List of NFL annual passer rating leaders explained

In American football, passer rating is a measure of the performance of passers, primarily quarterbacks.[1] Passer rating is calculated using a player's passing attempts, completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns, and interceptions. Passer rating in the National Football League (NFL) is measured on a scale from 0 to 158.3, with a higher passer rating reflecting a stronger overall performance. Passer rating is sometimes colloquially referred to as “quarterback rating” or “QB rating”, however the statistic applies only to passing (not to other contributions by a quarterback) and applies to any player at any position who throws a forward pass, not just to quarterbacks.

The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the season.[2] In addition to the overall NFL passer rating leaders, league record books recognize the passer rating leaders of the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970.[3]

The single-season passer rating record is held by Aaron Rodgers who had a rating of 122.5 in with the Green Bay Packers. Steve Young has led the NFL in passer rating a record six different times while Len Dawson achieved the same feat in the AFL.[4]

NFL annual passer rating leaders

Key
scope=col Symbolscope=col Meaning
scope=row style="text-align:center;" LeaderThe player who recorded the highest passer rating in the NFL
scope=row style="text-align:center;" RateThe passer rating of the player
scope=row style="text-align:center;" GPThe number of games played by a player during the season
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#ff9;" Pro Football Hall of Fame member
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#cfecec;" ^The player is an active player
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#fbceb1;" Player set the single-season passer rating record
scope=row style="text-align:center;" (#)Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
NFL annual passer rating leaders by season
scope=col Seasonscope=col Playerscope=col scope=col scope=col Teamscope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=row 45.1*11Green Bay Packers[5] [6]
scope=row No player met the minimum threshold[7]
scope=row (2)58.9*12Green Bay Packers
scope=row 72.8*11New York Giants[8]
scope=row (2)66.911New York Giants
scope=row (3)61.610Green Bay Packers
scope=row 85.6*11Washington Redskins[9]
scope=row 95.3*11Washington Redskins[10]
scope=row 87.011Green Bay Packers[11]
scope=row (2)107.5*10Chicago Bears
scope=row 86.010Washington Redskins[12]
scope=row (2)109.9*10Washington Redskins
scope=row (3)71.011Chicago Bears
scope=row (3)92.012Washington Redskins
scope=row 98.412Philadelphia Eagles[13]
scope=row (2)84.412Philadelphia Eagles
scope=row 85.112Los Angeles Rams[14]
scope=row 81.811Los Angeles Rams[15]
scope=row 85.612Green Bay Packers[16]
scope=row 99.712Cleveland Browns[17]
scope=row 80.412Philadelphia Eagles[18]
scope=row (2)94.012Cleveland Browns
scope=row 83.112Chicago Bears[19]
scope=row 93.311Cleveland Browns[20]
scope=row 90.010Baltimore Colts[21]
scope=row 102.710New York Giants[22]
scope=row 110.4*12Cleveland Browns[23]
scope=row 93.713Chicago Bears[24]
scope=row 95.414Dallas Cowboys[25]
scope=row 104.813New York Giants[26]
scope=row 97.114Green Bay Packers[27]
scope=row (2)97.411Baltimore Colts
scope=row (2)105.014Green Bay Packers
scope=row 87.314Washington Redskins[28]
scope=row (3)104.312Green Bay Packers
scope=row (4)89.912Green Bay Packers
scope=row 93.814San Francisco 49ers[29]
scope=row 104.813Dallas Cowboys[30]
scope=row 91.014Miami Dolphins[31]
scope=row (2)94.614Dallas Cowboys
scope=row 95.713Cincinnati Bengals[32]
scope=row (2)93.914Cincinnati Bengals
scope=row 103.412Oakland Raiders[33]
scope=row 87.814Miami Dolphins[34]
scope=row (3)84.915Dallas Cowboys
scope=row (4)92.316Dallas Cowboys
scope=row 91.416Cleveland Browns[35]
scope=row (3)98.416Cincinnati Bengals
scope=row (4)95.39Cincinnati Bengals
scope=row 97.614Atlanta Falcons[36]
scope=row 108.916Miami Dolphins[37]
scope=row 96.216New York Jets[38]
scope=row 92.613Minnesota Vikings[39]
scope=row 102.113San Francisco 49ers[40]
scope=row 97.416Cincinnati Bengals[41]
scope=row (2)112.4*13San Francisco 49ers
scope=row 101.214Buffalo Bills[42]
scope=row 101.811San Francisco 49ers[43]
scope=row (2)107.016San Francisco 49ers
scope=row (3)101.516San Francisco 49ers
scope=row (4)112.8*16San Francisco 49ers
scope=row 100.715Indianapolis Colts[44]
scope=row (5)97.212San Francisco 49ers
scope=row (6)104.715San Francisco 49ers
scope=row 106.015Minnesota Vikings[45]
scope=row 109.216St. Louis Rams[46]
scope=row 102.910Denver Broncos[47]
scope=row (2)101.416St. Louis Rams
scope=row 104.215New York Jets[48]
scope=row 100.414Tennessee Titans[49]
scope=row 121.1*16Indianapolis Colts[50]
scope=row (2)104.116Indianapolis Colts
scope=row (3)101.016Indianapolis Colts
scope=row 117.216New England Patriots[51]
scope=row 105.516San Diego Chargers[52]
scope=row 109.615New Orleans Saints[53]
scope=row (2)111.016New England Patriots
scope=row ^122.5*15Green Bay Packers[54]
scope=row ^ (2)108.016Green Bay Packers
scope=row 119.213Philadelphia Eagles[55]
scope=row 113.215Dallas Cowboys[56]
scope=row ^110.116Seattle Seahawks[57]
scope=row 117.116Atlanta Falcons[58]
scope=row 104.715Kansas City Chiefs[59]
scope=row (2)115.715New Orleans Saints
scope=row 117.512Tennessee Titans[60]
scope=row ^ (3)121.516Green Bay Packers
scope=row ^ (4)111.916Green Bay Packers
scope=row ^105.513Miami Dolphins[61]
scope=row ^ 113.016San Francisco 49ers[62]

