List of National Football League career passing completions leaders
NFL lists |
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This is a list of the top 50 National Football League quarterbacks career total regular season passing completions.
Tom Brady is the all-time leader in passing completions (7,200) and passing attempts (11,230).
Regular season completions leaders[]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/77/Tom_Brady_2019.jpg/220px-Tom_Brady_2019.jpg)
Tom Brady is the all-time leader in passing attempts and completions.
^ | Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame |
* | Denotes player who is still active |
Through Week 16 of 2021 season.
Rank | Player | Team(s) by season | Completions | Attempts | Pct. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tom Brady* | New England Patriots (2000–2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present) |
7,200 | 11,230 | 64.11 |
2 | Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–2020) |
7,142 | 10,551 | 67.69 |
3 | Brett Favre^ | Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
6,300 | 10,169 | 61.95 |
4 | Peyton Manning^ | Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015) |
6,125 | 9,380 | 65.30 |
5 | Ben Roethlisberger* | Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present) | 5,386 | 8,353 | 64.48 |
6 | Philip Rivers | San Diego/L.A. Chargers (2004–2019) Indianapolis Colts (2020) |
5,277 | 8,134 | 64.88 |
7 | Matt Ryan* | Atlanta Falcons (2008–present) | 5,209 | 7,947 | 65.55 |
8 | Dan Marino^ | Miami Dolphins (1983–1998) | 4,967 | 8,358 | 59.43 |
9 | Eli Manning | New York Giants (2004–2019) | 4,895 | 8,119 | 60.29 |
10 | Aaron Rodgers* | Green Bay Packers (2005–present) | 4,608 | 7,062 | 65.25 |
11 | Matthew Stafford* | Detroit Lions (2009–2020) L.A. Rams (2021–present) |
4,255 | 6,758 | 62.96 |
12 | John Elway^ | Denver Broncos (1983–1998) | 4,123 | 7,250 | 56.87 |
13 | Warren Moon^ | Houston Oilers (1984–1993) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) |
3,988 | 6,823 | 58.45 |
14 | Carson Palmer | Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2010) Oakland Raiders (2011–2012) Arizona Cardinals (2013–2017) |
3,941 | 6,307 | 62.49 |
15 | Drew Bledsoe | New England Patriots (1993–2001) Buffalo Bills (2002–2004) Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006) |
3,839 | 6,717 | 57.15 |
16 | 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) |
3,787 | 6,701 | 56.51 |
17 | Joe Flacco* | Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019) New York Jets (2020, 2021-present) Philadelphia Eagles (2021) |
3,768 | 6,105 | 61.72 |
18 | Fran Tarkenton^ | Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966, 1972–1978) New York Giants (1967–1971) |
3,686 | 6,467 | 57.00 |
19 | Kerry Collins | Carolina Panthers (1995–1998)[a] New Orleans Saints (1998) New York Giants (1999–2003) Oakland Raiders (2004–2005) Tennessee Titans (2006–2010) Indianapolis Colts (2011) |
3,487 | 6,261 | 55.69 |
20 | Joe Montana^ | San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994) |
3,409 | 5,391 | 63.24 |
21 | Dan Fouts^ | San Diego Chargers (1973–1987) | 3,297 | 5,604 | 58.83 |
22 | Alex Smith | San Francisco 49ers (2005–2012) Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2017) Washington Redskins/Football Team (2018–2020) |
3,250 | 5,193 | 62.58 |
23 | Matt Hasselbeck | Green Bay Packers (1999–2000) Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011–2012) Indianapolis Colts (2013−2015) |
3,222 | 5,330 | 60.45 |
24 | Donovan McNabb | Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011) |
3,170 | 5,374 | 58.99 |
25 | Dave Krieg | Seattle Seahawks (1980–1991) Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993) Detroit Lions (1994) Arizona Cardinals (1995) Chicago Bears (1996) Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998) |
3,105 | 5,311 | 58.47 |
26 | Ryan Fitzpatrick* | St. Louis Rams (2005–2006) Cincinnati Bengals (2007–2008) Buffalo Bills (2009–2012) Tennessee Titans (2013) Houston Texans (2014) New York Jets (2015–2016) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017–2018) Miami Dolphins (2019–2020) Washington Football Team (2021–present) |
3,072 | 5,060 | 60.71 |
27 | Andy Dalton* | Cincinnati Bengals (2011-2019) Dallas Cowboys (2020) Chicago Bears (2021-present) |
3,071 | 4,935 | 62.23 |
28 | Jay Cutler | Denver Broncos (2006–2008) Chicago Bears (2009–2016) Miami Dolphins (2017) |
3,048 | 4,920 | 61.95 |
29 | Russell Wilson* | Seattle Seahawks (2012-present) | 3,044 | 4,680 | 65.04 |
30 | Boomer Esiason | Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1992, 1997) New York Jets (1993–1995) Arizona Cardinals (1996) |
2,969 | 5,205 | 57.04 |
31 | Troy Aikman^ | Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) | 2,898 | 4,715 | 61.46 |
32 | Steve DeBerg | San Francisco 49ers (1978–1980) Denver Broncos (1981–1983) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1987, 1992–1993)[b] Kansas City Chiefs (1988–1991) Miami Dolphins (1993) Atlanta Falcons (1998) |
2,874 | 5,024 | 57.21 |
Jim Kelly^ | Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) | 4,779 | 60.14 | ||
34 | Derek Carr* | Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders (2014-present) | 2,852 | 4,389 | 64.98 |
35 | Jim Everett | Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993) New Orleans Saints (1994–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997) |
2,841 | 4,923 | 57.71 |
36 | Johnny Unitas* | Baltimore Colts (1956–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) |
2,830 | 5,186 | 54.57 |
37 | Tony Romo | Dallas Cowboys (2003–2016) | 2,829 | 4,335 | 65.26 |
38 | Kirk Cousins* | Washington Redskins (2012-2017) Minnesota Vikings (2018-present) |
2,811 | 4,201 | 66.91 |
39 | Mark Brunell | Green Bay Packers (1994) Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2003) Washington Redskins (2004–2007) New Orleans Saints (2008–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011) |
2,761 | 4,640 | 59.50 |
40 | Steve McNair | Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1995–2005) Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007) |
2,733 | 4,544 | 60.15 |
41 | Cam Newton* | Carolina Panthers (2011-2019, 2021-present) | 2,682 | 4,474 | 59.95 |
42 | Jon Kitna | Seattle Seahawks (1997–2000) Cincinnati Bengals (2001–2005) Detroit Lions (2006–2008) Dallas Cowboys (2009–2011, 2013) |
2,677 | 4,442 | 60.27 |
43 | Brad Johnson | Minnesota Vikings (1994–1998), (2005–2006) Washington Redskins (1999–2000) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001–2004) |
2,668 | 4,324 | 61.70 |
44 | Steve Young^ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999) |
2,667 | 4,149 | 64.28 |
45 | Ryan Tannehill* | Miami Dolphins (2012-2018) Tennessee Titans (2019-present) |
2,666 | 4,159 | 64.10 |
Kurt Warner^ | St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009) |
4,070 | 65.50 | ||
47 | Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals (1971–1986) | 2,654 | 4,475 | 59.31 |
48 | Jim Hart | St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983) Washington Redskins (1984) |
2,593 | 5,076 | 51.08 |
49 | Phil Simms | New York Giants (1979-1993) | 2,576 | 4,647 | 55.43 |
50 | Rich Gannon | Minnesota Vikings (1987–1992) Washington Redskins (1993) Kansas City Chiefs (1995–1998) Oakland Raiders (1999–2004) |
2,533 | 4,206 | 60.22 |
Playoff leaders[]
Through end of 2020 playoffs.[1] At least 250 completions.
Rank | Player | Team(s) by season | Completions | Attempts | Pct. (in 100ths) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Tom Brady* | New England Patriots (2000–2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present) |
1,106 | 1,764 | 62.7 |
2 | Peyton Manning^ | Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015) |
649 | 1,027 | 63.19 |
3 | Drew Brees | San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–2020) |
481 | 721 | 66.71 |
Brett Favre^ | Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
791 | 60.81 | ||
Aaron Rodgers* | Green Bay Packers (2005–present) | 745 | 64.56 | ||
6 | Ben Roethlisberger* | Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present) | 469 | 724 | 64.78 |
7 | Joe Montana^ | San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994) |
460 | 734 | 62.67 |
8 | Dan Marino^ | Miami Dolphins (1983–1999) | 385 | 687 | 56.04 |
9 | John Elway^ | Denver Broncos (1983–1998) | 355 | 651 | 54.53 |
10 | Donovan McNabb | Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011) |
341 | 577 | 59.1 |
11 | Jim Kelly^ | Buffalo Bills (1986–1996) | 322 | 545 | 59.08 |
12 | Troy Aikman^ | Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000) | 320 | 502 | 63.75 |
13 | Kurt Warner^ | St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009) |
307 | 462 | 66.45 |
14 | Steve Young^ | Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999) |
292 | 471 | 62 |
15 | Russell Wilson* | Seattle Seahawks (2012–present) | 275 | 451 | 60.98 |
16 | Terry Bradshaw^ | Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1983) | 261 | 456 | 57.24 |
17 | Warren Moon^ | Houston Oilers (1984–1993) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000) |
259 | 403 | 64.27 |
18 | Joe Flacco* | Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019) New York Jets (2020) Philadelphia Eagles (2021–present) |
253 | 447 | 56.6 |
Most completions and attempts, including playoff games[]
Bold indicates player active; minimum 6K completions/10K attempts.
