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NFL Nation
Final season, Aaron Rodgers grew to become the ninth NFL quarterback to throw for 60,000 regular-season passing yards, and Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams‘ Matthew Stafford joined him on the celebrated record.
Stafford got here into Week 1 towards the Houston Texans needing 191 yards to hit 60,000, and he threw for 245 yards within the win.
Stafford entered final season with an opportunity to affix the 60K membership however ended up simply quick at 59,809 yards. He would have had a shot to cross the mark in Week 18, however the Rams chose to rest him forward of their playoff run. Stafford wanted 3,943 yards to eclipse 60,000 in 2024. Regardless of falling quick, he did pass Eli Manning for 10th place on the career passing list in Week 4.
Rodgers, who made the move from the New York Jets to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the course of the offseason, entered final season rating ninth all time in passing yards. He wanted 945 yards to affix the 60K membership, and he did it in Week 5 towards the Minnesota Vikings in London. He would go on to pass Dan Marino in Week 11, and within the ultimate recreation of the season, he moved past Matt Ryan for seventh place.
Rodgers wanted 115 yards towards the Miami Dolphins to go Ryan, and Rodgers additionally threw the 500th touchdown pass of his profession within the second quarter — becoming a member of Tom Brady (649), Drew Brees (571), Peyton Manning (539) and Brett Favre (508) on that record.
As for this season, Rodgers and Stafford have an opportunity to maneuver additional up. Rodgers entered the season needing 488 yards to catch Philip Rivers (63,four hundred and forty yards) and 1,136 yards for Ben Roethlisberger (64,088 yards). Stafford realistically might go Marino (61,361) and Ryan (62,792), and he has a shot at Rivers (3,631 yards shy coming into the season) and Roethlisberger (4,279), as nicely.
Ryan, in 2022, had been the final quarterback to cross the 60,000-yard threshold earlier than Rodgers and Stafford. However after Stafford, no different energetic quarterback was shut coming into the season — with the New York Giants‘ Russell Wilson (46,135 yards), the Cleveland Browns‘ Joe Flacco (45,433 yards) and the Atlanta Falcons‘ Kirk Cousins (42,979 yards) being the one ones that have been over the 40,000-yard mark going into Week 1.
Listed here are the ten quarterbacks who’ve handed for 60,000 yards:
1. Tom Brady: 89,214 yards
Seasons: 23
Groups: New England Patriots (2000-19), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2020-22)
No participant has received extra Tremendous Bowl championships (seven) than Brady, who had a well-known response when requested which one was his favourite. “The following one,” he’d say. Such competitiveness, and clutch play, outlined him.
Brady ended his profession because the NFL’s chief in passing yards (89,214) and landing passes (649). He’s a five-time winner of the Tremendous Bowl MVP award. Brady additionally holds profession data for regular-season wins (251), Tremendous Bowl appearances (10), playoff video games (48) and wins (35), in addition to playoff passing yards (13,400) and touchdowns (88).
Brady additionally grew to become the primary quarterback to eclipse 100,000 passing yards (playoffs and common season mixed), ending with 102,614.
“The factor about Tom that I believe is so spectacular, so unbelievably spectacular, is he averted dangerous performs,” former Patriots coach Invoice Belichick mentioned. “With Tom, by way of his decision-making, preparation, the numbers are simply historic when it comes to fewest turnovers, fewest unfavourable runs, fewest offensive penalties. I believe that is underappreciated; generally folks do not give him sufficient credit score for a way only a few dangerous performs he had. Of all Tom’s nice qualities, that is one of many biggest — he at all times protected the group.” — Mike Reiss
2. Drew Brees: 80,358 yards
Seasons: 20
Groups: San Diego Chargers (2001-05), New Orleans Saints (2006-20)
When Brees was on the sphere, he at all times gave the Saints an opportunity to win regardless of the group’s inconsistent defensive play till the latter years of his profession. Most of Brees’ receivers would not be thought-about family names.