AFL annual passer rating leaders

Key
scope=col Symbolscope=col Meaning
scope=row style="text-align:center;" LeaderThe player who recorded the highest passer rating in the AFL
scope=row style="text-align:center;" RateThe passer rating of the player
scope=row style="text-align:center;" GPThe number of games played by a player during the season
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#ff9;" Pro Football Hall of Fame member
scope=row style="text-align:center; background:#fbceb1;" Player set the single-season passer rating record
scope=row style="text-align:center;" (#)Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
Season! scope=col
Playerscope=col scope=col scope=col Teamscope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=row 196071.8*14Oakland Raiders[63]
scope=row 196191.3*14Houston Oilers[64]
scope=row 196298.3*14Dallas Texans[65]
scope=row 196386.714San Diego Chargers
scope=row 1964 (2)89.914Kansas City Chiefs
scope=row 1965 (3)81.314Kansas City Chiefs
scope=row 1966 (4)101.7*14Kansas City Chiefs
scope=row 1967 (5)83.714Kansas City Chiefs
scope=row 1968 (6)98.614Kansas City Chiefs
scope=row 196988.311Cincinnati Bengals[66]

Most seasons leading the league

scope=col Countscope=col Playerscope=col Seasonsscope=col Team(s)scope=col class= "unsortable"
scope=rowgroup rowspan=2 6 1962, 19641968Dallas Texans (1) / Kansas City Chiefs (5)
,, San Francisco 49ers
scope=rowgroup rowspan=4 4 ,,, Cincinnati Bengals
,,, Green Bay Packers
,,, Green Bay Packers
,,, Dallas Cowboys
scope=rowgroup rowspan=4 3,, Washington Redskins
,, Green Bay Packers
,, Washington Redskins (1) / Chicago Bears (2)
Indianapolis Colts

