Passer rating Passer rating ( known as passing efficiency or pass efficiency in NCAA football ) is a measure of the performance of quarterback s or any other passers in American football and Canadian football . There are at least two formulae currently in use : one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League , and one used in college football . Passer rating is calculated using each quarterback ' s completion percentage , passing yardage , touchdown s and interception s . A perfect passer rating in the NFL is 158 . 3 . A perfect passing efficiency in college football is 1261 . 6 . History . The NFL ' s complex passer rating was devised in 1971 by a special committee headed by Don Smith , an executive at the Pro Football Hall of Fame . Don Weiss created the passer rating . Prior to that , the NFL had struggled with how to crown a passing ranking using multiple statistics . NFL & CFL . The calculation of the NFL ( and CFL ) passer rating involves more steps than the NCAA formula . In order to establish a maximum value for an NFL player ' s passer rating , a separate calculation needs to be completed involving each of the following four categories : Completion Percentage , Average Yards Per Attempt , Percentage of Touchdown Passes , and Percentage of Interceptions . If the result in any category is less than 0 , the given result should be 0 . If the result in any category is greater than 2 . 375 , the given result should be 2 . 375 . This makes the maximum possible quarterback rating for the NFL 158 . 3 . A perfect rating requires at least a 77 . 5 % completion rate , at least 12 . 5 yards per attempt , a touchdown on at least 11 . 875 % of attempts , and no interceptions . The four separate calculations can be expressed in the following equations : formula _ 1 formula _ 2 formula _ 3 formula _ 4 where Then , the above calculations are used to complete the passer rating : formula _ 5 < br > where formula _ 6 NCAA . Passer rating , known formally in college football as passing efficiency or pass efficiency , is based on player performances . The NCAA passing efficiency formula is far simpler than the NFL formula , as it lacks limits on the four components : formula _ 7 The NCAA passer rating has an upper limit of 1 , 261 . 6 ( every attempt is a 99 - yard completion for touchdown ) , and a lower limit of - 731 . 6 ( every attempt is completed , but results in a 99 - yard loss ) . A passer who throws only interceptions will have a - 200 rating , as would a passer who only throws completed passes losing an average of 35 . 714 yards . Value and Limitations . As mentioned , both the NFL and NCAA passer rating formulae are only based on completion percentage , passing yardage , touchdowns , and interceptions . As the NFL notes , " It is important to remember that the system is used to rate passers , not quarterbacks . Statistics do not reflect leadership , play - calling , and other intangible factors that go into making a successful professional quarterback . " For example , it does not factor in rushing yards gained by such quarterbacks as Randall Cunningham , Steve Young , Michael Vick , and John Elway who were also known for their running ability . Nor does it measure a quarterback ' s win - loss record , how many times he has fumbled or been sacked , or evaluate his leadership and performance during crucial situations such as third - down efficiency or fourth - quarter scoring drives . In 2011 , the American sports network ESPN developed an alternative statistic called the total quarterback rating which purports to more accurately measure quarterbacks ' contribution to their teams ' winning . However , the QBR rating system has met with significant backlash amongst fans and commentators alike . After ESPN ' s unveiling of total quarterback rating , CNNSI . com published an article by Kerry Byrne of " Cold Hard Football Facts " highlighting the importance of passer rating in determining a team ' s success . " Put most simply , " the article states , " you cannot be a smart football analyst and dismiss passer rating . In fact , it ' s impossible to look at the incredible correlation of victory to passer rating and then dismiss it . You might as well dismiss the score of a game when determining a winner . [ . . . ] Few , if any , are more indicative of wins and losses than passer rating . Teams that posted a higher passer rating went 203 - 53 ( . 793 ) in 2010 and an incredible 151 - 29 ( . 839 ) after Week 5 . " Byrne made an expanded defense of the passer rating and its importance for the Pro Football Researchers Association in 2012 . The study noted that of the eight teams since 1940 to lead the league in both offensive passer rating and defensive passer rating , all won championships . Records . NFL . Aaron Rodgers holds the NFL record for the highest career passer rating for any player with at least 1 , 500 attempts , with a current mark of 104 . 9 . In 2011 Rodgers also set the record for highest passer rating in a single season with a 122 . 5 rating . In 2012 , rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III posted a perfect passer rating of 158 . 3 , only the second rookie to do so , along with Drew Bledsoe . Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El , with a passer rating of 157 . 5 from 21 completed passes of a possible 26 , has the highest career rating of any non - QB with more than twenty attempts . Peyton Manning holds the record for the most games with a perfect passer rating ( 4 ) . As of 2012 , 61 NFL quarterbacks have completed a game with a perfect passer rating of 158 . 3 , and seven have done so multiple times . Phil Simms holds the Super Bowl record for the highest passer rating , game , at 150 . 92 in Super Bowl XXI . Ben Roethlisberger holds the Super Bowl record for the lowest passer rating to win game , at 22 . 6 in Super Bowl XL . NCAA . In Division I FBS ( formerly Division I - A ) , the career record for passing efficiency is held by Sam Bradford of Oklahoma , who had a career mark of 175 . 6 between 2007 and 2009 . The single - season record belongs to Russell Wilson of the Wisconsin Badgers , who achieved a passer rating of 191 . 8 over the 2011 season , while the freshman record belongs to Michael Vick of Virginia Tech , whose rating during the 1999 season was 180 . 4 .