71,838 29,999 47,003 71,940 deberg hadl 41,796 37,276 51,475 32,344 33,124 31,548 51,065 38,502 tarkenton pavlick brunell y.a 4,731 70,445 34,241 hasselbeck aafc 43,040 punting 66,159 tittle testaverde unitas esiason
who has the most passing yards in nfl history
List of National Football League career passing yards Leaders - wikipedia List of National Football League career passing yards Leaders Jump to : navigation , search NFL lists Current season ( show ) 2017 season Quarterbacks ( show ) Starting quarterbacks by touchdowns / touchdowns ( playoffs ) / yardage / 5000 yard seasons / completion / wins by team BUF MIA NE NYJ BAL CIN CLE PIT HOU IND JAX TEN DEN KC LAC OAK DAL NYG PHI WAS CHI DET GB MIN ATL CAR NO TB ARI LAR SF SEA Most wins Playoff records Most consecutive starts Most consecutive games with touchdown pass Win -- loss records 2012 Running backs ( show ) Career rushing attempts leaders Career rushing yards leaders Career rushing touchdowns leaders Annual rushing yards leaders Annual rushing touchdowns leaders 2,000 - yard club 1,000 - yard duos Receivers ( show ) Career receptions leaders Career receiving yards leaders Career receiving touchdowns leaders Annual receptions leaders Annual receiving yards leaders Annual receiving touchdowns leaders Defense ( show ) Career sacks leaders Annual sacks leaders Career interceptions leaders Annual interceptions leaders Special teams ( show ) Longest field goals Career field goals leaders Career punting yards leaders Career punt return yards leaders Career kickoff return yards leaders Annual field goals leaders Annual punting yards leaders Annual punt return yards leaders Annual kickoff return yards leaders Other lists ( show ) Most consecutive starts ( and games played ) Career all - purpose yards leaders Career scoring leaders Brett Favre 's career achievements Peyton Manning 's career achievements This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks by total career passing yards . This list includes all quarterbacks who have thrown for at least 30,000 career passing yards . Contents ( hide ) 1 Players with at least 30,000 passing yards 2 Active players with 25,000 -- 29,999 yards 3 Historical passing yards leaders 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References Players with at least 30,000 passing yards ( edit ) Key Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame * Denotes player who is still active in the NFL Through end of 2017 season . Rank Player Team ( s ) by season Yards Manning , Peyton Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts ( 1998 -- 2011 ) Denver Broncos ( 2012 -- 2015 ) 71,940 Favre , Brett Brett Favre Atlanta Falcons ( 1991 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1992 -- 2007 ) New York Jets ( 2008 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2009 -- 2010 ) 71,838 Brees , Drew Drew Brees San Diego Chargers ( 2001 -- 2005 ) New Orleans Saints ( 2006 -- present ) 70,445 Brady , Tom Tom Brady New England Patriots ( 2000 -- present ) 66,159 5 Marino , Dan Dan Marino Miami Dolphins ( 1983 -- 1999 ) 61,361 6 Manning , Eli Eli Manning New York Giants ( 2004 -- present ) 51,682 7 Elway , John John Elway Denver Broncos ( 1983 -- 1998 ) 51,475 8 Roethlisberger , Ben Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers ( 2004 -- present ) 51,065 9 Rivers , Philip Philip Rivers San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers ( 2004 -- present ) 50,348 10 Moon , Warren Warren Moon Houston Oilers ( 1984 -- 1993 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1994 -- 1996 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 1997 -- 1998 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1999 -- 2000 ) 49,325 11 Tarkenton , Fran Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings ( 1961 -- 1966 , 1972 -- 1978 ) New York Giants ( 1967 -- 1971 ) 47,003 12 Palmer , Carson Carson Palmer Cincinnati Bengals ( 2003 -- 2010 ) Oakland Raiders ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2013 -- 2017 ) 46,247 13 Testaverde , Vinny Vinny Testaverde Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1987 -- 1992 ) Cleveland Browns ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Baltimore Ravens ( 1996 -- 1997 ) New York Jets ( 1998 -- 2003 , 2005 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 2004 ) New England Patriots ( 2006 ) Carolina Panthers ( 2007 ) 46,233 14 Bledsoe , Drew Drew Bledsoe New England Patriots ( 1993 -- 2001 ) Buffalo Bills ( 2002 -- 2004 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 2005 -- 2006 ) 44,611 15 Fouts , Dan Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers ( 1973 -- 1987 ) 43,040 16 Ryan , Matt Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons ( 2008 -- present ) 41,796 17 Collins , Kerry Kerry Collins Carolina Panthers ( 1995 -- 1998 ) ) New Orleans Saints ( 1998 ) New York Giants ( 1999 -- 2003 ) Oakland Raiders ( 2004 -- 2005 ) Tennessee Titans ( 2006 -- 2010 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 2011 ) 40,922 18 Montana , Joe Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers ( 1979 -- 1992 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1993 -- 1994 ) 40,551 19 Unitas , Johnny Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts ( 1956 -- 1972 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1973 ) 40,239 20 Rodgers , Aaron Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers ( 2005 -- present ) 38,502 21 Krieg , Dave 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 22 Esiason , Boomer Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals ( 1984 -- 1992 ) New York Jets ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 1996 ) Cincinnati Bengals ( 1997 ) 37,920 23 McNabb , Donovan Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles ( 1999 -- 2009 ) Washington Redskins ( 2010 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2011 ) 37,276 24 Hasselbeck , Matt Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers ( 1998 -- 2000 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2001 -- 2010 ) Tennessee Titans ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 2013 -- 2015 ) 36,638 25 Flacco , Joe Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens ( 2008 -- present ) 35,780 26 Kelly , Jim Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills ( 1986 -- 1996 ) 35,467 27 Cutler , Jay Jay Cutler Denver Broncos ( 2006 -- 2008 ) Chicago Bears ( 2009 -- 2016 ) Miami Dolphins ( 2017 -- present ) 35,133 28 Everett , Jim Jim Everett Los Angeles Rams ( 1986 -- 1993 ) New Orleans Saints ( 1994 -- 1996 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1997 ) 34,837 29 Stafford , Matthew Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions ( 2009 -- present ) 34,749 30 Hart , Jim Jim Hart St. Louis Cardinals ( 1966 -- 1983 Washington Redskins 1984 ) 34,665 31 DeBerg , Steve Steve DeBerg San Francisco 49ers ( 1978 -- 1980 ) Denver Broncos ( 1981 -- 1983 ) Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1984 -- 1987 , 1992 -- 1993 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1988 -- 1991 ) Miami Dolphins ( 1993 ) Atlanta Falcons ( 1998 ) 34,241 32 Romo , Tony Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys ( 2003 -- 2016 ) 34,183 33 Hadl , John John Hadl San Diego Chargers ( 1962 -- 1972 ) Los Angeles Rams ( 1973 -- 1974 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1974 -- 1975 ) Houston Oilers ( 1976 -- 1977 ) 33,503 34 Simms , Phil Phil Simms New York Giants ( 1979 -- 1993 ) 33,462 35 Young , Steve Steve Young Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1985 -- 1986 San Francisco 49ers ( 1987 -- 1999 ) 33,124 36 Aikman , Troy Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys ( 1989 -- 2000 ) 32,942 37 Anderson , Ken Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals ( 1971 -- 1986 ) 32,838 38 Warner , Kurt Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams ( 1998 -- 2003 ) New York Giants ( 2004 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2005 -- 2009 ) 32,344 39 Jurgensen , Sonny Sonny Jurgensen Philadelphia Eagles ( 1957 -- 1963 ) Washington Redskins ( 1964 -- 1974 ) 32,224 40 Brunell , Mark Mark Brunell Green Bay Packers ( 1993 -- 1994 ) Jacksonville Jaguars ( 1995 -- 2003 ) Washington Redskins ( 2004 -- 2006 ) New Orleans Saints ( 2008 -- 2009 ) New York Jets ( 2010 -- 2011 ) 32,072 41 Smith , Alex Alex Smith San Francisco 49ers ( 2005 -- 2012 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 2013 -- present ) 31,888 42 Brodie , John John Brodie San Francisco 49ers ( 1957 -- 1973 ) 31,548 43 McNair , Steve Steve McNair Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans ( 1995 -- 2005 ) Baltimore Ravens ( 2006 -- 2007 ) 31,304 44 Snead , Norm Norm Snead Washington Redskins ( 1961 -- 1963 ) Philadelphia Eagles ( 1964 -- 1970 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1971 ) New York Giants ( 1972 -- 1974 , 1976 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1974 -- 1975 ) 30,797 Note : Y.A. Tittle passed for 33,070 yards in his professional career . However , 4,731 of those yards came in the All - America Football Conference ( AAFC ) . The NFL does not recognize statistics and records accrued in the AAFC . As such , his career passing yards total in the NFL stands at 28,339 . Active players