Football isn't played in a vacuum, but we sure do treat the record books like they are. If you look at qb stats all time right now, you’re seeing a massive collision between eras that probably shouldn't be compared. Honestly, it's a bit of a mess. You've got guys from the 70s who were basically playing a different sport compared to the track meets we see every Sunday in 2026.
Tom Brady still sits on the throne. 89,214 passing yards. 649 touchdowns. Those numbers are so massive they feel fake, like someone playing Madden on "Rookie" mode for two decades. But if you're just looking at the totals, you’re missing the real story of how we got here and who is actually the most efficient to ever lace them up.
The Volume Kings vs. The Efficiency Freaks
For a long time, the "statue" quarterbacks ruled the world. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees spent years trading the top spot for passing yards. Brees was a machine, the only human to ever put up five different seasons with over 5,000 yards. Think about that for a second. Most quarterbacks are lucky to hit 4,000 once in a career. Brees made 5,000 look like a casual Sunday at the park.
But then the league changed. Defensive backs can't breathe on receivers anymore. The "Mel Blount Rule" was just the beginning; now, the game is engineered for points.
That’s why someone like Patrick Mahomes is so terrifying for the old guard. As we sit here in early 2026, Mahomes’ career average of 285.2 passing yards per game is the highest in the history of the sport. He isn't just winning; he’s doing it at a pace that makes the old records look vulnerable.
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Why Passer Rating is Kinda Liars’ Gold
We love talking about passer rating, but it’s a flawed metric. It rewards "safe" play. Aaron Rodgers is the king here, holding the career record at 102.2 (tied with Lamar Jackson as of recent 2025/2026 updates). Rodgers also holds the single-season peak with a 122.5 rating from 2011.
It’s an incredible stat, sure. It shows he doesn't throw interceptions—his 2018 season with only two picks is legendary. But does a high passer rating mean you're the best? Not necessarily. It means you’re efficient. Some would argue it means you're careful.
Winning is the Only Stat That Truly Ages Well
If you want to end a bar argument about qb stats all time, you go to the "W" column. This is where Tom Brady effectively kills the conversation. 251 regular-season wins. If you add the playoffs, he hits 286.
To put that in perspective, the gap between Brady and second place (Brett Favre and Peyton Manning, both at 186) is 65 wins. That is four full seasons of undefeated football. It’s a mountain no one is climbing anytime soon.
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- Tom Brady: 251 wins
- Brett Favre: 186 wins
- Peyton Manning: 186 wins
- Ben Roethlisberger: 165 wins
- Aaron Rodgers: 163 wins (and counting, though he's clearly in the twilight now)
It’s worth noting that Matthew Stafford has quietly been climbing these lists too. He’s currently top 10 in passing yards and touchdowns, a true "gunslinger" who survived the lean years in Detroit to cement his legacy in LA. As of early 2026, he’s still chucking it, proving that longevity is just as much a skill as arm talent.
The Modern Shift: Rushing is the New Passing
We can't talk about all-time stats without acknowledging that the "QB" definition has evolved. In the 90s, a quarterback with 500 rushing yards was a freak of nature. Now? If you don't have a "dual-threat" component, you’re a dinosaur.
Lamar Jackson has already shattered the ceiling for what we expect. He’s the only player with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons at the position. When we look at the "total yards" category in ten years, the names at the top won't just be the guys who stood in the pocket. They’ll be the guys who turned a broken play into a 40-yard sprint.
The Accuracy Myth
Joe Burrow currently holds the highest career completion percentage at roughly 68.5%. That’s a testament to the modern "quick-game" offense. Back in the day, Ken Anderson or Joe Montana leading the league with a 63% completion rate was considered god-tier.
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The context matters. Completion percentage is way higher now because the "extended handoff" (the bubble screen) counts as a pass.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
When you're looking at qb stats all time, don't just look at the raw totals on a Wikipedia table. You have to adjust for the "inflation" of the modern game.
- Look at "Era-Adjusted" Stats: Sites like Pro-Football-Reference have "Advanced Passing" tables. Look at yards per attempt relative to the league average that year.
- Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio: This is the best modern indicator of "winning" football. A 2:1 ratio used to be great; now, elite guys are pushing 4:1.
- Third Down Conversion Rate: If you want to know who is actually good, look at who keeps the chains moving when the defense knows a pass is coming.
The records of the future are being written right now by the likes of C.J. Stroud and Jordan Love, who are entering a league where 4,500 yards is the new baseline. Enjoy the ride, but keep your eyes on the context.
To truly master your understanding of these rankings, your next step is to compare these regular-season totals against postseason EPA (Expected Points Added). That is where you find the players who didn't just pad stats, but actually delivered when the season was on the line.