List of National Football League career passing touchdowns leaders

This is a list of National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks by total career regular season passing touchdowns, and includes the 45 quarterbacks who have at least 200 career touchdown passes.

Tom Brady holds the record for most passing touchdowns with 581.

Regular season career passing touchdowns leaders (minimum 200)

Tom Brady is the all-time passing touchdown leader.

Key

^	Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
*	Denotes player who is still active

Through end of 2020 season.

Rank	Player	Team(s) by season	TDs
1	Tom Brady^*	New England Patriots (2000–2019) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020–present)	581
2	Drew Brees	San Diego Chargers (2001–2005) New Orleans Saints (2006–present)	571
3	Peyton Manning^^	Indianapolis Colts (1998–2011) Denver Broncos (2012–2015)	539
4	Brett Favre^^	Atlanta Falcons (1991) Green Bay Packers (1992–2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)	508
5	Philip Rivers	San Diego/L. A. Chargers (2004–2019) Indianapolis Colts (2020)	421
6	Dan Marino^^	Miami Dolphins (1983–1999)	420
7	Aaron Rodgers^*	Green Bay Packers (2005–present)	412
8	Ben Roethlisberger*	Pittsburgh Steelers (2004–present)	396
9	Eli Manning	New York Giants (2004–2019)	366
10	Matt Ryan^*	Atlanta Falcons (2008–present)	347
11	Fran Tarkenton^^	Minnesota Vikings (1961–1966, 1972–1978) New York Giants (1967–1971)	342
12	John Elway^^	Denver Broncos (1983–1998)	300
13	Carson Palmer	Cincinnati Bengals (2003–2010) Oakland Raiders (2011–2012) Arizona Cardinals (2013–2017)	294
14	Warren Moon^^[lower-alpha 1]	Houston Oilers (1984–1993) Minnesota Vikings (1994–1996) Seattle Seahawks (1997–1998) Kansas City Chiefs (1999–2000)	291
15	Johnny Unitas^^	Baltimore Colts (1956–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973)	290
16	Matthew Stafford^*	Detroit Lions (2009–present)	282
17	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)	275
18	Joe Montana^^	San Francisco 49ers (1979–1992) Kansas City Chiefs (1993–1994)	273
19	Russell Wilson^*	Seattle Seahawks (2012–present)	267
20	Dave Krieg	Seattle Seahawks (1980–1991) Kansas City Chiefs (1992–1993) Detroit Lions (1994) Arizona Cardinals (1995) Chicago Bears (1996) Tennessee Oilers (1997–1998)	261
21	Sonny Jurgensen^^	Philadelphia Eagles (1957–1963) Washington Redskins (1964–1974)	255
22	Dan Fouts^^	San Diego Chargers (1973–1987)	254
23	Drew Bledsoe	New England Patriots (1993–2001) Buffalo Bills (2002–2004) Dallas Cowboys (2005–2006)	251
24	Tony Romo	Dallas Cowboys (2003–2016)	248
25	Boomer Esiason	Cincinnati Bengals (1984–1992, 1997) New York Jets (1993–1995) Arizona Cardinals (1996)	247
26	John Hadl	San Diego Chargers (1962–1972) Los Angeles Rams (1973–1974)[lower-alpha 2] Green Bay Packers (1974–1975) Houston Oilers (1976–1977)	244
27	Len Dawson^^	Pittsburgh Steelers (1957–1959) Cleveland Browns (1960–1961) Dallas Texans (1962) Kansas City Chiefs (1963–1975)	239
28	Jim Kelly^^[lower-alpha 3]	Buffalo Bills (1986–1996)	237
29	George Blanda^^	Chicago Bears (1949, 1950–1958)[lower-alpha 4] Baltimore Colts (1950) Houston Oilers (1960–1966) Oakland Raiders (1967–1975)	236
30	Donovan McNabb	Philadelphia Eagles (1999–2009) Washington Redskins (2010) Minnesota Vikings (2011)	234
31	Steve Young^^[lower-alpha 5]	Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1985–1986) San Francisco 49ers (1987–1999)	232
32	Jay Cutler	Denver Broncos (2006–2008) Chicago Bears (2009–2016) Miami Dolphins (2017)	227
33	Joe Flacco^*	Baltimore Ravens (2008–2018) Denver Broncos (2019) New York Jets (2020–present)	224
34	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)	223
35	Andy Dalton^*	Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2019) Dallas Cowboys (2020–present)	218
36	John Brodie	San Francisco 49ers (1957–1973)	214
37	Terry Bradshaw^^	Pittsburgh Steelers (1970–1983)	212
	Matt Hasselbeck	Green Bay Packers (1998–2000) Seattle Seahawks (2001–2010) Tennessee Titans (2011–2012) Indianapolis Colts (2013–2015)
	Y. A. Tittle^^[lower-alpha 6]	Baltimore Colts (1950) San Francisco 49ers (1951–1960) New York Giants (1961–1964)
40	Jim Hart	St. Louis Cardinals (1966–1983) Washington Redskins (1984)	209
41	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)	208
	Kurt Warner^^	St. Louis Rams (1998–2003) New York Giants (2004) Arizona Cardinals (2005–2009)
43	Randall Cunningham	Philadelphia Eagles (1985–1995) Minnesota Vikings (1997–1999) Dallas Cowboys (2000) Baltimore Ravens (2001)	207
44	Jim Everett	Los Angeles Rams (1986–1993) New Orleans Saints (1994–1996) San Diego Chargers (1997)	203
45	Roman Gabriel	Los Angeles Rams (1962–1972) Philadelphia Eagles (1973–1977)	201

Most career touchdown passes including playoff games

Bold indicates active players; minimum 450 touchdowns.

