Best Quarterbacks in NFL History by Passing Yards (1932 - 2025)

Best Quarterbacks in NFL History by Passing Yards (1932 – 2025)

The history of the NFL’s greatest quarterbacks by passing yards reflects not only individual brilliance but also the evolution of the game itself. In the league’s early decades, passing was secondary to the running game, and quarterbacks were not yet the primary passers. That began to change in the 1940s, when the position fully embraced the aerial attack, shaping the modern NFL. Legends like Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and more recently Patrick Mahomes, redefined what it meant to lead an offense, combining vision, accuracy, and leadership to revolutionize football. This ranking highlights not just raw passing totals, but also the longevity and consistency required to maintain elite performance across seasons and eras. Each quarterback on the list represents a milestone in the sport’s ongoing transformation, proving that greatness is measured by sustained excellence and the ability to adapt in a game that never stops evolving.

Players that appear in this chart:
Arnie Herber
Walt Holmer
Jack McBride
Keith Molesworth
Benny Friedman
Dutch Clark
Glenn Presnell
John Doehring
Jack Grossman
Jack Hagerty
Bronko Nagurski
Doug Wycoff
Honolulu Hughes
Bob Campiglio
Bo Molenda
Harry Newman
Chris Cagle
Tony Holm
Joe Lillard
Red Kirkman
Bob Monnett
Ken Strong
Warren Heller
Carl Brumbaugh
Ed Danowski
Ed Matesic
Johnny Gildea
Bernie Masterson
Phil Sarboe
Pug Vaughan
Sammy Baugh
Pat Coffee
Dave Smukler
Ace Parker
Bob Snyder
Frank Filchock
Cecil Isbell
Davey O'Brien
Sid Luckman
Parker Hall
Tommy Thompson
Tuffy Leemans
Irv Comp
Frankie Sinkwich
Roy Zimmerman
Bob Waterfield
Paul Christman
Otto Graham
Bud Schwenk
Charlie O'Rourke
Frankie Albert
Glenn Dobbs
George Ratterman
Y.A. Tittle
Charlie Conerly
Johnny Lujack
Bobby Layne
Norm Van Brocklin
Tobin Rote
Jim Finks
Bobby Thomason
Johnny Unitas
Eddie LeBaron
George Blanda
Billy Wade
Milt Plum
Ed Brown
Bart Starr
Babe Parilli
Sonny Jurgensen
Jack Kemp
John Brodie
Fran Tarkenton
Norm Snead
John Hadl
Len Dawson
Roman Gabriel
Joe Namath
Charley Johnson
Jim Hart
Bob Griese
Craig Morton
Terry Bradshaw
Ken Anderson
Dan Fouts
Ken Stabler
Joe Ferguson
Joe Montana
Ron Jaworski
Dan Marino
Steve DeBerg
Phil Simms
John Elway
Warren Moon
Dave Krieg
Boomer Esiason
Jim Kelly
Jim Everett
Vinny Testaverde
Brett Favre
Drew Bledsoe
Peyton Manning
Kerry Collins
Donovan McNabb
Tom Brady
Eli Manning
Roethlisberger
Philip Rivers
Drew Brees
Carson Palmer
Matt Ryan
Aaron Rodgers
Matthew Stafford

Music Credits:
Music 1: Intermission by Alexander Nakarada
Music 2: Part A by Alexander Nakarada
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