with 25,000 -- 29,999 yards ( edit ) Through end of 2017 season ; numbers in yards Ryan Fitzpatrick , 26,991 Andy Dalton , 25,756 Cam Newton , 25,254 Historical passing yards Leaders ( edit ) Nine players are recognized as having held the record as the NFL 's career passing yardage leader . The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 19 years . Reign Player Team ( s ) by season Yards 1932 -- 1943 ( 11 years ) Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers ( 1930 -- 1940 ) New York Giants ( 1944 -- 1945 ) 8,041 1943 -- 1959 ( 16 years ) Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins ( 1937 - 1952 ) 21,886 1959 -- 1964 ( 5 years ) Bobby Layne Chicago Bears ( 1948 ) New York Bulldogs ( 1949 ) Detroit Lions ( 1950 -- 1958 ) Pittsburgh Steelers ( 1958 -- 1962 ) 26,768 1964 -- 1967 ( 3 years ) Y.A. Tittle Baltimore Colts ( 1948 -- 1950 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1951 -- 1960 ) New York Giants ( 1961 -- 1964 ) 28,339 1967 -- 1976 ( 9 years ) Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts ( 1956 -- 1972 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1973 ) 40,239 1976 -- 1995 ( 19 years ) Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings ( 1961 -- 1966 ) New York Giants ( 1967 -- 1971 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1972 -- 1978 ) 47,003 1995 -- 2007 ( 12 years ) Dan Marino Miami Dolphins ( 1983 -- 1999 ) 61,361 2007 -- 2015 ( 8 years ) Brett Favre Atlanta Falcons ( 1991 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1992 -- 2007 ) New York Jets ( 2008 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2009 -- 2010 ) 71,838 2015 -- present ( 2 years ) Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts ( 1998 -- 2011 ) Denver Broncos ( 2012 -- 2015 ) 71,940 See also ( edit ) List of most wins by a National Football League starting quarterback List of National Football League career passing touchdowns leaders List of National Football League career passing completions leaders List of National Football League records ( individual ) List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics Notes ( edit ) Jump up ^ Collins was traded during the 1998 season ; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints . Jump up ^ DeBerg was traded during the 1993 season ; he played three games for the Buccaneers and eight for the Dolphins . Jump up ^ Hadl was traded during the 1974 season ; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers . References ( edit ) General `` NFL Passing Yards Career Leaders '' . Pro-Football-Reference.com . Sports Reference . Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 12 . Footnotes Jump up ^ Pavlick , Ed ( 1980 ) . `` Pro Football Records Should Include the AAFC '' ( PDF ) . The Coffin Corner . Professional Football Researchers Association . 2 ( 7 ) . Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 12 . Jump up ^ Roberts , Jerry ( 2015 ) . Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football : A History to the 1960s ( illustrated ed . ) . McFarland . p. 137 . ISBN 078649946X . Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 12 . Jump up ^ `` Y.A. Tittle '' . NFL.com . National Football League . Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 12 . Jump up ^ Bryan Frye ( March 9 , 2016 ) . `` History of the Career Passing Yards Record '' . Grid Fe . Retrieved November 28 , 2017 . <Th_colspan="2"> ( hide ) National Football League records and leaders General Super Bowl records Team playoff records Team records Individual records Games played Consecutive games and starts 99 - yard pass play All - purpose yards Scoring Passing Career Touchdowns Regular season Playoffs Yards 5,000 passing yards Completions Passer rating Wins Playoff win -- loss records Consecutive starts Consecutive games with a TD pass Annual Touchdowns Yards Completion percentage Rating Game Touchdowns Perfect passer rating 400 passing yards Rushing Career Touchdowns Yards Attempts Annual Touchdowns Yards 2,000 - yard club 1,000 - yard duos Receiving Career Touchdowns Yards Receptions Annual Touchdowns Yards Receptions Defense Career Sacks Interceptions Annual Sacks Interceptions Special teams Annual Punting yards Punt return yards Kickoff return yards Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_National_Football_League_career_passing_yards_leaders&oldid=818323931 '' Categories : National Football League records and achievements American football quarterbacks Hidden categories : Articles with hCards Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 2 January 2018 , at 22 : 15 . 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