Most Passing Yards in NFL History
In the NFL, passing yards are a clear indicator of a quarterback’s skill. They represent the distance the ball travels from the snap to where the receiver catches it. Tom Brady holds the record for the most passing yards in NFL history, totaling 89,214 yards.
Photo Credit: Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 5 Most Passing Yards in NFL History
Here are the top 5 players with the most passing yards in NFL history, a milestone that showcases unmatched quarterback dominance.
| Rank | Quarterback | Career Passing Yards |
| 1 | Tom Brady | 89,214 |
| 2 | Drew Brees | 80,358 |
| 3 | Peyton Manning | 71,940 |
| 4 | Brett Favre | 71,838 |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | 66,274 |
Tom Brady (89,214 Passing Yards)
Career: 2000-2022
Teams: New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tom Brady passed for an NFL-record 89,214 yards throughout his 23-year career. He played 20 seasons with the Patriots and three with the Buccaneers, securing seven Super Bowl titles during that time. Brady was the first quarterback to exceed both 80,000 and 90,000 yards. He had 14 seasons where he threw for over 4,000 yards, with his highest being 5,316. His average of 7.4 yards per attempt indicates that he was very efficient.
Drew Brees (80,358 Passing Yards)
Career: 2001-2020
Teams: San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints
Drew Brees ended his career with a total of 80,358 passing yards. Brees was well-known for his precision, leading the league in completion percentage five times and finishing his career with an impressive rate of 67.7%. His most remarkable season was when he set a record with 5,476 passing yards. Additionally, he topped the NFL in passing yards seven times and had 12 seasons where he surpassed 4,000 yards.
Peyton Manning (71,940 Passing Yards)
Career: 1998-2015
Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos
Peyton Manning wrapped up his career with a total of 71,940 passing yards. His most impressive statistical achievement occurred in 2013 when he broke the single-season record by throwing for 5,477 yards, a record that remains unbroken. Throughout his career, he surpassed 4,000 passing yards in 14 seasons and led the league in passing yards on three occasions.
Brett Favre (71,838 Passing Yards)
Career: 1991-2010
Teams: Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings
Brett Favre finished his career with a total of 71,838 passing yards. Favre was the first quarterback to reach both 60,000 and 70,000 yards, holding the all-time record from 2007 until 2011. His “gunslinger” style resulted in a high volume of passes as he led the league in pass attempts five times, completions three times and achieved ten seasons with over 4,000 yards.
Aaron Rodgers (66,274 Passing Yards)
Career: 2005-present
Teams: Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
Aaron Rodgers has recorded 66,274 passing yards throughout his career. With a career passer rating of 102.2 and an interception rate of only 1.4%, he ranks among the best in history. Rodgers has earned four MVP awards and a Super Bowl title. His annual yardage numbers were often lower because he focused on ball security and making big plays instead of just throwing a lot of passes.