This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks by total career regular season pass completions. This list includes the top 50 quarterbacks who have completed the most passes.
Regular season completions leaders
Through end of 2019 season.
Rank
|
Player
|
Team(s) by season
|
Completions
|
Attempts
|
Pct.
|
1
|
Drew Brees*
|
San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–present)
|
6,867
|
10,161
|
67.58
|
2
|
Tom Brady*
|
New England Patriots (2000–present)
|
6,377
|
9,988
|
63.85
|
3
|
Brett Favre^
|
Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)
|
6,300
|
10,169
|
61.95
|
4
|
Peyton Manning
|
Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015)
|
6,125
|
9,380
|
65.3
|
5
|
Dan Marino^
|
Miami Dolphins (1983–1999)
|
4,967
|
8,358
|
59.43
|
6
|
Philip Rivers*
|
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004–present)
|
4,908
|
7,591
|
64.66
|
7
|
Eli Manning
|
New York Giants (2004–2019)
|
4,895
|
8,119
|
60.29
|
8
|
Ben Roethlisberger*
|
Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present)
|
4,651
|
7,230
|
64.33
|
9
|
Matt Ryan*
|
Atlanta Falcons (2008–present)
|
4,460
|
6,817
|
65.42
|
10
|
John Elway^
|
Denver Broncos (1983–1998)
|
4,123
|
7,250
|
56.87
|
11
|
Warren Moon^
|
Houston Oilers (1984–1993) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000)
|
3,988
|
6,823
|
58.45
|
12
|
Carson Palmer
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2010) Oakland Raiders (2011–2012) Arizona Cardinals (2013–2017)
|
3,941
|
6,307
|
62.49
|
13
|
Aaron Rodgers*
|
Green Bay Packers (2005–present)
|
3,913
|
6,061
|
64.56
|
14
|
Drew Bledsoe
|
New England Patriots (1993–2001) Buffalo Bills (2002–2004) Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006)
|
3,839
|
6,717
|
57.15
|
15
|
Vinny Testaverde
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1992) Cleveland Browns (1993–1995) Baltimore Ravens (1996–1997) New York Jets (1998–2003, 2005) Dallas Cowboys (2004) New England Patriots (2006) Carolina Panthers (2007)
|
3,787
|
6,701
|
56.51
|
16
|
Fran Tarkenton^
|
Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966, 1972–1978) New York Giants (1967–1971)
|
3,686
|
6,467
|
57
|
17
|
Joe Flacco*
|
Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019–present)
|
3,670
|
5,932
|
61.87
|
18
|
Matthew Stafford*
|
Detroit Lions (2009–present)
|
3,559
|
5,696
|
62.48
|
19
|
Kerry Collins
|
Carolina Panthers (1995–1998) New Orleans Saints (1998) New York Giants (1999–2003) Oakland Raiders (2004–2005) Tennessee Titans (2006–2010) Indianapolis Colts (2011)
|
3,487
|
6,261
|
55.69
|
20
|
Joe Montana^
|
San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)
|
3,409
|
5,391
|
63.24
|
21
|
Dan Fouts^
|
San Diego Chargers (1973–1987)
|
3,297
|
5,604
|
58.83
|
22
|
Matt Hasselbeck
|
Green Bay Packers (1999–2000) Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011–2012) Indianapolis Colts (2013−2015)
|
3,222
|
5,330
|
60.45
|
23
|
Donovan McNabb
|
Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011)
|
3,170
|
5,374
|
58.99
|
24
|
Dave Krieg
|
Seattle Seahawks (1980–1991) Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993) Detroit Lions (1994) Arizona Cardinals (1995) Chicago Bears (1996) Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)
|
3,105
|
5,311
|
58.47
|
25
|
Alex Smith*
|
San Francisco 49ers (2005–2012) Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2017) Washington Redskins (2018–present)
|
3,082
|
4,941
|
62.38
|
26
|
Jay Cutler
|
Denver Broncos (2006–2008) Chicago Bears (2009–2016) Miami Dolphins (2017)
|
3,048
|
4,920
|
61.95
|
27
|
Boomer Esiason
|
Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1992, 1997) New York Jets (1993–1995) Arizona Cardinals (1996)
|
2,969
|
5,205
|
57.04
|
28
|
Troy Aikman^
|
Dallas Cowboys (1989–2000)
|
2,898
|
4,715
|
61.46
|
29
|
Ryan Fitzpatrick*
|
St. Louis Rams (2005–2006) Cincinnati Bengals (2007–2008) Buffalo Bills (2009–2012) Tennessee Titans (2013) Houston Texans (2014) New York Jets (2015–2016) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2017–2018) Miami Dolphins (2019–present)
|
2,886
|
4,787
|
60.29
|
30
|
Steve DeBerg
|
San Francisco 49ers (1978–1980) Denver Broncos (1981–1983) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984–1987, 1992–1993) Miami Dolphins (1993) Atlanta Falcons (1998)