1	Tom Brady	664
2	Drew Brees	608
3	Peyton Manning	579
4	Brett Favre	552
5	Aaron Rodgers	457
6	Dan Marino	452

Historical passing touchdowns leaders

Sixteen players are recognised as having held outright or tied the record as the NFL's career passing touchdowns leader.[4] The longest record holder was Fran Tarkenton who held the record for 20 years.

Elmer Oliphant was the 1st record holder

Benny Friedman held the record 14 years, including all of the 1930s

Fran Tarkenton was the leader 20 years, including all of the 1980s

Reign	Player	Team(s) while leader	Career passing touchdowns	Season(s)
1921–1922 (2 years)	Elmer Oliphant [5]	Buffalo All-Americans	7	1921–1922
1923	Lou Smyth [6]	Canton Bulldogs	8	1923
1924–1928 (5 years)	Curly Lambeau^^ [7]	Green Bay Packers	14	1924
			19	1925
			22	1926
			23	1927
			24	1928
Tied 1928	Red Dunn [8]
1929–1942 (14 years)	Benny Friedman^^ [9]	New York Giants 1929-1931 Brooklyn Dodgers 1932-1934	40	1929
			53	1930
			56	1931
			61	1932
			66	1933–1942
Tied 1940–1942 (3 years)	Arnie Herber^^ [10]	Green Bay Packers		1940–1942
1943–1961 (19 years)	Sammy Baugh^^ [11]	Washington Redskins	80	1943
			84	1944
			95	1945
			103	1946
			128	1947
			150	1948
			168	1949
			178	1950
			185	1951
			187	1952–1961
Tied 1961–1962 (2 years)	Bobby Layne^^ [12]	Pittsburgh Steelers		1961
			196	1962
1962–1966 (5 years)	Y. A. Tittle^^ [13]	New York Giants		1962
			232	1963
			242	1964–1966
1967–1974 (8 years)	Johnny Unitas^^ [14]	Baltimore Colts (1967–1972) San Diego Chargers (1973)	252	1967
			254	1968
			266	1969
			280	1970
			283	1971
			287	1972
			290	1973–1974
1975–1994 (20 years)	Fran Tarkenton^^ [15]	Minnesota Vikings	291	1975
			308	1976
			317	1977
			342	1978–1994
1995–2006 (12 years)	Dan Marino^^ [16]	Miami Dolphins	352	1995
			369	1996
			385	1997
			408	1998
			420	1999–2006
2007–2013 (7 years)	Brett Favre^^ [17]	Green Bay Packers (2007) New York Jets (2008) Minnesota Vikings (2009–2010)	442	2007
			464	2008
			497	2009
			508	2010–2013
2014–2018 (5 years)	Peyton Manning ^^ [18]	Denver Broncos	530	2014
			539	2015–2018
2019 (1 year)	Drew Brees [19]	New Orleans Saints	547	2019
Since 2020 (0 years)	Tom Brady^* [20]	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	581	2020

Notes

1. Warren Moon spent six seasons in the Canadian Football League, accumulating an additional 144 TD passes prior to entering the NFL as such not counted but of note.
2. Hadl was traded during the 1974 season; he played six games for the Rams and eight for the Packers.
3. Jim Kelly spent two seasons in the USFL, accumulating an additional 83 TD passes prior to entering the NFL as such not counted but of note.
4. Blanda was traded during the 1950 season; he played one game for the Colts and eleven games for the Bears.
5. Steve Young spent two seasons in the USFL, accumulating an additional 16 TD passes prior to entering the NFL as such not counted but of note.
6. Tittle's 30 touchdown passes in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) aren't included in this total, as the NFL does not recognise statistics accumulated in the AAFC.[1][2][3]

See also

• Most wins by a starting quarterback (NFL)
• List of National Football League career passing yards leaders
• List of National Football League career passing completions leaders
• List of National Football League playoffs passing touchdowns leaders
• List of gridiron football quarterbacks passing statistics
• National Football League records (individual)

References

General

• NFL Passing Leaders – complete list
• Pro-football-reference.com enumeration of career passing leaders

Footnotes

1. Pavlick, Ed (1980). "Pro Football Records Should Include the AAFC" (PDF). The Coffin Corner. Professional Football Researchers Association. 2 (7). Retrieved September 12, 2017.
2. Roberts, Jerry (2015). Pass Receiving in Early Pro Football: A History to the 1960s (illustrated ed.). McFarland. p. 137. ISBN 978-0786499465. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
3. "Y.A. Tittle". NFL.com. National Football League. Retrieved September 12, 2017.
4. "NFL Passing Touchdowns Career Leaders". Pro football reference.com. October 13, 2018. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
5. "NFL Career Passing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1922". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
6. "NFL Career Passing Touchdowns Leaders Through 1923". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
7. "Curly Lambeau stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
8. "Red Dunn stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
9. "Benny Friedman stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
10. "Arnie Herber stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
11. "Sammy Baugh stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
12. "Bobby Layne stats". NFL.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
13. "Tittle stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
14. "Johnny Unitas stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
15. "Fran Tarkenton stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
16. "Dan Marino stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
17. "Brett Favre stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
18. "Peyton Manning stats". Pro football reference.com. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
19. "Drew Brees stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved December 16, 2019.
20. "Tom Brady stats". PFRef.com. Retrieved October 25, 2020.