List of NFL career passer rating leaders

The NFL rates its passers for statistical purposes against a fixed performance standard based on statistical achievements of all qualified pro passers since 1960. The current passer rating system, which was adopted in 1973, removes inequities that existed in the former method and, at the same time, provides a means of comparing passing performances from one season to the next. According to the 2017 NFL Record & Fact Book, it is important to remember that the system is used to rate passers, not quarterbacks. Statistics do not reflect leadership, play-calling, and other intangible factors that go into making a successful professional quarterback.^[1]

Four categories are used as a basis for compiling a rating:

Percentage of completions per attempt
Average yards gained per attempt
Percentage of touchdown passes per attempt
Percentage of interceptions per attempt

The average standard is 1.000. The bottom is .000. To earn a 2.000 rating, a passer must perform at exceptional levels, i.e., 70 percent in completions, 10 percent in touchdowns, 1.5 percent in interceptions, and 11 yards average gain per pass attempt. In order to make the rating more understandable, the point rating is then converted into a scale of 100, with 158.3 being the highest rating a passer can achieve. In cases where statistical performance has been superior, it is possible for a passer to surpass a 100 rating.
Quarterbacks are required to throw at least 1,500 passes before their ratings qualify for NFL career statistics for the regular season, and 150 attempts for the postseason.^[2]

Regular season[edit]

Key
^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Active player

Quarterbacks must have at least 1,500 career attempts to qualify for this list.^[2]
Updated through the 2023 season.^[3]

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
1	* Aaron Rodgers	103.6
2	* Patrick Mahomes	103.5
3	* Deshaun Watson	100.8
4	* Russell Wilson	100.0
5	* Dak Prescott	99.0
6	Drew Brees	98.7
7	* Joe Burrow	98.6
8	* Kirk Cousins	98.2
9	* Lamar Jackson	98.0
10	* Jimmy Garoppolo	97.6
11	Tom Brady	97.2
12	Tony Romo	97.1
12	* Tua Tagovailoa	97.1
14	^ Steve Young	96.8
15	^ Peyton Manning	96.5
16	* Justin Herbert	95.7
17	Philip Rivers	95.2
18	^ Kurt Warner	93.7
19	Matt Ryan	93.6
19	* Jared Goff	93.6
21	Ben Roethlisberger	93.5
22	^ Joe Montana	92.3
22	* Derek Carr	92.3
24	* Josh Allen	92.2
24	* Kyler Murray	92.2
26	* Ryan Tannehill	91.2
27	* Jalen Hurts	91.1
28	* Matthew Stafford	91.0
29	Teddy Bridgewater	90.5
30	Chad Pennington	90.1
31	Andrew Luck	89.5
31	Matt Schaub	89.5
33	* Carson Wentz	89.4
34	* Marcus Mariota	89.2

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
35	Colin Kaepernick	88.9
36	* Tyrod Taylor	88.3
37	* Baker Mayfield	88.1
38	Carson Palmer	87.9
39	Daunte Culpepper	87.8
40	* Andy Dalton	87.6
41	Jeff Garcia	87.5
42	* Jameis Winston	87.0
43	Alex Smith	86.9
44	^ Otto Graham	86.6
44	* Geno Smith	86.6
46	^ Dan Marino	86.4
47	Nick Foles	86.2
48	^ Brett Favre	86.0
48	Trent Green	86.0
50	David Garrard	85.8
51	Donovan McNabb	85.6
52	* Mitchell Trubisky	85.5
53	Jay Cutler	85.3
53	* Jacoby Brissett	85.3
55	Cam Newton	85.2
55	* Daniel Jones	85.2
57	* Trevor Lawrence	85.0
58	Rich Gannon	84.7
58	* Case Keenum	84.6
60	Sam Bradford	84.5
61	Marc Bulger	84.4
61	^ Jim Kelly	84.4
63	* Joe Flacco	84.2
64	Eli Manning	84.1
65	Mark Brunell	84.0
66	^ Roger Staubach	83.4
67	Steve McNair	82.8

