NFL all-time records
Who holds the NFL career passing yards record?
Tom Brady holds the career passing yards record with 89,214, and the best single season belongs to Peyton Manning in 2013 with 5,477.
Career leaders
Passing yards
| # | Player | YDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | 89,214 |
| 2 | Drew Brees | 80,358 |
| 3 | Peyton Manning | 71,940 |
| 4 | Brett Favre | 71,838 |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | 66,682 |
| 6 | Matthew Stafford | 64,998 |
| 7 | Ben Roethlisberger | 64,088 |
| 8 | Philip Rivers | 63,984 |
| 9 | Matt Ryan | 62,792 |
| 10 | Dan Marino | 61,361 |
Passing touchdowns
| # | Player | TD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Brady | 649 |
| 2 | Drew Brees | 571 |
| 3 | Peyton Manning | 539 |
| 4 | Aaron Rodgers | 528 |
| 5 | Brett Favre | 508 |
| 6 | Matthew Stafford | 427 |
| 7 | Philip Rivers | 425 |
| 8 | Dan Marino | 420 |
| 9 | Ben Roethlisberger | 418 |
| 10 | Matt Ryan | 381 |
Rushing yards
| # | Player | YDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emmitt Smith | 18,355 |
| 2 | Frank Gore | 16,000 |
| 3 | Barry Sanders | 15,269 |
| 4 | Adrian Peterson | 14,918 |
| 5 | Curtis Martin | 14,101 |
| 6 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 13,684 |
| 7 | Jerome Bettis | 13,662 |
| 8 | Eric Dickerson | 13,259 |
| 9 | Derrick Henry | 13,230 |
| 10 | Marshall Faulk | 12,279 |
Rushing touchdowns
| # | Player | TD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emmitt Smith | 164 |
| 2 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 145 |
| 3 | Derrick Henry | 126 |
| 4 | Marcus Allen | 123 |
| 5 | Adrian Peterson | 120 |
| 6 | Marshall Faulk | 100 |
| 7 | Shaun Alexander | 100 |
| 8 | Barry Sanders | 99 |
| 9 | Jerome Bettis | 91 |
| 10 | Curtis Martin | 90 |
Receiving yards
| # | Player | YDS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerry Rice | 22,895 |
| 2 | Larry Fitzgerald | 17,492 |
| 3 | Terrell Owens | 15,934 |
| 4 | Randy Moss | 15,292 |
| 5 | Isaac Bruce | 15,208 |
| 6 | Tony Gonzalez | 15,127 |
| 7 | Tim Brown | 14,934 |
| 8 | Steve Smith Sr. | 14,731 |
| 9 | Marvin Harrison | 14,580 |
| 10 | Reggie Wayne | 14,345 |
Receptions
| # | Player | REC |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerry Rice | 1,549 |
| 2 | Larry Fitzgerald | 1,432 |
| 3 | Tony Gonzalez | 1,325 |
| 4 | Jason Witten | 1,228 |
| 5 | Marvin Harrison | 1,102 |
| 6 | Cris Carter | 1,101 |
| 7 | Tim Brown | 1,094 |
| 8 | Travis Kelce | 1,092 |
| 9 | Terrell Owens | 1,078 |
| 10 | Anquan Boldin | 1,076 |
Sacks
| # | Player | SACK |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bruce Smith | 200.0 |
| 2 | Reggie White | 198.0 |
| 3 | Kevin Greene | 160.0 |
| 4 | Julius Peppers | 159.5 |
| 5 | Chris Doleman | 150.5 |
| 6 | Michael Strahan | 141.5 |
| 7 | Jason Taylor | 139.5 |
| 8 | Terrell Suggs | 139.0 |
| 9 | DeMarcus Ware | 138.5 |
| 10 | Von Miller | 138.5 |
Tackles
| # | Player | TOT |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Lewis | 2,050 |
| 2 | London Fletcher | 2,032 |
| 3 | Bobby Wagner | 2,000 |
| 4 | Zach Thomas | 1,720 |
| 5 | Lavonte David | 1,715 |
| 6 | Derrick Brooks | 1,698 |
| 7 | Demario Davis | 1,549 |
| 8 | Junior Seau | 1,526 |
| 9 | Donnie Edwards | 1,487 |
| 10 | Keith Brooking | 1,434 |
Best single seasons
Passing yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peyton Manning | 2013 | 5,477 |
| 2 | Drew Brees | 2011 | 5,476 |
| 3 | Tom Brady | 2021 | 5,316 |
| 4 | Patrick Mahomes | 2022 | 5,250 |
| 5 | Tom Brady | 2011 | 5,235 |
| 6 | Drew Brees | 2016 | 5,208 |
| 7 | Drew Brees | 2012 | 5,177 |
