the CFL season, Montreal Alouettes quarterback Anthony Calvillo surpassed Damon Allen to become the all-time passing yards leader in professional football league history. Allen broke the previous record held by Warren Moon in. Moon had held the record since when he surpassed the record set by Ron Lancaster. Lancaster had surpassed Johnny Unitas during the CFL season. Unitas established the record set forth in this listing. Drew Brees is within 2,400 passing yards of Calvillo's record.
During the NFL season, Brees surpassed Peyton Manning for the all-time passing touchdowns record. Manning had held the record since the NFL season when he surpassed Brett Favre's record. Prior to that, Brett Favre held the record since the NFL season when he surpassed Warren Moon's record. Moon had held the record since when he surpassed the record set by Fran Tarkenton. Tarkenton had surpassed Johnny Unitas during the NFL season. Ron Lancaster overtook Tarkenton's lead in the touchdown pass category during the CFL season. However, Tarkenton retook the lead during the NFL season. Unitas established the record set forth in this listing. Tom Brady is six touchdown passes behind Drew Brees' record.
Brees also holds the record for pass completions all-time since surpassing Brett Favre during the season. Favre had held the previous record since the season when he surpassed Warren Moon's record. Moon had held the record since 1992 when he surpassed the record set by Fran Tarkenton. Tarkenton had surpassed Johnny Unitas during the NFL season. Unitas established the record set forth in this listing. Tom Brady's within 490 completions of Brees' record.
Favre holds the record for pass attempts since eclipsing Moon during the NFL season. Moon had held the record since when he surpassed the record set by Fran Tarkenton. Tarkenton had surpassed Johnny Unitas during the 1975 NFL season. Unitas established the record set forth in this listing. Brees and Brady are fairly close to the record.
Warren Moon and Johnny Unitas are the only gridiron quarterbacks to have held the record of the four major passing categories at the same time. Drew Brees is close to becoming just the third gridiron quarterback to hold all four major passing categories as he is within eight pass attempts and 2,400 passing yards from accomplishing the feat.
Other categories from this listing that provides all-time leaders include Aaron Rodgers, who is pro football's all-time passer rating leader, Ricky Ray, who is the all-time pass completion percentage leader, and Ron Lancaster, who is pro football's all-time interceptions leader.
When considering regular season and post season combined, Brady is the all time leader in gridiron passing yards with 85,959. This record surpassed Anthony Calvillo's mark of 82,365 yards in 2019. Brady is also the leader in all the other three major categories when considering post season performances.

All-time outdoor professional quarterback passing statistics

RankNameTenureLeaguesAttemptsCompletionsComp %TD passesINTsYardageQB ratingReferences
11994 – 2013CFL9,4375,89262.4445522479,81695.53
2Since 2001NFL10,1616,86767.5854723777,41698.40
3Since 2000NFL9,9886,37763.8754117974,57197.00
41985 – 2007CFL9,1385,15856.4539427872,38183.82
51998 – 2015NFL9,3806,12565.3053925171,94096.46
61991 – 2010NFL10,1696,30061.9550833671,83886.03
71977 – 2000NFL/CFL9,2055,35758.2043531070,55384.24
81997 – 2016CFL/NFL/NFLE7,5764,71162.1838223764,02392.89
91983 – 1999NFL8,3584,96759.4342025261,36186.38
102002 – 2018CFL7,3014,97668.1632417760,73698.23
11Since 2004NFL7,5914,90864.6639719859,27195.10
121985 – 2005CFL/NFL/USFL7,2764,28658.9136923758,17987.82
132004 – 2019NFL8,1194,89560.2936624457,02384.10
14Since 2004NFL7,2304,65164.3336319156,54594.00
151988 – 2006CFL/NFL6,6893,64054.4225928153,25576.01
162001 – 2018CFL6,4344,06863.2329420752,86790.84
171983 – 1998NFL7,2504,12356.8730022651,47579.86
18Since 2008NFL6,8174,46065.4232114751,18694.60
191960 – 1978CFL6,2333,38454.2933339650,53572.44
201961 – 1978NFL6,4673,68657.0034226647,00380.35
21Since 2005NFL6,0613,91364.5636408446,946102.60
222003 – 2017NFL6,3073,94162.4929418746,24787.89
231987 – 2007NFL6,7013,78756.5127526746,23375.00
241984 – 1996NFL/USFL5,9333,60460.7432019545,30988.81
251993 – 2006NFL6,7173,83957.1525720644,61177.06
261983 – 1996CFL5,4763,05755.8330621143,85784.55
271994 – 2011CFL/NFL/UFL5,9553,64561.2128114643,30088.90
281973 – 1987NFL5,6043,29758.8325424243,04080.23
29Since 2009NFL5,6963,55962.4825613441,02589.30
301995 – 2011NFL6,2613,48755.6920819640,92273.76
311979 – 1994NFL5,3913,40963.2427313940,55192.26
321987 – 1999CFL4,9452,67053.9928416440,53486.56
331956 – 1973NFL5,1862,83054.5729025340,23978.20
34Since 2008NFL5,9323,67061.8721814140,06784.10

= Leader in category for outdoor gridiron football.
= Former leader in category for outdoor gridiron football.

North American outdoor gridiron football leagues

;The following leagues are eligible for inclusion for statistical purposes:
;The following former leagues include statistics for players who attained the minimum 40,000 passing yards:
Notes:
For the purpose of this list, indoor American football statistics have been excluded. While overall passing yards are not substantially greater in a given indoor football game compared to a CFL or NFL contest, the number of touchdowns in that form of the sport is far higher, and a list including them would invariably favor indoor football quarterbacks in the number of touchdowns thrown. Quarterbacks who would qualify for this list in yardage statistics if indoor football statistics are included are listed here separately: