List of National football League career passing yards Leaders - wikipedia List of National football League career passing yards Leaders NFL lists Current season 2018 season Quarterbacks 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 Running backs 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 Career receptions leaders Career receiving yards leaders Career receiving touchdowns leaders Annual receptions leaders Annual receiving yards leaders Annual receiving touchdowns leaders Defense Career sacks leaders Annual sacks leaders Career interceptions leaders Annual interceptions leaders Special teams 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 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 1 Players with at least 30,000 regular season career passing yards 2 Active players with 26,000 -- 29,999 yards 3 Players with the most career passing yards including playoff games 4 Historical passing yards leaders 5 See also 6 Notes 7 References Players with at least 30,000 regular season career passing yards Key Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame * Denotes player who is still active in the NFL Through Week 8 of 2018 season Rank Player Team ( s ) by season Yards Drew Brees San Diego Chargers ( 2001 -- 2005 ) New Orleans Saints ( 2006 -- present ) 72,435 Peyton Manning Indianapolis Colts ( 1998 -- 2011 ) Denver Broncos ( 2012 -- 2015 ) 71,940 Brett Favre Atlanta Falcons ( 1991 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1992 -- 2007 ) New York Jets ( 2008 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2009 -- 2010 ) 71,838 Tom Brady New England Patriots ( 2000 -- present ) 68,359 5 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins ( 1983 -- 1999 ) 61,361 6 Eli Manning New York Giants ( 2004 -- present ) 54,059 7 Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers ( 2004 -- present ) 53,355 8 Philip Rivers San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers ( 2004 -- present ) 52,356 9 John Elway Denver Broncos ( 1983 -- 1998 ) 51,475 10 Warren Moon Houston Oilers ( 1984 -- 1993 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 1994 -- 1996 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 1997 -- 1998 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1999 -- 2000 ) 49,325 11 Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings ( 1961 -- 1966, 1972 -- 1978 ) New York Giants ( 1967 -- 1971 ) 47,003 12 Carson Palmer Cincinnati Bengals ( 2003 -- 2010 ) Oakland Raiders ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2013 -- 2017 ) 46,247 13 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 Drew Bledsoe New England Patriots ( 1993 -- 2001 ) Buffalo Bills ( 2002 -- 2004 ) Dallas Cowboys ( 2005 -- 2006 ) 44,611 15 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons ( 2008 -- present ) 44,131 16 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers ( 1973 -- 1987 ) 43,040 17 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 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers ( 2005 -- present ) 40,785 19 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers ( 1979 -- 1992 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1993 -- 1994 ) 40,551 20 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts ( 1956 -- 1972 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1973 ) 40,239 21 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 Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens ( 2008 -- present ) 38,039 23 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals ( 1984 -- 1992 ) New York Jets ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 1996 ) Cincinnati Bengals ( 1997 ) 37,920 24 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles ( 1999 -- 2009 ) Washington Redskins ( 2010 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2011 ) 37,276 25 Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions ( 2009 -- present ) 36,661 26 Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers ( 1998 -- 2000 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2001 -- 2010 ) Tennessee Titans ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 2013 -- 2015 ) 36,638 27 Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills ( 1986 -- 1996 ) 35,467 28 Jay Cutler Denver Broncos ( 2006 -- 2008 ) Chicago Bears ( 2009 -- 2016 ) Miami Dolphins ( 2017 ) 35,133 29 Jim Everett Los Angeles Rams ( 1986 -- 1993 ) New Orleans Saints ( 1994 -- 1996 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1997 ) 34,837 30 Jim Hart St. Louis Cardinals ( 1966 -- 1983 Washington Redskins 1984 ) 34,665 31 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 