Quarterback is one of the toughest positions in sports. Not only does every play start with the ball in their hands -- outside of trick plays -- but the quarterback has mere seconds to decide what to do with the football before the defense is barreling down on them, trying to lay a monstrous hit on the player.
Quarterbacks are beaten up throughout the game, and if you can't play consistently, fans will call for a replacement quickly. Some players have stood the test of time, though, and racked up enough stats to be considered all-time greats at the position.
Here is more on the NFL's career passing yards leaders.
MORE: NFL quarterbacks with the highest career passer ratings in history
1. Tom Brady, 89,214 yards (2000-2022)
Teams:
- New England Patriots (2000-2019)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020-2022)
Stats and accolades:
- 12,050 pass attempts (1st in NFL history), 7,753 completions (1st), 89,214 yards (1st), 649 passing touchdowns (1st)
- 7-time Super Bowl champion, 5-time Super Bowl MVP, 3-time MVP, 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 3-time First-team All-Pro, 15-time Pro Bowler, 5-time NFL passing touchdowns leader, 4-time NFL passing yards leader
Career summary: Brady played his college football at Michigan from 1995-1999. He wasn't a highly touted prospect heading into the draft, and ended up being a sixth-round selection, going 199th overall to the Patriots.
When Brady got to New England, the starting quarterback was Drew Bledsoe. Brady didn't play much as a rookie, but took over when Bledsoe went down with an injury in 2001. Brady took over as the starter and led the Patriots to a playoff berth. He got hurt in the AFC Championship Game, and Bledsoe took back over and helped New England to a win. Brady was back under center for the Super Bowl that year and became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl at the time. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills that spring, and Brady's legacy in New England was officially underway.
He finished his tenure with the Patriots after the 2019 season. Brady signed in free agency with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played two seasons with Tampa Bay, including winning another Super Bowl, and announced his retirement from football in March 2022. 40 days later, he un-retired and returned to the Buccaneers for the 2022 season. After that, he finally retired for good and turned to broadcasting.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Patriots players of all time
2. Drew Brees, 80,358 yards (2001-2020)
Teams:
- San Diego Chargers (2001-2005)
- New Orleans Saints (2006-2020)
Stats and accolades:
- 10,551 pass attempts (2nd in NFL history), 7,142 pass completions (2nd), 80,358 yards (2nd), 571 touchdowns (2nd)
- Super Bowl XLIV Champion, Super Bowl XLIV MVP, 2-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 1-time First-team All-Pro, 13-time Pro Bowler, 7-time NFL passing yards leader, 4-time NFL passing touchdowns leader
Career summary: Brees played at Purdue from 1997-2000. He was projected to be a mid-to-late round pick, but was selected by the Chargers (then in San Diego) in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft.
Brees backed up quarterback Doug Flutie as a rookie. He saw limited action, only taking over in a game where Flutie suffered a concussion. Brees was named the starter for the 2002 season, and went 8-8 that year. He and Flutie battled it out for the starting gig in 2003, with Brees starting most of the games.
The Chargers acquired Philip Rivers ahead of the 2004 season. He held out for a contract, and Brees played well during training camp, so Brees remained the starter. Los Angeles franchise tagged Brees after 2004, and despite the money tied up with Rivers, Brees remained the starter. He was a free agent again after the 2005 season, and that was when he signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Brees took over under center in New Orleans in the first year of head coach Sean Payton's tenure. In his fourth year with the team, the quarterback led the Saints to their first Super Bowl. Brees was never able to recapture that success with the team, but retired in 2020 as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
MORE: Complete list of Super Bowl MVP winners throughout the years
3. Peyton Manning, 71,940 (1998-2015)
Teams:
- Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011)
- Denver Broncos (2012-2015)
Stats and accolades:
- 9,380 passing attempts (4th), 6,125 pass completions (4th), 71,940 points (3rd), 539 passing touchdowns (3rd)
- 2-time Super Bowl champion, Super Bowl MVP, 5-time NFL MVP, 7-time First-team All-Pro, 14-time Pro Bowler, 3-time NFL passing yards leader, 4-time NFL passing touchdowns leader
Career summary: Manning played collegiately at Tennessee from 1994-1997. He was the first overall selection in the 1998 NBA Draft. He instantly took over as the starter for Indianapolis and threw for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns as a rookie. His first career touchdown was a six-yard pass to Marvin Harrison, and it was the start of the QB-WR duo that went on to become one of the best in history.