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
68	Brian Griese	82.7
68	Neil Lomax	82.7
70	^ Len Dawson	82.6
70	^ Sonny Jurgensen	82.6
72	Brad Johnson	82.5
73	Matt Hasselbeck	82.4
74	Ryan Fitzpatrick	82.3
75	* Brian Hoyer	82.0
76	Ken Anderson	81.9
77	Bernie Kosar	81.8
77	Neil O'Donnell	81.8
79	Jason Campbell	81.7
79	Danny White	81.7
81	^ Troy Aikman	81.6
82	Randall Cunningham	81.5
82	Dave Krieg	81.5
84	Jake Delhomme	81.3
85	Kyle Orton	81.2
86	Boomer Esiason	81.1
87	^ Warren Moon	80.9
88	Blake Bortles	80.6
89	^ Bart Starr	80.5
89	Jeff Hostetler	80.5
91	Jeff George	80.4
	Ken O'Brien
	^ Fran Tarkenton
	Michael Vick
95	Steve Beuerlein	80.3
96	^ Dan Fouts	80.2
97	^ John Elway	79.9
98	Tony Eason	79.7
98	Josh McCown	79.7
100	Elvis Grbac	79.6

Postseason[edit]

Quarterbacks must have at least 150 career postseason attempts to qualify for this list.

Updated through 2023 season^[4]

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
1	* Patrick Mahomes	105.8
2	^ Bart Starr	104.8
3	^ Kurt Warner	102.8
4	* Matthew Stafford	101.7
5	Matt Ryan	100.8
6	* Aaron Rodgers	100.1
7	* Josh Allen	100.0
8	Nick Foles	98.8
9	Alex Smith	97.4
10	Drew Brees	97.1
11	* Brock Purdy	96.2
12	^ Joe Montana	95.6
13	* Russell Wilson	95.3
14	Mark Sanchez	94.3
15	* Joe Burrow	93.8
16	* Kirk Cousins	93.7
17	Ken Anderson	93.5
18	Tony Romo	93.0
19	* Dak Prescott	91.8
20	Joe Theismann	91.4
21	Tom Brady	89.8
22	* Jared Goff	88.4
23	^ Troy Aikman	88.3
24	* Jalen Hurts	88.1
25	* Joe Flacco	87.9
26	Cam Newton	87.7
27	^ Peyton Manning	87.4
27	Eli Manning	87.4

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
29	Colin Kaepernick	87.3
30	Ben Roethlisberger	86.7
31	^ Brett Favre	86.3
32	^ Steve Young	85.8
33	Philip Rivers	85.3
34	^ Warren Moon	84.9
35	Rich Gannon	84.6
36	Matt Hasselbeck	84.2
36	^ Ken Stabler	84.2
38	Bernie Kosar	83.5
39	Jake Delhomme	83.3
40	^ Terry Bradshaw	83.0
41	Jim Plunkett	81.9
42	Vinny Testaverde	81.0
43	Donovan McNabb	80.0
44	^ John Elway	79.7
45	Daryle Lamonica	77.9
46	^ Len Dawson	77.4
47	Chad Pennington	77.3
48	^ Dan Marino	77.1
49	Phil Simms	77.0
50	Jim McMahon	76.1
51	^ Roger Staubach	76.0
52	* Lamar Jackson	75.7
53	Wade Wilson	75.6
54	Kerry Collins	75.3
55	Neil O'Donnell	74.9
56	Randall Cunningham	74.3

Rank	Quarterback	Rating
57	Jeff Garcia	73.8
58	Andrew Luck	73.4
59	Jake Plummer	72.7
60	Dave Krieg	72.3
60	^ Jim Kelly	72.3
62	Mark Rypien	72.2
63	Danny White	71.6
64	^ Dan Fouts	70.0
65	^ Johnny Unitas	68.9
66	Billy Kilmer	68.6
67	^ Bob Griese	68.3
68	Jim Harbaugh	67.2
69	Steve McNair	66.7
70	Mark Brunell	66.3
71	^ Otto Graham	63.7
72	Ron Jaworski	63.4
73	Brad Johnson	62.8
74	Vince Ferragamo	59.9
75	^ Fran Tarkenton	58.6
76	* Andy Dalton	57.8
77	Jim Everett	57.0
78	Drew Bledsoe	54.9
79	Stan Humphries	54.8
80	Doug Williams	53.6
81	Jay Schroeder	50.4
82	Jack Kemp	50.2
83	^ George Blanda	42.4
84	Craig Morton	42.0