|
2,874
|
5,024
|
57.21
|
Jim Kelly^
|
Buffalo Bills (1986–1996)
|
4,779
|
60.14
|
32
|
Jim Everett
|
Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993) New Orleans Saints (1994–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997)
|
2,841
|
4,923
|
57.71
|
33
|
Johnny Unitas*
|
Baltimore Colts (1956–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973)
|
2,830
|
5,186
|
54.57
|
34
|
Tony Romo
|
Dallas Cowboys (2003–2016)
|
2,829
|
4,335
|
65.26
|
35
|
Mark Brunell
|
Green Bay Packers (1994) Jacksonville Jaguars (1995–2003) Washington Redskins (2004–2007) New Orleans Saints (2008–2009) New York Jets (2010–2011)
|
2,761
|
4,640
|
59.5
|
36
|
Andy Dalton*
|
Cincinnati Bengals (2011–present)
|
2,757
|
4,449
|
61.97
|
37
|
Steve McNair
|
Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans (1995–2005) Baltimore Ravens (2006–2007)
|
2,733
|
4,544
|
60.15
|
38
|
Jon Kitna
|
Seattle Seahawks (1997–2000) Cincinnati Bengals (2001–2005) Detroit Lions (2006–2008) Dallas Cowboys (2009–2011, 2013)
|
2,677
|
4,442
|
60.27
|
39
|
Brad Johnson
|
Minnesota Vikings (1994–1998), (2005–2006) Washington Redskins (1999–2000) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001–2004)
|
2,668
|
4,324
|
61.7
|
40
|
Steve Young^
|
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999)
|
2,667
|
4,149
|
64.28
|
41
|
Kurt Warner^
|
St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009)
|
2,666
|
4,070
|
65.5
|
42
|
Ken Anderson
|
Cincinnati Bengals (1971–1986)
|
2,654
|
4,475
|
59.31
|
43
|
Jim Hart
|
St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983) Washington Redskins (1984)
|
2,593
|
5,076
|
51.08
|
44
|
Phil Simms
|
New York Giants (1979–1993)
|
2,576
|
4,647
|
55.43
|
45
|
Rich Gannon
|
Minnesota Vikings (1987–1992) Washington Redskins (1993) Kansas City Chiefs (1995–1998) Oakland Raiders (1999–2004)
|
2,533
|
4,206
|
60.22
|
46
|
Jake Plummer
|
Arizona Cardinals (1997–2002) Denver Broncos (2003–2006) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2007)
|
2,484
|
4,350
|
57.1
|
47
|
John Brodie
|
San Francisco 49ers (1957–1973)
|
2,469
|
4,491
|
54.98
|
48
|
Russell Wilson*
|
Seattle Seahawks (2012–present)
|
2,436
|
3,777
|
64.5
|
49
|
Sonny Jurgensen
|
Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963) Washington Redskins (1964–1974)
|
2,433
|
4,262
|
57.09
|
50
|
Randall Cunningham
|
Philadelphia Eagles (1985–1995) Minnesota Vikings (1996–1999) Dallas Cowboys (2000) Baltimore Ravens (2001)
|
2,429
|
4,289
|
56.63
|
Active players not in top 50 but at least 2,100 completions
Through end of 2019 season; numbers in completions/attempts/percentage.
Most completions and attempts, including playoff games
Bold indicates player active; minimum 10K attempts/6K completions.
Historical passing completions leaders
Eight players are recognised as having held the record as the NFL's career pass completions leader.[1] The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 20 years.
Y A Tittle retired as the NFL's all-time leader in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions, and games played
Johnny Unitas won an NFL title in the 1950s and a Super Bowl in the 1970s.
Brett Favre had held the record from 2006 to 2018, when it was broken by Drew Brees.
Reign |
Player |
Team(s) while leader |
Career completions |
Season
|
1932–1940 (9 years) |
Arnie Herber^ [2] |
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^ [3] |
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^ [4] |
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^ [5] |
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^ [6] |
Minnesota Vikings |
2,931 |
1975
|
3,186 |
1976
|
3,341 |
1977
|
3,686 |
1978–1994
|
1995–2005 (11 years) |
Dan Marino^ [7] |
Miami Dolphins |
3,913 |
1995
|
4,134 |
1996
|
4,453 |
1997
|
4,763 |
1998
|
4,967 |
1999–2005
|
2006–2017 (12 years) |
Brett Favre^ [8] |
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
|
Since 2018 (2 years) |
Drew Brees* [9] |
New Orleans Saints |
6,586 |
2018
|
6,867 |
2019
|
See also
References
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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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