Manning didn't play a single game in the 2011 season due to injury. The Colts had the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft ---- eventually used on Andrew Luck -- and ended up releasing Manning, allowing him to sign elsewhere in free agency. The veteran quarterback signed with the Denver Broncos in 2012. Manning won his fifth MVP Award and took the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 2014, though they lost to Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks 43-8. The veteran QB stayed in Denver for two more seasons and in 2015 led the Broncos to a Super Bowl win over the Carolina Panthers. Manning went out on top and retired in March 2016.
MORE: Best Pro Bowl moments, from Sean Taylor hit on punter to Peyton Manning 'idiot kicker' interview
4. Brett Favre, 71,838 (1992-2010)
Teams:
- Atlanta Falcons (1991)
- Green Bay Packers (1992-2007)
- New York Jets (2008)
- Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 10,169 (4th), Passing Completions: 6,300 (4th), Passing Yards: 71,838 (4th), Passing Touchdowns: 508 (5th)
- Pro Football Hall of Famer, Super Bowl Champion, 3-time NFL Most Valuable Player, 11-time Pro Bowler, 3-time First-team All-Pro, 4-time NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader
Career summary: Favre played his college football at Southern Miss from 1987-1990. He was a second-round pick in the 1991 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. The pick was controversial at the time, but not from fans. Head coach Jerry Glanville didn't like the pick and said that it would take a "plane crash" for him to play Favre. The rookie's first career pass was a pick-six. Favre only attempted four passes as a rookie, and two of them were interceptions. His lone other snap was a sack in which he lost 11 yards.
After the season, the Packers traded a first-round pick to the Falcons for Favre. During his physical, it was determined that he had avascular necrosis of the hip, the same injury that ended Bo Jackson's career. It was recommended that the physical be failed, which would nullify the trade, but Green Bay GM Ron Wolf overruled the suggestion, making Favre a Packer.
The quarterback would go on to lead Green Bay to a Super Bowl XXXI win and was a three-time MVP winner, earning the award in three consecutive years from 1995 to 1997. Favre was traded to the Jets for a conditional fourth-round pick. After one season, he signed with the Vikings, leading them to the NFC Championship Game in 2009. 2010 was his final season in the NFL, and he missed the final game of his career due to a concussion.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Packers ever
5. Ben Roethlisberger, 64,088 (2004-2021)
Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images
Teams:
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-2021)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,443 (9th), Passing Completions: 5,440 (7th), Passing Yards: 64,088 (5th), Passing Touchdowns: 418 (8th)
- 2-time Super Bowl Champion, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 6-time Pro Bowler, 2-time passing yards leader
Career summary: Roethlisberger went to Miami (OH) from 2000 to 2003. Despite not playing at a Power 5 school, the quarterback was selected with the 11th overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft. He signed a six-year contract worth $22.26 million in salary and bonuses and was highly touted by head coach Bill Cowher.
Roethlisberger started his rookie season third on the depth chart behind Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch. He saw plenty of action thanks to injuries to Maddox and Batch, and ended the regular season 13-0, but got knocked out in the second round of the playoffs. Roethlisberger got bounced from the playoffs by Tom Brady, but like Brady, Roethlisberger won the Super Bowl in his second season as the starter. He led the Steelers to another Super Bowl win in the 2008 season, but was unable to win a third Super Bowl ring in 2011.
Roethlisberger stayed in Pittsburgh through the 2021 season. His shoulder started to give out, and you could tell that Father Time was catching up to him. He retired after a 9-7-1 season in 2021.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Steelers players of all time
6. Aaron Rodgers, 63,973 (2005-present)
Teams:
- Green Bay Packers (2005-2022)
- New York Jets (2023-2024)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2025-present)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Yards: 63,538, Touchdown Passes: 510 (4th), Passer Rating: 102.6 (1st)
- Super Bowl Champion, Super Bowl MVP, 4-time NFL Most Valuable Player, 4-time First-team All-Pro, 10-time Pro Bowler, Best career TD–INT ratio (4.34:1)
Career summary: Rodgers started out at a JUCO, but then played the final two seasons of his college career at the University of California in 2003 and 2004. He was the 24th overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft and was viewed as the heir apparent to Brett Favre.
Rodgers backed up Favre for three seasons. Favre announced his retirement after the 2008 season, then un-retired and was traded to the Jets. This finally allowed Rodgers to take over as the starter in 2008. In his third year under center, Rodgers led the Packers to a win at Super Bowl XLV. He won his first MVP Award in 2011 and his second in 2014. Rodgers then became one of the few players in history to win consecutive MVP Awards, earning the accolade in both 2020 and 2021.
