List of National football League career passing yards Leaders - wikipedia List of National football League career passing yards Leaders NFL lists Current season 2017 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 Win -- loss records 2012 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 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 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 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 Drew Brees San Diego Chargers ( 2001 -- 2005 ) New Orleans Saints ( 2006 -- present ) 70,445 Tom Brady New England Patriots ( 2000 -- present ) 66,159 5 Dan Marino Miami Dolphins ( 1983 -- 1999 ) 61,361 6 Eli Manning New York Giants ( 2004 -- present ) 51,682 7 John Elway Denver Broncos ( 1983 -- 1998 ) 51,475 8 Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers ( 2004 -- present ) 51,065 9 Philip Rivers San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers ( 2004 -- present ) 50,348 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 Dan Fouts San Diego Chargers ( 1973 -- 1987 ) 43,040 16 Matt Ryan Atlanta Falcons ( 2008 -- present ) 41,796 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 Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers ( 1979 -- 1992 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 1993 -- 1994 ) 40,551 19 Johnny Unitas Baltimore Colts ( 1956 -- 1972 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1973 ) 40,239 20 Aaron Rodgers Green Bay Packers ( 2005 -- present ) 38,502 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 Boomer Esiason Cincinnati Bengals ( 1984 -- 1992 ) New York Jets ( 1993 -- 1995 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 1996 ) Cincinnati Bengals ( 1997 ) 37,920 23 Donovan McNabb Philadelphia Eagles ( 1999 -- 2009 ) Washington Redskins ( 2010 ) Minnesota Vikings ( 2011 ) 37,276 24 Matt Hasselbeck Green Bay Packers ( 1998 -- 2000 ) Seattle Seahawks ( 2001 -- 2010 ) Tennessee Titans ( 2011 -- 2012 ) Indianapolis Colts ( 2013 -- 2015 ) 36,638 25 Joe Flacco Baltimore Ravens ( 2008 -- present ) 35,780 26 Jim Kelly Buffalo Bills ( 1986 -- 1996 ) 35,467 27 Jay Cutler Denver Broncos ( 2006 -- 2008 ) Chicago Bears ( 2009 -- 2016 ) Miami Dolphins ( 2017 ) 35,133 28 Jim Everett Los Angeles Rams ( 1986 -- 1993 ) New Orleans Saints ( 1994 -- 1996 ) San Diego Chargers ( 1997 ) 34,837 29 Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions ( 2009 -- present ) 34,749 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 Steve Young Tampa Bay Buccaneers ( 1985 -- 1986 San Francisco 49ers ( 1987 -- 1999 ) 33,124 36 Troy Aikman Dallas Cowboys ( 1989 -- 2000 ) 32,942 37 Ken Anderson Cincinnati Bengals ( 1971 -- 1986 ) 32,838 38 Kurt Warner St. Louis Rams ( 1998 -- 2003 ) New York Giants ( 2004 ) Arizona Cardinals ( 2005 -- 2009 ) 32,344 39 Sonny Jurgensen Philadelphia Eagles ( 1957 -- 1963 ) Washington Redskins ( 1964 -- 1974 ) 32,224 40 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 Alex Smith San Francisco 49ers ( 2005 -- 2012 ) Kansas City Chiefs ( 2013 -- 2017 ) Washington Redskins ( 2018 -- present ) 31,888 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 25,000 -- 29,999 yards Through end of 2017 season ; numbers in yards Ryan Fitzpatrick, 26,991 Andy Dalton, 25,756 Cam Newton, 25,254 Historical passing yards Leaders 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 ) while leader Career passing yards Season 1932 -- 1942 ( 11 years ) Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers ( 1932 -- 1940 ) 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 1941 1942 1943 -- 1958 ( 16 years ) Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins ( 1943 - 1952 ) 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 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 -- 1963 ( 5 years ) Bobby Layne Pittsburgh Steelers ( 1959 -- 1962 ) 22,063 1959 23,877 1960 25,082 1961 26,768 1962 1963 1964 -- 1967 ( 4 years ) Y.A. Tittle New York Giants ( 1964 ) 28,339 1964 1965 1966 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 1976 -- 1994 ( 19 years ) Fran Tarkenton Minnesota Vikings ( 1976 -- 1978 ) 41,801 1976 43,535 1977 47,003 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1986 1988 1989 1992 1993 1994 1995 -- 2007 ( 12 years ) Dan Marino Miami Dolphins ( 1983 -- 1999 ) 48,841 1995 51,636 55,416 1997 58,913 1998 61,361 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 -- 2015 ( 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 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 -- present ( 3 years ) Peyton Manning Denver Broncos ( 2015 ) 71,940 2015 2016 2017 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 ( March 9, 2016 ). `` History of the Career Passing Yards Record ''. Grid Fe. Retrieved November 28, 2017. 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 ''. Pro football reference.com. Retrieved 2018 - 05 - 06. 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=846932887 '' 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 21 June 2018, at 19 : 47 ( UTC ). 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Question: who holds the record for most passing yards in nfl
Answer: Peyton Manning