This is a list of the top 50 National Football League quarterbacks career regular season passing completions and attempts, of quarterback playoff completions and attempts by players with over 250 playoff completions, and combined career totals.
Tom Brady is the all-time leader in passing completions with 7,753 and passing attempts with 12,050. He also leads in playoff completions and attempts with 1,200 and 1,921, respectively.
Regular season completions leaders
Bolded players indicate making their debut on list.
^ | Pro Football Hall of Famer |
* | Active |
Through Week 17 Xmas Day games of 2024 season.
Playoff leaders
Through 2023 playoffs. Based on at least 250 completions.
Historical passing completions leaders
Nine players are recognised as having held the record as the NFL's career pass completions leader. The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 20 years.
Reign | Player | Team(s) while leader | Career completions | Season |
---|---|---|---|---|
1932–1940 (9 years) |
Arnie Herber |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
Minnesota Vikings | 2,931 | 1975 |
3,186 | 1976 | |||
3,341 | 1977 | |||
3,686 | 1978–1994 | |||
1995–2005 (11 years) |
Dan Marino |
Miami Dolphins | 3,913 | 1995 |
4,134 | 1996 | |||
4,453 | 1997 | |||
4,763 | 1998 | |||
4,967 | 1999–2005 | |||
2006–2017 (12 years) |
Brett Favre |
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 (3 years) |
Drew Brees |
New Orleans Saints | 6,586 | 2018 |
6,867 | 2019 | |||
7,142 | 2020 | |||
Since 2021 (4 years) |
Tom Brady |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7,263 | 2021 |
7,753 | 2022–2024 |
Notes
- Collins was traded during the 1998 season; he played four games for the Panthers and seven for the Saints.
- DeBerg was cut during the 1993 season; he played three games for the Buccaneers and five for the Dolphins.
See also
- List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
- List of National Football League career passing touchdowns leaders
- List of National Football League career passing yards leaders
- List of National Football League career quarterback wins leaders
- List of National Football League records (individual)
References
- "NFL Passes Completed Career Playoffs Leaders". ProFootballReference.com. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved February 3, 2020.
- "NFL Passes Completed Career Leaders". PFR. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- "Arnie Herber stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Sammy Baugh stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on December 4, 2020. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Y.A. Tittle". NFL.com. National Football League. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
- "Johnny Unitas stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on November 15, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Fran Tarkenton stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Dan Marino stats". Pro football reference.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Brett Favre stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
- "Drew Brees stats". PFRef.com. Archived from the original on July 13, 2023. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
- "Tom Brady stats". PFRef.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
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Rushing |
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Receiving |
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Defense |
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Special teams |
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Scoring |
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