All-time rankings in the four categories[edit]

These are the top 10 quarterbacks in each statistic that determine the NFL passer rating.^[3]
Minimum: 1,500 Attempts
Records through the 2023.regular season

Key
^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Active player

Completion percentage
Player	Percentage	Attempts	Completions
* Joe Burrow	67.97	1,895	1,288
Drew Brees	67.69	10,551	7,142
* Jimmy Garoppolo	67.39	1,895	1,277
* Dak Prescott	67	3,873	2,595
* Kirk Cousins	66.93	5,177	3,465
* Tua Tagovailoa	66.91	1,638	1,096
* Kyler Murray	66.64	2,239	1,492
* Justin Herbert	66.6	2,422	1,613
* Deshaun Watson	66.54	2,089	1,390
* Patrick Mahomes	66.46	3,590	2,386

Average yards per pass
Player	Average	Attempts	Yards
^ Otto Graham	8.63	1,565	13,499
^ Sid Luckman	8.42	1,744	14,686
* Jimmy Garoppolo	8.18	1,895	15,494
^ Norm Van Brocklin	8.16	2,895	23,611
* Deshaun Watson	8.02	2,089	16,756
^ Steve Young	7.98	4,149	33,124
^ Kurt Warner	7.95	4,070	32,344
* Patrick Mahomes	7.92	3,590	28,424
Tony Romo	7.89	4,335	34,183
Ed Brown	7.85	1,987	15,600

Touchdown percentage
Player	Percentage	Attempts	Touchdowns
^ Sid Luckman	7.86	1,744	137
Frank Ryan	6.99	2,133	149
^ Len Dawson	6.39	3,741	239
Daryle Lamonica	6.31	2,601	164
^ Sammy Baugh	6.24	2,995	187
* Aaron Rodgers	6.2	7,661	475
Charlie Conerly	6.11	2,833	173
* Patrick Mahomes	6.1	3,590	219
^ Bob Waterfield	6	1,617	97
^ Earl Morrall	5.99	2,689	161

Interception percentage
Player	Percentage	Attempts	Interceptions
* Aaron Rodgers	1.37	7,661	105
* Jacoby Brissett	1.44	1,600	23
* Tyrod Taylor	1.68	1,730	29
* Justin Herbert	1.73	2,422	42
* Patrick Mahomes	1.75	3,590	63
Tom Brady	1.76	12,050	212
Colin Kaepernick	1.77	1,692	30
* Russell Wilson	1.87	5,665	106
* Dak Prescott	1.91	3,873	74
* Derek Carr	1.94	5,506	107

References[edit]

^ "Official 2017 National Football League Record & Fact Book" (PDF). NFL. p. 311. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.
^ ^a ^b "Minimum Requirements For Football Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
^ ^a ^b NFL Career Passing Rating Leaders Archived 2019-09-13 at the Wayback Machine Pro-Football-Reference.com
^ "NFL Passer Rating Career Playoffs Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2022-11-05.

[ratings-1] "Official 2017 National Football League Record & Fact Book" (PDF). NFL. p. 311. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 9 September 2017.

[Minimum_requirements-2] "Minimum Requirements For Football Leaderboards". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on 2020-02-14. Retrieved 2020-11-27.

[Fact_book-3] NFL Career Passing Rating Leaders Archived 2019-09-13 at the Wayback Machine Pro-Football-Reference.com

[4] "NFL Passer Rating Career Playoffs Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2019-07-04. Retrieved 2022-11-05.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

Regular season[edit]

Postseason[edit]

All-time rankings in the four categories[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]