He is likely one of the most correct quarterbacks of all time, holding six of the highest 10 spots for single-season completion share. He might run the two-minute drill in addition to anybody, rating fifth with 36 fourth-quarter comebacks and is tied for third with 53 game-winning drives. Brees additionally was sturdy, sitting out 10 video games due to damage within the 15 years after his shoulder was surgically repaired in 2005.
“He’d be the primary one within the locker room — not the outdated method of claiming, ‘Oh, he’d be the primary one within the locker room and the final one out,'” mentioned Cameron Jordan, the Saints’ longest-tenured participant who was Brees’ teammate from 2011 to 2020. “He was at all times that. And even in later years when he wasn’t throwing each ball, you possibly can nonetheless see him with a towel in follow making every psychological completion. And that is from the second I obtained right here.
“He was at all times trying downfield, anticipating, and far more slippery within the pocket than guys give him credit score for. You see him shrug off loads of sacks, you see him capable of get off the again foot, get 15-20 yards downfield on a dot. … The expertise, the data that he dropped at the sport. You can see the evolution of that when he was with the Chargers. And certain he had a giant arm or no matter it was, however he got here to the Saints and it was like the whole lot molded into straight precision.” — Katherine Terrell
3. Peyton Manning: 71,940 yards
Seasons: 17
Groups: Indianapolis Colts (1998-2010), Denver Broncos (2012-15)
Choose virtually any stat and you will find an illustration of Manning’s greatness. Let’s begin with the sport’s highest regular-season honor — most dear participant. Nobody in historical past has earned extra MVP awards than Manning’s 5, a exceptional achievement regardless of his profession overlapping with the likes of Tom Brady, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner.
Manning’s statistical accomplishments might fill a ebook: 14 Professional Bowl nods, seven first-team All-Professional choices (most amongst quarterbacks) and 539 landing passes.
However simply as noteworthy is the arc of his profession. After a record-setting 13 seasons with the Colts, Manning recovered from a career-threatening neck damage to reestablish his greatness in 4 seasons with the Broncos that concluded with a Tremendous Bowl victory in his ultimate season, 2015. Alongside the way in which, he set a single-season league file with 5,477 passing yards in 2013.
Manning left a legacy that has given the Colts’ present quarterback some large aspirations.
“I’ve positively watched [film of] him so much,” Anthony Richardson mentioned. “Simply him managing the sport, being the quarterback. That is the most effective factor as a quarterback. You’ve got obtained to have the ability to handle the offense, do your job one of the simplest ways you may and that is what I have been attempting to do just about my entire profession.” — Stephen Holder
4. Brett Favre: 71,838 yards
Seasons: 20
Groups: Atlanta Falcons (1991), Green Bay Packers (1992-2007), New York Jets (2008), Minnesota Vikings (2009-10)
Favre’s finest attribute amongst many was his toughness. It is what allowed him to begin a file 297 consecutive video games and finally what set him on the trail to all of the passing milestones he achieved. Teammates and coaches alike raved about his capacity to play by way of accidents that may have sidelined lesser gamers for weeks at a time.
“I do not assume he is human,” mentioned Corridor of Fame security LeRoy Butler, who performed with Favre for 10 seasons. “Each time it is his time to go away this earth, I need to see the X-rays. I do not imagine it. He isn’t human, I am telling you. The man’s a combination of Wolverine, RoboCop and Superman.”
