Peyton Manning throwing a football Peyton Manning holds the single-season passing touchdowns record, throwing 55 touchdowns in 2013.[ 1]
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.[ 5] The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[ 6]
Tom Brady has led the NFL in passing touchdowns five times, more than any other quarterback.[ 7] Johnny Unitas is the only player to lead the league four times consecutively, doing so from 1957 through 1960.[ 8] 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
Tom Brady with no helmet in his Patriots uniform Tom Brady led the league in passing touchdowns five times, an NFL record.[ 7]
Johnny Unitas in his Baltimore Colts uniform and helmet Johnny Unitas is the only player to have led the league in passing touchdowns in four consecutive seasons (1957–1960).[ 8]
Y. A. Tittle trading card, depicting Tittle in his San Francisco 49ers uniform Y. A. Tittle held the record for most passing touchdowns in a season for 21 years and led the league in passing touchdowns three times.[ 9]
File:Dak Prescott WAS @ DAL 2021 (cropped).jpg Dak Prescott is the most recent passing touchdowns leader.[ 10]
AFL annual passing touchdowns leaders
File:Len Dawson 1955 (cropped).jpg Len Dawson led the AFL in passing touchdowns four times.[ 73]
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)
[ 12]
4
Drew Brees
2008 , 2009 , 2011 , 2012
New Orleans Saints
[ 12]
Len Dawson
1962 , 1963 , 1965 , 1966
Kansas City Chiefs
[ 12]
Brett Favre
1995 –1997 , 2002
Green Bay Packers
[ 12]
Peyton Manning
2000 , 2004 , 2006 , 2013
Indianapolis Colts (3) / Denver Broncos (1)
[ 12]
Johnny Unitas
1957 –1960
Baltimore Colts
[ 12]
Steve Young
1992 –1994 , 1998
San Francisco 49ers
[ 12]
3
Arnie Herber
1932 , 1934 , 1936
Green Bay Packers
[ 12]
Sid Luckman
1943 , 1945 , 1946
Chicago Bears
[ 12]
Dan Marino
1984 –1986
Miami Dolphins
[ 12]
Y. A. Tittle
1955 , 1962 , 1963
San Francisco 49ers (1) / New York Giants (2)
[ 12]
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.[ 11]
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 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 .
↑ 7.0 7.1 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 .
↑ 8.0 8.1 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 . Archived from the original on October 9, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2023 .
↑ "NFL stat leaders: Mahomes, Jacobs earn titles" . The Athletic . Archived from the original on March 16, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023 .
↑ "NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season" . Pro Football Hall of Fame . Archived from the original on May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023 .
↑ 12.000 12.001 12.002 12.003 12.004 12.005 12.006 12.007 12.008 12.009 12.010 12.011 12.012 12.013 12.014 12.015 12.016 12.017 12.018 12.019 12.020 12.021 12.022 12.023 12.024 12.025 12.026 12.027 12.028 12.029 12.030 12.031 12.032 12.033 12.034 12.035 12.036 12.037 12.038 12.039 12.040 12.041 12.042 12.043 12.044 12.045 12.046 12.047 12.048 12.049 12.050 12.051 12.052 12.053 12.054 12.055 12.056 12.057 12.058 12.059 12.060 12.061 12.062 12.063 12.064 12.065 12.066 12.067 12.068 12.069 12.070 12.071 12.072 12.073 12.074 12.075 12.076 12.077 12.078 12.079 12.080 12.081 12.082 12.083 12.084 12.085 12.086 12.087 12.088 12.089 12.090 12.091 12.092 12.093 12.094 12.095 12.096 12.097 12.098 12.099 12.100 12.101 12.102 12.103 12.104 12.105 12.106 12.107 12.108 12.109 12.110 12.111 12.112 12.113 12.114 12.115 12.116 12.117 12.118 12.119 12.120 12.121 12.122 12.123 12.124 "NFL Passing Touchdowns Year-by-Year Leaders" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on February 1, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Arnie Herber Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 27, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Harry Newman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on January 16, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Ed Danowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Bernie Masterson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 13, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Bob Monnett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on December 1, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 18.0 18.1 "Frank Filchock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 19.0 19.1 "Sammy Baugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on February 26, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 20.0 20.1 "Cecil Isbell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 18, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "Sid Luckman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 21, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 22.0 22.1 "Bob Waterfield Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Tommy Thompson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 15, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Johnny Lujack Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "George Ratterman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Bobby Layne Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Jim Finks Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Otto Graham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "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 .
↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 "Y. A. Tittle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 32.0 32.1 "Tobin Rote Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 18, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 33.0 33.1 33.2 33.3 "Johnny Unitas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 34.0 34.1 "Sonny Jurgensen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 35.0 35.1 "Frank Ryan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 36.0 36.1 "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 .
↑ 38.0 38.1 "Roman Gabriel Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 39.0 39.1 "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 .
↑ 43.0 43.1 "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 .
↑ 47.0 47.1 "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 .
↑ 51.0 51.1 "Dan Fouts Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on December 18, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2023 .
↑ 52.0 52.1 "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 .
↑ 54.0 54.1 54.2 "Dan Marino Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 21, 2021. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 55.0 55.1 "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 .
↑ "Jim Kelly Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 58.0 58.1 58.2 58.3 "Steve Young Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 59.0 59.1 59.2 59.3 "Brett Favre Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 7, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ 60.0 60.1 "Kurt Warner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 61.0 61.1 61.2 61.3 "Peyton Manning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Daunte Culpepper Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 63.0 63.1 63.2 63.3 63.4 "Tom Brady Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Carson Palmer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on November 5, 2018. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 65.3 "Drew Brees Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Philip Rivers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Andrew Luck Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 68.0 68.1 "Aaron Rodgers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Russell Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 17, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 70.0 70.1 "Patrick Mahomes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 18, 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2023 .
↑ "Lamar Jackson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on June 13, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Dak Prescott Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on March 24, 2023. Retrieved January 12, 2023 .
↑ Goldstein, Richard (August 24, 2022). "Len Dawson, Who Took Kansas City to a Championship, Dies at 87" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved July 10, 2023 .
↑ "Al Dorow Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on December 9, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "George Blanda Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 76.0 76.1 76.2 76.3 "Len Dawson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on April 27, 2024. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ "Babe Parilli Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
↑ 78.0 78.1 "Daryle Lamonica Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023 .
General Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Defense
Special teams
Scoring