Rodgers had a falling out with the Packers that culminated in a trade to the Jets in the 2023 offseason. He had a highly anticipated debut with the Jets, but tore his Achilles during just his fourth snap. Rodgers missed the remainder of the season and returned in 2024. New York struggled, and Rodgers went 5-12.
The Jets released him after the season, and the veteran was rumored to several quarterback-needy teams. He ended up landing with the Steelers, and said that 2025 would be the final season of his career.
MORE: 10 oldest quarterback matchups in NFL history
7. Philip Rivers, 63,440 (2004-2020)
Teams:
- San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-2019)
- Indianapolis Colts (2020)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,134, Passing Yards: 63,440 (7th), Touchdown Passes: 421 (6th), Completion %: 64.9%
- 8-time Pro Bowler, 1-time NFL Passing Yards Leader, 1-time NFL Passing Touchdowns Co-Leader, NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Most career passing yards without a Super Bowl appearance
Career summary: Rivers went to NC State from 2000 to 2003 and was a highly touted prospect heading into the 2004 NFL Draft. He was one of 17 quarterbacks who were selected in the class, but his career started with a trade. The Chargers wanted Eli Manning, but Manning had informed them that if they drafted him, he wouldn't sign. The Chargers selected Manning but immediately traded him to the New York Giants, who had drafted Rivers, and the Giants also gave the Chargers extra pieces in the deal.
Rivers was in a draft class with some heavyweights like Manning and Roethlisberger, but unlike them, he never made the Super Bowl. Rivers and the Chargers only made it to the AFC Championship Game once during his tenure with the team. After the 2019 season, and a 5-11 record, Los Angeles mutually agreed to part ways.
In free agency, Rivers signed a one-year deal with the Colts. Indianapolis went 11-5 that season, but lost in the Wild Card round to the Buffalo Bills. The quarterback announced that he would be retiring in January 2021, but four years later on July 21, 2025 he signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Chargers.
MORE: A look back at the oldest players ever selected in the NFL Draft
8. Matt Ryan, 62,792 (2008-2022)
Teams:
- Atlanta Falcons (2008-2021)
- Indianapolis Colts (2022)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,464 (9th), Passing Completions: 5,551 (7th), Passing Yards: 62,792 (9th), Passing Touchdowns: 381 (10th)
- 1-time NFL Most Valuable Player, 1-time Offensive Player of the Year, NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, 1-time First-team All-Pro, 4-time Pro Bowler
Career summary: Ryan was drafted by the Falcons with the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He was named the starting quarterback for Atlanta to open the 2008 season, becoming the first rookie to start a game for the franchise since Michael Vick in 2001. Ryan led the Falcons to an 11-5 record, but they lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Ryan was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year that season.
Ryan won the MVP Award for his 2016 performance. He and the Falcons went 11-5 that season, making it all the way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately, it is the game that now lives in infamy as it was the game where Atlanta blew a 28-3 lead against the Patriots.
The Falcons went 7-10 in Ryan's final season with the franchise. He was traded during the 2022 offseason to the Colts in exchange for a third-round draft pick. Ryan played in 12 games for the Colts that year, and Indianapolis finished the season 4-12-1. Ryan was released by the Colts in the offseason, and he announced his retirement on April 22, 2024, signing a one-day contract with Atlanta.
MORE: Best two-way players in NFL history
9. Matthew Stafford, 61,493 (2009-present)
Teams:
- Detroit Lions (2009-2020)
- Los Angeles Rams (2021-present)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,349 (11th), Passing Completions: 5,296 (9th), Passing Yards: 61,312 (11th), Passing Touchdowns: 388 (10th)
- 1-time Super Bowl Champion, 1-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, 2-time Pro Bowler, 1-time NFL passing yards leader, 1-time NFL passing touchdowns leader
Career summary: Stafford had one more year of eligibility left at the University of Georgia but decided not to use it. He became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Stafford was charged with revitalizing a franchise that went winless in 2008. In his first season, Detroit went 2-14. He only made the playoffs three times during his tenure with the Lions, and the franchise was bounced in the Wild Card round each time.
After a 5-11 season in 2020, Detroit traded Stafford to the Los Angeles Rams in exchange for Jared Goff, a third-round pick and two first-round picks. In his first season with the Rams, Stafford led the franchise to a win in Super Bowl LVI over the Cincinnati Bengals.