There wasn’t a play Favre did not assume he might make. At instances, it resulted in large errors; he nonetheless holds the profession file for many interceptions (336). However it additionally allowed him to make the spectacular play. Stated Butler: “That is how we received a Tremendous Bowl. There’s not one other man who has that sort of moxie and the sort of confidence to say, ‘You realize what? I will make this throw. Neglect concerning the checkdown within the flat. Neglect concerning the wide-open man that may get me eight yards. I am going for 25 as a result of I could make that throw.'” — Rob Demovsky
5. Ben Roethlisberger: 64,088 yards
Seasons: 18
Groups: Pittsburgh Steelers (2004-21)
Not solely did the previous Steelers quarterback throw for greater than 64,000 yards in an 18-year profession, however he additionally received two Tremendous Bowls and was chosen to 6 Professional Bowls. Roethlisberger’s sturdiness and longevity paired with a giant arm and play-extending scrambles helped the Steelers to a largely affluent two-decade period.
“He was so robust,” mentioned Charlie Batch, who backed up Roethlisberger for almost all of his years with the Steelers between 2002 and 2012. “He knew he might break tackles, and he was a type of ones that the primary learn could possibly be there — he might have taken the primary learn. Ben’s like, ‘No, there is a greater alternative if I maintain onto this ball and throw that ball 20 yards down the sphere.’ … His mindset was, ‘I obtained to make an even bigger play,’ versus choosing up three [yards] right here, choosing up there. He is like, ‘Shoot, if I can hit 20 yards, we’re scoring in two minutes versus these four-minute, five-minute drives.’ That was the mindset that he had.”
The Steelers’ knack for drafting top-tier vast receivers gave Roethlisberger a plethora of targets, together with Corridor of Famer Hines Ward and Antonio Brown. His best seasons got here late in his profession when he threw for a league-leading 5,129 yards in 2018 and 4,952 in 2014. — Brooke Pryor
6. Philip Rivers: 63,four hundred and forty yards
Seasons: 17
Groups: San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2004-19), Indianapolis Colts (2020)
Rivers performed 16 years for the Chargers group turning into probably the most beloved gamers in franchise historical past for his trash-talking, which famously by no means concerned cursing, and a few of the most profitable seasons in group historical past. Rivers had 12 seasons with a minimum of 4,000 passing yards, his highest whole coming in 2010 when he threw for 4,710 yards.
Former Chargers operating again Austin Ekeler mentioned Rivers’ consideration to element is what made him nice. When the group moved to L.A., for instance, Rivers rode to follow in a sprinter van so he might watch movie within the again on the way in which from his house in San Diego.
“This man lives and breathes soccer,” Ekeler mentioned. “He at all times knew how he needed it executed. He knew the whole lot from the steps to the splits.” — Kris Rhim
7. Aaron Rodgers: 62,952 yards*
Seasons: 21
Groups: Green Bay Packers (2005-22), New York Jets (2023-24), Pittsburgh Steelers (2025)
Rodgers is a four-time NFL MVP who is taken into account maybe probably the most environment friendly passer in historical past. He is the all-time chief in passer ranking (102.6) and second in interception share (1.4). He has exceeded the 4,000-yard mark in 10 of his 18 seasons as a starter, placing up a mind-boggling touchdown-interception ratio in 2020 and 2021 (his final two MVP seasons) — a mixed 89 touchdowns and solely 9 interceptions.
After an 18-year run with the Packers, which included one Tremendous Bowl championship and 12 playoff appearances, Rodgers was traded to the Jets in 2023, the place issues did not fairly dwell as much as Tremendous Bowl expectations.
Nonetheless, Corridor of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, in an interview with ESPN, recognized the traits which have contributed to Rodgers’ success.
“First, the chip that he had on his shoulder from when he wasn’t actually recruited that a lot out of highschool,” Moon mentioned. “He needed to go to junior school and he felt like he needed to preserve proving himself. He was up for being the No. 1 participant taken within the [2005] draft, and he slipped all the way in which right down to 24. I believe he used all that as gasoline to encourage himself.
