Lamar Jackson didn't just play football in 2024; he basically broke the math. If you're looking at the NFL passer rating leaders 2024, his name sits right at the top like a neon sign. 119.6. That’s the number. It's nearly 10 points higher than the next guy, which, in the world of NFL efficiency metrics, is the equivalent of winning a marathon by three miles.
Honestly, passer rating is a weird stat. It’s old. It doesn’t count rushing yards. Yet, it still tells us a lot about who was actually "on" during the 2024 season. While the MVP talk circled around Josh Allen and Joe Burrow, the efficiency crown belonged to the guy in Baltimore.
The Elite Tier: 2024 Passer Rating Leaders
When we talk about the passer rating leaders 2024, we aren't just talking about volume. We're talking about making every throw count. Here is how the top of the leaderboard shook out for the regular season:
- Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens): 119.6
- Jared Goff (Detroit Lions): 111.8
- Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals): 108.5
- Baker Mayfield (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 106.8
- Jalen Hurts (Philadelphia Eagles): 103.7
- Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings): 102.5
Look at Jared Goff. Seriously. He finished with a 111.8 rating and a completion percentage of 72.4%. You've got to give Ben Johnson and that Detroit offense credit—Goff was a surgeon. He threw for 37 touchdowns and helped lead the Lions to a 15-2 record. People still try to say he's just a system QB, but you don't post a 110+ rating by accident.
Then there’s Joe Burrow. The Bengals went 9-8, which kinda sucks for them, but Burrow was elite. 4,918 yards. 43 touchdowns. Only 9 interceptions. His 108.5 rating proves that even when the defense is a sieve, a great quarterback can still put up historic efficiency.
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Why These Numbers Actually Matter
You might think passer rating is a "boomer stat" because it was invented in the 70s. You'd be wrong. It measures four specific things: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and interception percentage.
It’s a purity test for throwing the ball.
Lamar Jackson's 2024 was special because he only threw 4 interceptions all year. Four! In 17 games! When you combine that with an 8.6% touchdown rate, you get that astronomical 119.6 rating. It's the highest single-season mark since Aaron Rodgers went nuclear in 2011.
The Sam Darnold Renaissance
Can we talk about Sam Darnold for a second? Nobody saw this coming. He stepped into Kevin O'Connell's offense in Minnesota and finished with a 102.5 passer rating. He threw 35 touchdowns.
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Before 2024, Darnold was basically a punchline. Now? He's a legitimate top-10 efficiency guy. It just goes to show how much "situation" matters. You put a talented arm in a system with Justin Jefferson and a play-caller who knows what he’s doing, and suddenly the stats start looking like Pro Bowl numbers.
The Mayfield Factor
Baker Mayfield is another one. He finished at 106.8. He had 41 touchdowns. Sure, he threw 16 interceptions—which is why he isn't higher on the list—but his ability to push the ball downfield kept that rating high. Tampa Bay won the NFC South again because Baker was a top-5 efficient passer.
The Discrepancy: Rating vs. Reality
One thing that confuses fans is the difference between "Passer Rating" and "QBR."
Passer rating (the one Lamar led) is just passing. ESPN’s Total QBR includes rushing and "clutch" factors. Interestingly, while Lamar led in the traditional rating, the MVP race was a dogfight with Josh Allen.
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Allen’s passer rating was 101.4. Good? Yes. Top of the league? No. But he led the league in "Big Time Throws" and rushing touchdowns for quarterbacks. This is the limitation of the stat. It doesn't care if you ran for 14 touchdowns like Allen did; it only cares about the 3,731 yards you threw.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're using these stats for fantasy football or just to win arguments at the bar, here’s what you should take away from the 2024 leaders:
- Efficiency predicts wins: 4 of the top 6 leaders in passer rating made the playoffs.
- Watch the TD/INT ratio: This is the biggest driver of a high rating. Lamar’s 41:4 ratio is why he’s the king of this specific list.
- Context is king: Don't ignore guys like Justin Herbert (101.7) who had almost no weapons but still stayed efficient.
The 2024 season showed us that while the league is changing, the most valuable thing a quarterback can do is protect the football while attacking downfield. Lamar Jackson did it better than anyone else in history this year.
To get a better handle on these numbers yourself, you should look at "Adjusted Yards Per Attempt" (AY/A). It’s a similar stat to passer rating but a bit easier to calculate on a napkin. It rewards touchdowns and punishes interceptions, giving you a quick snapshot of who is actually moving the needle for their team. Compare the top 5 guys in passer rating to the top 5 in AY/A, and you'll usually find the same names—that's where the real truth about QB play lives.