MORE: Ranking the best QBs taken with picks 1-32
10. Dan Marino, 61,361 (1983-1999)
Teams:
- Miami Dolphins (1983-1999)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,358 (10th), Passing Completions: 4,967 (14th), Passing Yards: 61,361 (10th), Passing Touchdowns: 420 (10th)
- Pro Football Hall of Famer, 1-time NFL Most Valuable Player, 1-time Offensive Player of the Year, 3-time First-team All-Pro, 9-time Pro Bowler, 5-time NFL passing yards leader, 3-time NFL passing touchdowns leader
Career summary: Marino is one of the few quarterbacks on this list who spent his entire career with one franchise. The Miami Dolphins drafted him with the 27th overall pick in the 1983 NFL Draft. Miami went 12-4 in his rookie season, and then improved to 14-2 in 1984. That year, Marino led the Dolphins to an appearance in Super Bowl XIX, and earned both MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
That was the lone Super Bowl appearance of Marino's career. His final game was a 62-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 1999 Divisional Round of the playoffs. Miami decided not to pick up the option on his contract, and he was eyeing free agency. Rather than sign with a team, Marino opted to retire a Dolphin after a 17-year career.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Dolphins of all time
11. Eli Manning, 57,023 (2004-2019)
Teams:
- New York Giants (2004-2019)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 8,119 (12th), Passing Completions: 4,895 (14th), Passing Yards: 57,023 (11th), Passing Touchdowns: 366 (10th)
- 2-time Super Bowl Champion, 2-time Super Bowl MVP, 4-time Pro Bowler, 1-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 210 consecutive starts by a quarterback (1st)
Career summary: Manning's NFL career started with some controversy. The Chargers had the first overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and intended to take Manning who was considered the top quarterback. Eli and his father Archie made it known that the quarterback would not sign with the Chargers if they drafted him.
This resulted in a trade to the New York Giants in a move that earned the Chargers Rivers. Manning was the starting quarterback as a rookie and led New York to a 6-10 season. He and the Giants made the playoffs for the first time together in 2005 after an 11-5 season. New York lost to the Carolina Panthers in the Wild Card round 23-0.
Manning and the Giants went 10-6 in the 2007, but caught fire at the right time. The quarterback led them on an impromptu playoff run that ended with New York beating New England, ending the Patriots' quest for a perfect season. Manning and the Giants won one other Super Bowl together, in 2012 after knocking off New England once again.
In Manning's final season, New York selected Daniel Jones to be its starting quarterback of the future. Manning saw limited playing time, only taking over at quarterback when Jones had suffered an injury. He hit free agency after the 2019 season, and opted to retire. Manning looked into free agency, but maintained he had no desire to be a backup quarterback somewhere, and no offers to be a starter came through.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Giants of all time
12. John Elway, 51,475 (1983-1998)
Teams:
- Denver Broncos (1983-1998)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 7,250 (18th), Passing Completions: 4,123 (26th), Passing Yards: 51,475 (14th), Passing Touchdowns: 300 (16th)
- Pro Football Hall of Famer, 2-time Super Bowl Champion, 1-time Super Bowl MVP, 1-time NFL MVP, 9-time Pro Bowler, 47 career 4th quarter comebacks
Career summary: Elway was a two-sport athlete, being a gifted quarterback and baseball player. He was considered the top quarterback in the 1983 draft class, but had hesitations on playing for the Baltimore Colts, one of the worst teams in the league. He set the precedent that Manning used in his draft process of telling a team he refused to play for them. Elway said he wanted to play on the West Coast, for the Dallas Cowboys or the Dolphins. He even threatened Baltimore with signing with the New York Yankees if they drafted him.
Baltimore ended up selecting Elway, and in a press conference, he officially stated his intention to play baseball. The Colts, who didn't want their first overall pick to go to waste, traded Elway to the Denver Broncos, who had drafted an offensive lineman.
As a rookie, Elway went 9-7 as a rookie and led Denver to a playoff berth, but the Broncos lost to the Seahawks in the Wild Card round. He led them to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances in 1986 and 1987, and again in 1990, but was unable to win any of them. Elway and the Broncos made the Super Bowl again after the 1997 season, and finally got the win that had eluded them. The veteran quarterback and Denver won back-to-back Super Bowls, and he retired after the 1998 season.
MORE: Where is the Hall of Fame Game played every year?