“When he was at Cal, he was identified for his accuracy — very, very correct — however he was extra of a robotic when he got here out of school, the way in which he threw the ball. He was stiff and structured. I believe being round Brett [Favre] made him slightly extra loosey-goosey and extra improvisational. He might make extra performs together with his arm from completely different arm angles and get outdoors the pocket and make performs together with his legs and arm. … He was capable of preserve that accuracy even when he was on the transfer and even when his arm wasn’t within the correct place.” — Wealthy Cimini
8. Matt Ryan: 62,792 yards
Seasons: 15
Groups: Atlanta Falcons (2008-21), Indianapolis Colts (2022)
Arguably the best participant in Falcons historical past, Ryan embodied the whole lot it means to be a franchise quarterback. He put up historic numbers — throwing for greater than 4,000 yards and 20 touchdowns for 10 straight seasons — and was a pillar locally.
The Falcons went to the playoffs six instances in his 14 seasons, together with a visit to Tremendous Bowl LI, the yr he received NFL MVP.
“Poise, management, consideration to element, realizing precisely who he was, precisely what he might do and [finding] methods to execute it,” mentioned Falcons coach Raheem Morris, who was on the group’s workers from 2015 to 2020 with Ryan. “And the very last thing I keep in mind is just not accepting something however excellence.” — Marc Raimondi
9. Dan Marino: 61,361 yards
Seasons: 17
Groups: Miami Dolphins (1983-99)
Forty years earlier than NFL quarterbacks made eye-popping passing numbers look routine, Marino did so in South Florida. Of the 50 most prolific seasons in NFL historical past when it comes to passing yards, solely three occurred earlier than the flip of the century; two of these belong to Marino. His MVP season in 1984, by which he threw for five,048 yards and 48 touchdowns, nonetheless represents the Twelfth-most and fifth-most single-season marks of all time, respectively.
Marino’s 420 passing touchdowns rank seventh most in league historical past and his 61,361 profession passing yards have been an NFL file when he retired in 1999. He’s one among seven gamers in NFL historical past to throw for each 60,000 yards and 400 touchdowns — and the one member of the membership to begin his profession earlier than 1990.
Marino additionally excelled at defending himself and navigating the pocket, taking solely 270 sacks in 17 seasons. The opposite seven members of the 60K membership have been sacked a median of 474 instances of their careers.
“Danny was most likely … the most effective quarterback I’ve ever seen inside a 3-yard sq. behind the middle,” former Dolphins linebacker Kim Bokamper mentioned. “Transferring up within the pocket, sliding up, sliding again, sliding diagonally, sliding sideways — simply to get somebody to overlook. His capacity to maneuver in a small pocket was the most effective I’ve ever seen.
“His capacity in that pocket actually saved himself numerous put on and tear and numerous sacks. I do know most individuals do not discover that, nevertheless it’s one of many issues that I at all times admire about him is simply his capacity to work in that little sq. again there.” — Marcel Louis-Jacques
10. Matthew Stafford: 60,000 yards*
Seasons: 17
Groups: Detroit Lions (2009-2020), Los Angeles Rams (2021-current)
Stafford hit the milestone in his seventeenth season, the third-fastest to succeed in the mark. Solely Ryan and Brees have executed it sooner. Stafford, who spent the primary 12 seasons of his profession with the Lions, led the Rams to a victory in Tremendous Bowl LVI in his first season in Los Angeles.
The accolades have not piled up for Stafford the way in which the stats have, however he’s a two-time Professional Bowler and was named the NFL Comeback Participant of the 12 months in 2011. Whereas Stafford has mentioned the person honors will not be his focus, former teammate Cooper Kupp mentioned he is so glad Stafford is getting the credit score as he hits these milestones.
“Everybody’s written about: He is underrated, he would not get the props, the accolades, the props he deserves,” Kupp mentioned final season. “And I imply, I totally stand behind it. It’s completely egregious the shortage of acknowledgement of what he has executed and the quarterback that he’s. Name it my very own bias having performed with him, however I simply can’t think about anybody higher than Matthew Stafford at enjoying the quarterback place.” — Sarah Barshop
*This merchandise will replace each time there’s motion on the record
