In American football, passing, along with running (also referred to as rushing), is one of the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field. Passes are typically attempted by the quarterback, but any offensive player can attempt a pass provided they are behind the line of scrimmage.[2] To qualify as a passing play, the ball must have initially moved forward after leaving the hands of the passer; if the ball initially moved laterally or backwards, the play would instead be considered a running play.[3] A player who catches a forward pass is called a receiver. A touchdown pass is a pass thrown from a passer to a receiver that results in a touchdown being scored. To be counted as a touchdown pass, the ball can be caught within the field of play and advanced by the receiver into the end zone, or caught by a receiver within the boundaries of the end zone.[4] The number of passing touchdowns a player makes is a recorded statistic in football games. In addition to the overall National Football League (NFL) passing touchdown leaders, league record books recognize the passing touchdown leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970. The NFL also recognizes the statistics of the All-America Football Conference, which operated from 1946 to 1949 before three of its teams were merged into the NFL, since 2025.[5][6] The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[7]
Tom Brady has led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times, more than any other quarterback.[8] Johnny Unitas is the only player to lead the league four times consecutively, doing so from 1957 through 1960.[9] The record for touchdown passes in a season is held by Peyton Manning, who had 55 passing touchdowns in the 2013 season while playing for the Denver Broncos.[1] Only two other players have recorded 50 or more passing touchdowns in a season, Brady and Patrick Mahomes.[1]
NFL annual passing touchdowns leaders
AFL annual passing touchdowns leaders
AAFC annual passing touchdowns leaders
Most seasons leading the league
| Count
|
Player
|
Seasons
|
Team(s)
|
Ref.
|
| 5
|
Tom Brady
|
2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021
|
New England Patriots (4) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1)
|
[11]
|
| 4
|
Drew Brees
|
2008, 2009, 2011, 2012
|
New Orleans Saints
|
[11]
|
| Len Dawson
|
1962, 1963, 1965, 1966
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
[11]
|
| Brett Favre
|
1995–1997, 2002
|
Green Bay Packers
|
[11]
|
| Peyton Manning
|
2000, 2004, 2006, 2013
|
Indianapolis Colts (3) / Denver Broncos (1)
|
[11]
|
| Johnny Unitas
|
1957–1960
|
Baltimore Colts
|
[11]
|
| Steve Young
|
1992–1994, 1998
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
[11]
|
| 3
|
Otto Graham
|
1946, 1947, 1952
|
Cleveland Browns
|
[11]
|
| Arnie Herber
|
1932, 1934, 1936
|
Green Bay Packers
|
[11]
|
| Sid Luckman
|
1943, 1945, 1946
|
Chicago Bears
|
[11]
|
| Dan Marino
|
1984–1986
|
Miami Dolphins
|
[11]
|
| Y. A. Tittle
|
1955, 1962, 1963
|
San Francisco 49ers (1) / New York Giants (2)
|
[11]
|
| 2
|
Frankie Albert
|
1948, 1949
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
[11]
|
| Sammy Baugh
|
1940, 1947
|
Washington Redskins
|
[11]
|
| Terry Bradshaw
|
1978, 1982
|
Pittsburgh Steelers
|
[11]
|
| John Brodie
|
1965, 1970
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
[11]
|
| Jim Everett
|
1988, 1989
|
Los Angeles Rams
|
[11]
|
| Frank Filchock
|
1939, 1944
|
Washington Redskins
|
[11]
|
| Dan Fouts
|
1981, 1982
|
San Diego Chargers
|
[11]
|
| Roman Gabriel
|
1969, 1971
|
Los Angeles Rams (1) / Philadelphia Eagles (1)
|
[11]
|
| John Hadl
|
1968, 1971
|
San Diego Chargers
|
[11]
|
| Cecil Isbell
|
1941, 1942
|
Green Bay Packers
|
[11]
|
| Sonny Jurgensen
|
1961, 1967
|
Philadelphia Eagles (1) / Washington Redskins (1)
|
[11]
|
| Daryle Lamonica
|
1967, 1969
|
Oakland Raiders
|
[11]
|
| Patrick Mahomes
|
2018, 2022
|
Kansas City Chiefs
|
[11]
|
| Joe Montana
|
1982, 1987
|
San Francisco 49ers
|
[11]
|
| Aaron Rodgers
|
2016, 2020
|
Green Bay Packers
|
[11]
|
| Tobin Rote
|
1955, 1956
|
Green Bay Packers
|
[11]
|
| Frank Ryan
|
1964, 1966
|
Cleveland Browns
|
[11]
|
| Ken Stabler
|
1974, 1976
|
Oakland Raiders
|
[11]
|
| Kurt Warner
|
1999, 2001
|
St. Louis Rams
|
[11]
|
| Bob Waterfield
|
1945, 1946
|
Cleveland / Los Angeles Rams
|
[11]
|
See also
Notes
- ^ The NFL did not have a set number of games for teams to play until the 1935 season, instead setting a minimum.[12]
References
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- ^ "Beginner's Guide to Football". National Football League. Archived from the original on February 16, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Brinson, Will (December 31, 2013). "NFL, Elias reviewing Peyton Manning passing record: lateral or pass?". CBS Sports. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "2022 NFL Rulebook". operations.nfl.com. Rule 11 Section 2 & Rule 3 Section 39. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "NFL incorporates old AAFC stats, shifting career leaderboards". ESPN. April 1, 2025. Retrieved January 18, 2026.
- ^ NFL Communications (2022). "2022 NFL Fact and Record Book" (PDF). National Football League. p. 550. Archived (PDF) from the original on July 21, 2022. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "NFL's Passer Rating". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on October 3, 2015. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ a b Wood, Kyle (August 9, 2022). "NFL Regular-Season Passing Touchdown Leader Betting Odds". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ a b Marsh, Philip (July 4, 2023). "Who are the greatest NFL quarterbacks of all time?". DAZN. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
- ^ Goldstein, Richard (October 9, 2017). "Y.A. Tittle, Quarterback Who Led Giants to 3 Title Games, Dies at 90". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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- ^ "Bobby Thomason Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Adrian Burk Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 14, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Y. A. Tittle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Tobin Rote Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Johnny Unitas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Sonny Jurgensen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Frank Ryan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "John Brodie Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Earl Morrall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Roman Gabriel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "John Hadl Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 21, 2007. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Billy Kilmer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Joe Namath Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Roger Staubach Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 11, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Ken Stabler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Fran Tarkenton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Joe Ferguson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Bob Griese Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on December 12, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b "Terry Bradshaw Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Steve Grogan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Brian Sipe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Steve Bartkowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
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- ^ a b "Joe Montana Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on June 9, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Lynn Dickey Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 19, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Dan Marino Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
- ^ a b "Jim Everett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
- ^ "Warren Moon Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on May 7, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
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- ^ a b c d "Drew Brees Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
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|---|
| General | |
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| Passing | |
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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 | |
|---|