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: NFL Quarterback Rating Formula . . https://web.archive.org/web/20110814052052/http://www.nfl.com/help/quarterbackratingformula . 2011-08-14 . live . August 6, 2011.
  2. Web site: NFL's Passer Rating . . 2005-01-01 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151003213325/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/release.aspx?release_id=1303 . 2015-10-03 . live . December 27, 2016.
  3. Web site: 2022 . 2022 NFL Fact and Record Book . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220721202004/https://operations.nfl.com/media/6101/2022-record-and-fact-book.pdf . July 21, 2022 . July 11, 2023 . . 550.
  4. Web site: Mind-blowing stats for the San Francisco 49ers . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20201201054117/https://www.nfl.com/photos/mind-blowing-stats-for-the-san-francisco-49ers-0ap1000000236970 . December 1, 2020 . 15 October 2024 . National Football League.
  5. Web site: NFL Passer Rating Year-by-Year Leaders . . September 13, 2023 . en . November 22, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211122145846/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_rating_year_by_year.htm . live .
  6. Web site: Arnie Herber Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . March 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230327064154/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HerbAr20.htm . live .
  7. Web site: 1935 NFL Passing . . 4 June 2024 . en . April 16, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240416210030/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1935/passing.htm . live .
  8. Web site: Ed Danowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . October 12, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221012213921/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DanoEd20.htm . live .
  9. Web site: Sammy Baugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . December 4, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201204231115/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BaugSa00.htm . live .
  10. Web site: Sid Luckman Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . June 21, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230621025118/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LuckSi00.htm . live .
  11. Web site: Cecil Isbell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . June 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230618161935/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/I/IsbeCe20.htm . live .
  12. Web site: Frank Filchock Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406201406/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FilcFr20.htm . live .
  13. Web site: Tommy Thompson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . March 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230315031953/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/ThomTo21.htm . live .
  14. Web site: Norm Van Brocklin Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . June 11, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230611051336/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/V/VanBNo00.htm . live .
  15. Web site: Bob Waterfield Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . April 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230425094156/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WateBo01.htm . live .
  16. Web site: Tobin Rote Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318074359/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RoteTo00.htm . live .
  17. Web site: Otto Graham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . November 27, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201127051901/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrahOt00.htm . live .
  18. Web site: Adrian Burk Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 10, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190510095402/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BurkAd00.htm . live .
  19. Web site: Ed Brown Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . July 2, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190702195134/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrowEd01.htm . live .
  20. Web site: Tommy O'Connell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 3, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230503090737/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OConTo00.htm . live .
  21. Web site: Johnny Unitas Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . November 15, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131115031638/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/U/UnitJo00.htm . live .
  22. Web site: Charlie Conerly Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207221155/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/ConeCh00.htm . live .
  23. Web site: Milt Plum Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . August 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829180024/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PlumMi00.htm . live .
  24. Web site: Billy Wade Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . October 2, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181002145623/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WadeBi00.htm . live .
  25. Web site: Eddie LeBaron Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . September 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230914135806/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/L/LeBaEd00.htm . live .
  26. Web site: Y.A. Tittle Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 11, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080511181000/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TittY.00.htm . live .
  27. Web site: Bart Starr Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320190951/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StarBa00.htm . live .
  28. Web site: Sonny Jurgensen Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322192154/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JurgSo00.htm . live .
  29. Web site: John Brodie Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230322141221/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BrodJo00.htm . live .
  30. Web site: Roger Staubach Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111023/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StauRo00.htm . live .
  31. Web site: Earl Morrall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . June 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628174441/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MorrEa00.htm . live .
  32. Web site: Ken Anderson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . April 27, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230427025558/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeKe00.htm . live .
  33. Web site: Ken Stabler Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . September 5, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905074838/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/StabKe00.htm . live .
  34. Web site: Bob Griese Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 2, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210502031323/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrieBo00.htm . live .
  35. Web site: Brian Sipe Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207221159/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SipeBr00.htm . live .
  36. Web site: Steve Bartkowski Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . October 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181008061237/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BartSt00.htm . live .
  37. Web site: Dan Marino Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321110938/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MariDa00.htm . live .
  38. Web site: Ken O'Brien Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221349/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OBriKe00.htm . live .
  39. Web site: Tommy Kramer Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230207221153/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KramTo00.htm . live .
  40. Web site: Joe Montana Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 21, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210321111016/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MontJo01.htm . live .
  41. Web site: Boomer Esiason Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230222195437/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/E/EsiaBo00.htm . live .
  42. Web site: Jim Kelly Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221315/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KellJi00.htm . live .
  43. Web site: Steve Young Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . January 22, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080122111626/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/Y/YounSt00.htm . live .
  44. Web site: Jim Harbaugh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 18, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230318074436/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HarbJi00.htm . live .
  45. Web site: Randall Cunningham Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 2, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100202034037/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CunnRa00.htm . live .
  46. Web site: Kurt Warner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221738/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WarnKu00.htm . live .
  47. Web site: Brian Griese Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . August 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829180051/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/G/GrieBr00.htm . live .
  48. Web site: Chad Pennington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . August 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230829180003/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PennCh01.htm . live .
  49. Web site: Steve McNair Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230214070802/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/McNaSt00.htm . live .
  50. Web site: Peyton Manning Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . October 31, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211031154953/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MannPe00.htm . live .
  51. Web site: Tom Brady Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . February 6, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180206010741/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BradTo00.htm . live .
  52. Web site: Philip Rivers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . September 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190912095659/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RivePh00.htm . live .
  53. Web site: Drew Brees Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . August 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210812164541/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BreeDr00.htm . live .
  54. Web site: Aaron Rodgers Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . July 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230706022123/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RodgAa00.htm . live .
  55. Web site: Nick Foles Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . December 28, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171228131849/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FoleNi00.htm . live .
  56. Web site: Tony Romo Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . May 29, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230529011250/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RomoTo00.htm . live .
  57. Web site: Russell Wilson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . July 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230705121946/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/W/WilsRu00.htm . live .
  58. Web site: Matt Ryan Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . January 24, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190124193433/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RyanMa00.htm . live .
  59. Web site: Alex Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . October 1, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181001213634/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/S/SmitAl03.htm . live .
  60. Web site: Ryan Tannehill Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . June 28, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230628134503/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TannRy00.htm . live .
  61. Web site: Tua Tagovailoa Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 13 September 2023 . en . September 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907180907/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TagoTu00.htm . live .
  62. Web site: Brock Purdy Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 12 January 2024 . en . September 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907180907/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PurdBr00.htm . live .
  63. Web site: Tom Flores Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . April 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230405082855/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FlorTo00.htm . live .
  64. Web site: George Blanda Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . May 16, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230516221734/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BlanGe00.htm . live .
  65. Web site: Len Dawson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . August 29, 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080829163503/http://pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DawsLe00.htm . live .
  66. Web site: Greg Cook Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College . . 14 September 2023 . en . March 22, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190322034351/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CookGr00.htm . live .