Tony Romo Dallas Cowboys ( 2003 -- 2016 ) 34,183 33 John Hadl San Diego Chargers ( 1962 -- 1972 ) Los Angeles Rams ( 1973 -- 1974 ) Green Bay Packers ( 1974 -- 1975 ) Houston Oilers ( 1976 -- 1977 ) 33,503 34 Phil Simms New York Giants ( 1979 -- 1993 ) 33,462 35 Alex Smith San Francisco 49ers ( 2005 -- 2012 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 2013 -- 2017 ) Washington Redskins ( 2018 -- present ) 33,449 36 Steve Young Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1985 -- 1986 ) San Francisco 49ers ( 1987 -- 1999 ) 33,124 37 Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys ( 1989 -- 2000 ) 32,942 38 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals ( 1971 -- 1986 ) 32,838 39 Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams ( 1998 -- 2003 ) New York Giants ( 2004 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2005 -- 2009 ) 32,344 40 Sonny Jurgensen Philadelphia Eagles ( 1957 -- 1963 ) Washington Redskins ( 1964 -- 1974 ) 32,224 41 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 42 John Brodie San Francisco 49ers ( 1957 -- 1973 ) 31,548 43 Steve McNair Houston / Tennessee Oilers / Titans ( 1995 -- 2005 ) Baltimore Ravens ( 2006 -- 2007 ) 31,304 44 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 26,000 -- 29,999 yards Through Week 8 of 2018 season ; numbers in yards Ryan Fitzpatrick, 28,541 Andy Dalton, 27,636 Cam Newton, 26,720 Players with the most career passing yards including playoff games Active players are in bold. Minimum 60K yards. Peyton Manning 79,279 Tom Brady 78,585 Brett Favre 77,693 Drew Brees 76,644 5 Dan Marino 65,871 Historical passing yards Leaders Ten players are recognised 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 ) while leader Career passing yards Season ( s ) 1932 -- 1942 ( 11 years ) Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers 639 1932 1,295 1933 2,094 1934 2,823 1935 4,062 1936 4,746 1937 5,082 1938 6,189 1939 6,749 1940 -- 1942 1943 -- 1958 ( 16 years ) Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins 8,379 1943 9,228 1944 10,897 1945 12,060 1946 14,998 1947 17,597 1948 19,500 1949 20,630 1950 21,734 1951 21,886 1952 -- 1958 1959 -- 1963 ( 5 years ) Bobby Layne Pittsburgh Steelers 22,063 1959 23,877 1960 25,082 1961 26,768 1962 -- 1963 1964 -- 1967 ( 4 years ) Y.A. Tittle New York Giants 28,339 1964 -- 1967 1968 -- 1975 ( 8 years ) Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts ( 1968 -- 1972 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1973 ) 33,160 1968 35,502 1969 37,715 1970 38,657 1971 39,768 1972 40,239 1973 -- 1975 1976 -- 1994 ( 19 years ) Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings 41,801 1976 43,535 1977 47,003 1978 -- 1994 1995 -- 2006 ( 12 years ) Dan Marino Miami Dolphins 48,841 1995 51,636 55,416 1997 58,913 1998 61,361 1999 -- 2006 2007 -- 2014 ( 8 years ) Brett Favre Green Bay Packers ( 2007 ) New York Jets ( 2008 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2009 -- 2010 ) 61,655 2007 65,127 2008 69,329 2009 71,838 2010 -- 2014 2015 -- 2017 ( 3 years ) Peyton Manning Denver Broncos 71,940 2015 -- 2017 Since 2018 ( 1 year ) Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 72,435 Since 2018 See also 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 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 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 to : `` Y.A. Tittle ''. NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved 2017 - 09 - 12. Jump up ^ Bryan Frye ( 2016 - 03 - 09 ). `` History of the Career Passing Yards Record ''. Grid Fe. Retrieved 2017 - 11 - 28. Jump up ^ `` Arnie Herber stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Sammy Baugh stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Bobby Layne stats ''. NFL.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Johnny Unitas stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Fran Tarkenton stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Dan Marino stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Brett Favre stats ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Peyton Manning stats ''. PFRef.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. Jump up ^ `` Drew Brees stats ''. PFRef.com. Retrieved 2018 - 10 - 29. 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 500 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=866455023 '' 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 30 October 2018, at 12 : 58 ( UTC ). 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Question: who has the most passing yardage in the nfl
Answer: Drew Brees