List of National Football League annual interceptions leaders
| NFL lists |
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An interception, also known as a pick/INT is a gridiron football concept involving a pass being caught by an opposition player, who usually gains possession for his team. Record-keeping for interception counts in the National Football League (NFL) began in 1940. The record for most interceptions in a single season is held by Night Train Lane, who logged 14 interceptions as a rookie in 1950, while playing for the Los Angeles Rams.[1] Previously Dan Sandifer of Washington, Spec Sanders and Lester Hayes jointly held the record, earning 13 interceptions, in 1948 and 1950, respectively. The record for most league-leading seasons in interceptions is 3. This was first achieved by Everson Walls, who led the league in interceptions in 1981, 1982, and again in 1985.[2] Ed Reed was later able to match Walls, by leading the league in 2004, 2008, and 2010.[3] Bill Bradley became the first player to lead the league in interceptions in consecutive seasons (1971 and 1972).[4] The aforementioned Walls matched Bradley with his 1981 and 1982 efforts. The most recent player to lead the league in interceptions was Trevon Diggs, who finished with 11 on the season for the 2021 Dallas Cowboys. Additionally, New York Giants players have led the league in interceptions in more seasons (7) than any other team, but it has not happened since 1968.
Interception leaders[]
Don Hutson co-led the league in interceptions in 1940.
As a rookie, Dick Lane set the record for interceptions in a season in 1952.
Paul Krause led the league in interceptions as a rookie in 1964 and holds the career record for interceptions.
Ed Reed led the league a co-record thrice – in 2004, 2008, and 2010.
| Set record* |
| Year | Player | Ints | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | Don Hutson * Ace Parker * Kent Ryan * |
6 | Green Bay Packers Brooklyn Dodgers Detroit Lions |
| 1941 | Marshall Goldberg * Art Jones * |
7 | Chicago Cardinals Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1942 | Bulldog Turner * | 8 | Chicago Bears |
| 1943 | Sammy Baugh * | 11 | Washington Redskins |
| 1944 | Howie Livingston | 9 | New York Giants |
| 1945 | Roy Zimmerman | 7 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1946 | Bill Dudley | 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1947 | Frank Reagan Frank Seno |
10 | New York Giants Boston Yanks |
| 1948 | Dan Sandifer * | 13 | Washington Redskins |
| 1949 | Bob Nussbaumer | 12 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1950 | Spec Sanders | 13 | New York Yanks |
| 1951 | Otto Schnellbacher | 11 | New York Giants |
| 1952 | Dick Lane * | 14 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1953 | Jack Christiansen | 12 | Detroit Lions |
| 1954 | Dick Lane (2) | 10 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1955 | Will Sherman | 11 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1956 | Lindon Crow | 11 | Chicago Cardinals |
| 1957 | Jack Butler Jack Christiansen Milt Davis |
10 | Pittsburgh Steelers Detroit Lions Baltimore Colts |
| 1958 | Jimmy Patton | 11 | New York Giants |
| 1959 | Milt Davis (2) Dean Derby Don Shinnick |
7 | Baltimore Colts Pittsburgh Steelers Baltimore Colts |
| 1960 | Dave Baker Jerry Norton |
10 | San Francisco 49ers St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1961 | Dick Lynch | 9 | New York Giants |
| 1962 | Willie Wood | 9 | Green Bay Packers |
| 1963 | Dick Lynch (2) Rosey Taylor |
9 | New York Giants Chicago Bears |
| 1964 | Paul Krause | 12 | Washington Redskins |
| 1965 | Bobby Boyd | 9 | Baltimore Colts |
| 1966 | Larry Wilson | 10 | St. Louis Cardinals |
| 1967 | Lem Barney Dave Whitsell |
10 | Detroit Lions New Orleans Saints |
| 1968 | Willie Williams | 10 | New York Giants |
| 1969 | Mel Renfro | 10 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1970 | Johnny Robinson | 10 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1971 | Bill Bradley | 11 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1972 | Bill Bradley (2) | 9 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 1973 | Dick Anderson Mike Wagner |
8 | Miami Dolphins Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1974 | Emmitt Thomas | 12 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1975 | Mel Blount | 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 1976 | Monte Jackson | 10 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 1977 | Lyle Blackwood | 10 | Baltimore Colts |
| 1978 | Thom Darden | 10 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1979 | Mike Reinfeldt | 12 | Houston Oilers |
| 1980 | Lester Hayes | 13 | Oakland Raiders |
| 1981 | Everson Walls | 11 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1982 | Everson Walls (2) | 7 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1983 | Mark Murphy | 9 | Washington Redskins |
