List of NFL quarterbacks with 5,000 passing yards in a season
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Passing for 5,000 yards in a single regular season is a rare achievement in the National Football League (NFL). Some consider it a soft benchmark, comparable to the 10-second 100-metre dash or the 4-minute mile. Nine quarterbacks have accomplished the feat, Dan Marino was the first when he set an NFL record with 5,084 yards passing in 1984.[1] Marino's record remained intact for 24 years, and for over a decade after his 1999 retirement.[2] Peyton Manning currently holds the record with 5,477 passing yards in 2013; This surpassed Drew Brees, who recorded a then-record 5,476 passing yards in 2011, by one yard. Drew Brees and Tom Brady are the only two NFL quarterbacks to have multiple 5,000 yards seasons; Brees accomplished the feat a record five times, while Brady accomplished it twice.[3] Except for Marino (564) and Mahomes (580), all quarterbacks have needed at least 600 passing attempts to get the yardage. Matthew Stafford is the only 5,000-yard passer with a 500-yard game in the same season.
In 2011, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matthew Stafford threw for over 5,000 yards. Patrick Mahomes and Ben Roethlisberger both accomplished it in 2018. NFL quarterbacks have passed for 5,000 yards in a season 13 times. Despite the rarity of a 5,000 yard season, only three quarterbacks were named MVP the year of their 5,000 season: Marino, Manning, and Mahomes. Stafford, Roethlisberger, and Jameis Winston are the only quarterbacks to not be selected to the Pro Bowl the same year of their 5,000 season. Tom Brady and Justin Herbert accomplished this feat most recently; the former passing for 5,316 yards with 43 passing touchdowns for the 2021 season, becoming the oldest quarterback to accomplish this feat at 44 years old. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only team to have multiple quarterbacks (Winston and Brady) accomplish 5,000 passing yards.
In 2021, the NFL approved a 17-game schedule, increasing the likelihood of a 5,000 yard passer. Brady and Herbert were the inaugural 5,000+ club members of the expanded schedule.
NFL players with 5,000 passing yards in a season[]
| Quarterback | Team | Yards | Season | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Marino* | Miami Dolphins | 5,084 | 1984 | 1st in NFL history, youngest to achieve 5,000 yards,[4] NFL MVP |
| Drew Brees | New Orleans Saints | 5,069 | 2008 | Offensive Player of the Year[5] |
| Drew Brees (2) | New Orleans Saints | 5,476 | 2011 | Offensive Player of the Year |
| Tom Brady | New England Patriots | 5,235 | [6] | |
| Matthew Stafford | Detroit Lions | 5,038 | Comeback Player of the Year[7] | |
| Drew Brees (3) | New Orleans Saints | 5,177 | 2012 | 2nd consecutive |
| Peyton Manning* | Denver Broncos | 5,477 | 2013 | NFL record,[8] NFL MVP |
| Drew Brees (4) | New Orleans Saints | 5,162 | 3rd consecutive | |
| Drew Brees (5) | New Orleans Saints | 5,208 | 2016 | |
| Ben Roethlisberger | Pittsburgh Steelers | 5,129 | 2018 | [9] |
| Patrick Mahomes* | Kansas City Chiefs | 5,097 | NFL MVP, first African-American quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards | |
| Jameis Winston | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5,109 | 2019 | 2nd in NFL in passing TDs (33)[10] |
| Tom Brady (2) | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5,316 | 2021 | Oldest to achieve 5,000 yards. First to do so with 17-game schedule. |
| Justin Herbert | Los Angeles Chargers | 5,014 | [11] |
*Named MVP
4,000 passing yards in a season[]
4,000 yards passing in a season was once considered a rare feat but has lost a bit of significance over the years. During the fourteen-game era, only Joe Namath of the New York Jets passed for over 4,000 yards in a season with 4,007 yards passing in the 1967 AFL season. During the 1980s and 1990s, 4,000 yards became the standard for the league leaders in the NFL. Over the last decade, 4,000 yards has become almost commonplace in the NFL for quarterbacks. In the 2016 season alone, thirteen quarterbacks passed for over 4,000 yards, while the 1990 season, for example, had only one 4,000 yard passer and the 1978 season (the first with a sixteen-game schedule) had zero.[12][13] This may be a result of less emphasis being placed on the running game and rule changes that serve to offer greater protection to quarterbacks. Every team except the Chicago Bears has had a 4,000 yard quarterback season, with the Bears and Jets being the only ones to never have had one with a sixteen/seventeen game schedule. [14] Peyton Manning has had the most 4,000 yard seasons (fourteen).[15]
References[]
- ^ Dorman, Larry. "He sets passing record, eliminates Dallas".
- ^ "Brees breaks passing record". 2011-12-26.
- ^ Brett Martel, "Panthers come from behind to beat Saints 44-38", Associated Press, December 31, 2012.
- ^ "Dan Marino". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Drew Brees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Tom Brady". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Matthew Stafford". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Peyton Manning". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Ben Roethlisberger". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Jameis Winston". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Justin Herbert". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "2016 Passing Stats". NFL.com.
- ^ "NFL expands season, increases playoff berths in 1978 changes". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. March 30, 1977. p. 30.
- ^ "Bears failed to produce a 4,000-yard passer in 16-game era". 29 March 2021.
- ^ "History Release: 4,000 yard passers", Pro Football Hall of Fame, December 31, 2012 (accessed 2013-01-24).
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