1 | Tom Brady | 8,306 | 12,994 | 63.93 |
2 | Drew Brees | 7,623 | 11,272 | 67.63 |
3 | Brett Favre | 6,781 | 10,960 | 61.87 |
4 | Peyton Manning | 6,774 | 10,407 | 65.09 |
Historical passing completions leaders[]
Nine players are recognised as having held the record as the NFL's career pass completions leader.[2] The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 20 years.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Sammy_Baugh_Sept_11_1937.tif/lossy-page1-220px-Sammy_Baugh_Sept_11_1937.tif.jpg)
"Slinging Sammy" Baugh, the Texas Christian U. star was rated as one of the greatest of his generation.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c7/Tittle_1962_Topps.jpg/220px-Tittle_1962_Topps.jpg)
Y A Tittle retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and games played
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/71/JohnnyUnitasSignAutograph1964.jpg/220px-JohnnyUnitasSignAutograph1964.jpg)
Johnny Unitas won an NFL title in the 1950s and a Super Bowl in the 1970s.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Fran_Tarkenton.png/220px-Fran_Tarkenton.png)
Fran Tarkenton about to throw a forward pass (1965)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/Brett_Favre.jpg/220px-Brett_Favre.jpg)
Brett Favre had held the record from 2006 to 2018, when it was broken by Drew Brees. He had also held the record for career pass attempts from 2008 to 2020.
Reign | Player | Team(s) while leader | Career completions | Season |
---|---|---|---|---|
1932–1940 (9 years) |
Arnie Herber^ [3] |
Green Bay Packers | 37 | 1932 |
87 | 1933 | |||
129 | 1934 | |||
169 | 1935 | |||
246 | 1936 | |||
293 | 1937 | |||
315 | 1938 | |||
372 | 1939 | |||
410 | 1940 | |||
1941–1959 (19 years) |
Sammy Baugh^ [4] |
Washington Redskins | 414 | 1941 |
546 | 1942 | |||
670 | 1943 | |||
761 | 1944 | |||
889 | 1945 | |||
976 | 1946 | |||
1,186 | 1947 | |||
1,371 | 1948 | |||
1,516 | 1949 | |||
1,606 | 1950 | |||
1,673 | 1951 | |||
1,693 | 1952–1959 | |||
1960–1968 (9 years) |
Y. A. Tittle^ [5] |
San Francisco 49ers (1960) New York Giants (1961–1964) |
1,696 | 1960 |
1,859 | 1961 | |||
2,059 | 1962 | |||
2,280 | 1963 | |||
2,427 | 1964–1968 | |||
1969–1974 (6 years) |
Johnny Unitas^ [6] |
Baltimore Colts (1969–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973) |
2,450 | 1969 |
2,616 | 1970 | |||
2,708 | 1971 | |||
2,796 | 1972 | |||
2,830 | 1973–1974 | |||
1975–1994 (20 years) |
Fran Tarkenton^ [7] |
Minnesota Vikings | 2,931 | 1975 |
3,186 | 1976 | |||
3,341 | 1977 | |||
3,686 | 1978–1994 | |||
1995–2005 (11 years) |
Dan Marino^ [8] |
Miami Dolphins | 3,913 | 1995 |
4,134 | 1996 | |||
4,453 | 1997 | |||
4,763 | 1998 | |||
4,967 | 1999–2005 | |||
2006–2017 (12 years) |
Brett Favre^ [9] |
Green Bay Packers (2006–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010) |
5,021 | 2006 |
5,377 | 2007 | |||
5,720 | 2008 | |||
6,083 | 2009 | |||
6,300 | 2010–2017 | |||
2018–2020 (4 years) |
Drew Brees [10] |
New Orleans Saints | 6,586 | 2018 |
6,867 | 2019 | |||
7,142 | 2020 | |||
Since 2021 | Tom Brady [11] |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7,200 | 2021 |
Notes[]
See also[]
- Most wins by a starting quarterback (NFL)
- List of National Football League career passing yards leaders
- List of National Football League career passing touchdowns leaders
- List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
- National Football League records (individual)
References[]
- ^ "NFL Passes Completed Career Playoffs Leaders". ProFootballReference.com. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
- ^ "NFL Passes Completed Career Leaders". PFR.
- ^ "Arnie Herber stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Sammy Baugh stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Y.A. Tittle". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved 2017-09-12.
- ^ "Johnny Unitas stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Fran Tarkenton stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Dan Marino stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Brett Favre stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018-05-06.
- ^ "Drew Brees stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved 2018-12-23.
- ^ "Tom Brady stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
Categories:
- Lists of National Football League players
- National Football League records and achievements
- American football quarterbacks
- National Football League lists