| 1984 | Kenny Easley | 10 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 1985 | Everson Walls (3) | 9 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 1986 | Ronnie Lott | 10 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1987 | Barry Wilburn | 9 | Washington Redskins |
| 1988 | Scott Case | 10 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 1989 | Felix Wright | 9 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1990 | Mark Carrier | 10 | Chicago Bears |
| 1991 | Ronnie Lott (2) | 8 | Los Angeles Raiders |
| 1992 | Henry Jones Audray McMillian |
8 | Buffalo Bills Minnesota Vikings |
| 1993 | Nate Odomes Eugene Robinson |
9 | Buffalo Bills Seattle Seahawks |
| 1994 | Eric Turner Aeneas Williams |
9 | Cleveland Browns Arizona Cardinals |
| 1995 | Orlando Thomas | 9 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 1996 | Tyrone Braxton Keith Lyle |
9 | Denver Broncos St. Louis Rams |
| 1997 | Ryan McNeil | 9 | St. Louis Rams |
| 1998 | Ty Law | 9 | New England Patriots |
| 1999 | Donnie Abraham James Hasty Sam Madison Troy Vincent Rod Woodson |
7 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kansas City Chiefs Miami Dolphins Philadelphia Eagles Baltimore Ravens |
| 2000 | Darren Sharper | 9 | Green Bay Packers |
| 2001 | Ronde Barber Anthony Henry |
10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cleveland Browns |
| 2002 | Brian Kelly Rod Woodson (2) |
8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oakland Raiders |
| 2003 | Tony Parrish Brian Russell |
9 | San Francisco 49ers Minnesota Vikings |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | 9 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2005 | Ty Law (2) Deltha O'Neal |
10 | New York Jets Cincinnati Bengals |
| 2006 | Champ Bailey Asante Samuel |
10 | Denver Broncos New England Patriots |
| 2007 | Antonio Cromartie | 10 | San Diego Chargers |
| 2008 | Ed Reed (2) | 9 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2009 | Jarius Byrd Asante Samuel (2) Darren Sharper Charles Woodson |
9 | Buffalo Bills Philadelphia Eagles New Orleans Saints Green Bay Packers |
| 2010 | Ed Reed (3) | 8 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 2011 | Kyle Arrington Eric Weddle Charles Woodson (2) |
7 | New England Patriots San Diego Chargers Green Bay Packers |
| 2012 | Tim Jennings | 9 | Chicago Bears |
| 2013 | Richard Sherman | 8 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 2014 | Glover Quin | 7 | Detroit Lions |
| 2015 | Reggie Nelson Marcus Peters |
8 | Cincinnati Bengals Kansas City Chiefs |
| 2016 | Casey Hayward | 7 | San Diego Chargers |
| 2017 | Kevin Byard Darius Slay |
8 | Tennessee Titans Detroit Lions |
| 2018 | Kyle Fuller Xavien Howard Damontae Kazee |
7 | Chicago Bears Miami Dolphins Atlanta Falcons |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore Anthony Harris Tre'Davious White |
6 | New England Patriots Minnesota Vikings Buffalo Bills |
| 2020 | Xavien Howard (2) | 10 | Miami Dolphins |
| 2021 | Trevon Diggs | 11 | Dallas Cowboys |
Other leagues[]
All-America Football Conference (AAFC):
| Year | Player | Ints | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Tommy Colella | 10 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1947 | Tommy Colella Len Eshmont Bill Kellagher |
6 | Cleveland Browns San Francisco 49ers Chicago Rockets |
| 1948 | Otto Schnellbacher | 11 | New York Yankees |
| 1949 | Jim Cason | 9 | San Francisco 49ers |
American Football League (AFL):
| Year | Player | Ints | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Goose Gonsoulin | 11 | Denver Broncos |
| 1961 | Billy Atkins | 10 | Buffalo Bills |
| 1962 | Lee Riley | 11 | Titans of New York |
| 1963 | Fred Glick | 12 | Houston Oilers |
| 1964 | Dainard Paulson | 12 | New York Jets |
| 1965 | W. K. Hicks | 9 | Houston Oilers |
| 1966 | Bobby Hunt Johnny Robinson |
10 | Kansas City Chiefs Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1967 | Miller Farr Tom Janik Dick Westmoreland |
10 | Houston Oilers Buffalo Bills Miami Dolphins |
| 1968 | Dave Grayson | 10 | Oakland Raiders |
| 1969 | Emmitt Thomas | 9 | Kansas City Chiefs |
See also[]
- List of National Football League career interceptions leaders
- List of National Football League annual forced fumbles leaders
- List of National Football League annual sacks leaders
References[]
- ^ Hunter, Justin (July 8, 2012). "Why Dick Lane's Interception Record Will Never Fall". Football Nation. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Everson Walls". Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Texans cut Ed Reed; Foster to IR". ESPN. November 13, 2013. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ Richards, Matt (September 24, 2004). "Bradley's legend starts new chapter at Baylor". Baylor.edu. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
Categories:
- National Football League records and achievements
- National Football League lists