| 8 | Drew Brees | 2013 | 5,162 |
| 9 | Ben Roethlisberger | 2018 | 5,129 |
| 10 | Jameis Winston | 2019 | 5,109 |
Passing touchdowns
| # | Player | Season | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peyton Manning | 2013 | 55 |
| 2 | Patrick Mahomes | 2018 | 50 |
| 3 | Tom Brady | 2007 | 50 |
| 4 | Peyton Manning | 2004 | 49 |
| 5 | Aaron Rodgers | 2020 | 48 |
| 6 | Dan Marino | 1984 | 48 |
| 7 | Drew Brees | 2011 | 46 |
| 8 | Matthew Stafford | 2025 | 46 |
| 9 | Aaron Rodgers | 2011 | 45 |
| 10 | Dan Marino | 1986 | 44 |
Rushing yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Dickerson | 1984 | 2,105 |
| 2 | Adrian Peterson | 2012 | 2,097 |
| 3 | Jamal Lewis | 2003 | 2,066 |
| 4 | Barry Sanders | 1997 | 2,053 |
| 5 | Derrick Henry | 2020 | 2,027 |
| 6 | Terrell Davis | 1998 | 2,008 |
| 7 | Chris Johnson | 2009 | 2,006 |
| 8 | Saquon Barkley | 2024 | 2,005 |
| 9 | Derrick Henry | 2024 | 1,921 |
| 10 | Ahman Green | 2003 | 1,883 |
Rushing touchdowns
| # | Player | Season | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LaDainian Tomlinson | 2006 | 28 |
| 2 | Priest Holmes | 2003 | 27 |
| 3 | Shaun Alexander | 2005 | 27 |
| 4 | Emmitt Smith | 1995 | 25 |
| 5 | Emmitt Smith | 1994 | 21 |
| 6 | Priest Holmes | 2002 | 21 |
| 7 | Terrell Davis | 1998 | 21 |
| 8 | Terry Allen | 1996 | 21 |
| 9 | Larry Johnson | 2005 | 20 |
| 10 | Adrian Peterson | 2009 | 18 |
Receiving yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Calvin Johnson | 2012 | 1,964 |
| 2 | Julio Jones | 2015 | 1,871 |
| 3 | Jerry Rice | 1995 | 1,848 |
| 4 | Antonio Brown | 2015 | 1,834 |
| 5 | Justin Jefferson | 2022 | 1,809 |
| 6 | Tyreek Hill | 2023 | 1,799 |
| 7 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba | 2025 | 1,793 |
| 8 | Isaac Bruce | 1995 | 1,781 |
| 9 | CeeDee Lamb | 2023 | 1,749 |
| 10 | Michael Thomas | 2019 | 1,725 |
Receptions
| # | Player | Season | REC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Thomas | 2019 | 149 |
| 2 | Cooper Kupp | 2021 | 145 |
| 3 | Marvin Harrison | 2002 | 143 |
| 4 | Antonio Brown | 2015 | 136 |
| 5 | Julio Jones | 2015 | 136 |
| 6 | CeeDee Lamb | 2023 | 135 |
| 7 | Antonio Brown | 2014 | 129 |
| 8 | Puka Nacua | 2025 | 129 |
| 9 | Justin Jefferson | 2022 | 128 |
| 10 | Ja'Marr Chase | 2024 | 127 |
Sacks
| # | Player | Season | SACK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Myles Garrett | 2025 | 23.0 |
| 2 | Michael Strahan | 2001 | 22.5 |
| 3 | T.J. Watt | 2021 | 22.5 |
| 4 | Jared Allen | 2011 | 22.0 |
| 5 | Justin Houston | 2014 | 22.0 |
| 6 | Chris Doleman | 1989 | 21.0 |
| 7 | Reggie White | 1987 | 21.0 |
| 8 | Aaron Donald | 2018 | 20.5 |
| 9 | J.J. Watt | 2012 | 20.5 |
| 10 | J.J. Watt | 2014 | 20.5 |
Tackles
| # | Player | Season | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foyesade Oluokun | 2021 | 192 |
| 2 | Chris Spielman | 1994 | 191 |
| 3 | Foyesade Oluokun | 2022 | 184 |
| 4 | Jordyn Brooks | 2021 | 184 |
| 5 | Bobby Wagner | 2023 | 183 |
| 6 | Jordyn Brooks | 2025 | 183 |
| 7 | Ray Lewis | 1997 | 183 |
| 8 | Nick Bolton | 2022 | 180 |
| 9 | Zaire Franklin | 2023 | 179 |
| 10 | Alex Singleton | 2023 | 177 |
Regular season only, counting stats only: a career rate needs a qualification rule that has changed with the eras. Career lines are ESPN’s own career totals; single seasons are read from the season lines on file, which start in 1978. NFL season leaders
Best seasons by career year
The best first season of a career, the best tenth, the best twentieth: every season numbered from the player’s first on file.
Game records by season
The highest scoring game of a season, the widest margin, the longest game.