13. Warren Moon, 49,325 (1984-2000)
Teams:
- Edmonton Eskimos (1978-1983)
- Houston Oilers (1984-1993)
- Minnesota Vikings (1994-1996)
- Seattle Seahawks (1997-1998)
- Kansas City Chiefs (1999-2000)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 6,823 (23rd), Passing Completions: 3,988 (29th), Passing Yards: 49,325 (16th), Passing Touchdowns: 291 (19th),
- Pro Football Hall of Fame, 9-time Pro Bowl, 1-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, 2-time NFL Passing Yards Leader, First African-American QB inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Career summary: Moon began his career in the Canadian Football League after he went undrafted in the 1978 NFL Draft. He and Tom Wilkinson shared quarterback duties for the Edmonton Eskimos and won four consecutive Grey Cups (the league's championship). After his sixth year in the league, the quarterback decided to go to the NFL, which set off a bidding war among teams.
The Houston Oilers won, and the team's head coach Hugh Campbell was Moon's head coach during his first five seasons in Edmonton. The moved forced former Houston starting quarterback Gifford Nielsen to retire because he said he knew he wasn't going to win the starting gig.
Despite the team going 12-4 in the 1993 season, Houston decided to trade away Moon to the Vikings. He signed a two-year deal with Minnesota and then a three-year deal in 1996. Moon broke his collarbone and missed half the 1996 season. He was released after he wouldn't take a paycut, and signed with the Seahawks ahead of the 1997 season. After two years in Seattle, he finished out his career in Kansas City.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Chiefs players of all time
14. Fran Tarkenton, 47,003 (1961-1978)
Teams:
- Minnesota Vikings (1961-1966)
- New York Giants (1967-1971)
- Minnesota Vikings (1972-1978)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 6,467 (29th), Passing Completions: 3,686 (37th), Passing Yards: 47,003 (18th), Passing Touchdowns: 342 (13th)
- Pro Football Hall of Famer, 1-time NFL MVP, 9-time Pro Bowler, Led NFL in career passing yards and TDs at the time of retirement
Career summary: Tarkenton was selected by the Vikings in the NFL's expansion draft in 1961. It was a rough start to his professional career as the Vikings went 3-11 in their inaugural season and 2-11 in their second season. He is considered one of the first dual-threat quarterbacks, though his head coach did not like how much he scrambled.
Tarkenton was traded to the Giants in March 1967 for two first and two second-round picks. He never made the playoffs with New York, and his tenure with the team ended in 1972 when he was traded back to the Vikings for three players and two picks. Tarkenton then led Minnesota to three NFC championships, but it lost each Super Bowl. He retired in 1978.
MORE: The 10 most shocking draft slides of all time
15. Russell Wilson, 46,921 (2012-present)
Teams:
- Seattle Seahawks (2012-2021)
- Denver Broncos (2022-2023)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (2024)
- New York Giants (2025-present)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 6,079 (34th), Passing Completions: 3,929 (32nd), Passing Yards: 46,753 (19th), Passing Touchdowns: 353 (12th)
- 1-time Super Bowl Champion, 10-time Pro Bowler, 1-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year, 1-time NFL Passer Rating Leader, 1-time NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader
Career summary: Wilson was eyeing a baseball career, similar to Elway, but he never held it over any NFL teams heads. He was drafted in the third round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Wilson was often criticized for his size, but that didn't stop him from leading the Seahawks to a XLVIII win.
He was traded to the Broncos in a massive deal that included three players and six total picks swapping between the franchises. Wilson was signed to a mega deal, but didn't mesh well with the offense that eventual new head coach Sean Payton was running. Denver decided to release the quarterback, owing him a ton of money. He signed with the Steelers in the 2024 season, and then the Giants for the 2025 season. He was the starting QB for New York, but was eventually benched in favor of rookie Jaxson Dart.
MORE: Most Super Bowl wins in history by player
16. Joe Flacco, 46,731 (2008-present)
Teams:
- Baltimore Ravens (2008-2018)
- Denver Broncos (2019)
- New York Jets (2020, 2021-2022)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2021)
- Cleveland Browns (2023,2025)
- Indianapolis Colts (2024)
- Cincinnati Bengals (2025)
Stats and accolades:
- Passing Attempts: 6,911 (22nd), Passing Completions: 4,259 (23rd), Passing Yards: 46,512 (20th), Passing Touchdowns: 259 (27th)
- 1-time Super Bowl Champion, 1-time Super Bowl MVP, 1-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Tied for most passing touchdowns in a single postseason
Career summary: Flacco was drafted by the Ravens with the 18th overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He led his coach John Harbaugh to a Super Bowl XLVII win over his brother Jim. Flacco was with the Ravens for 11 years, but once he was released in favor of Lamar Jackson, he started to bounce around the league. He spent time as a mix of a starter and a backup, providing a veteran presence to the locker rooms that he joined.
MORE: Ranking the greatest Ravens of all time