Which players have the most passing touchdowns in NFL history?

Initially a run-happy league, the NFL has turn out to be the pass-happy model we all know at the moment. A part of that’s because of the offense-friendly guidelines the NFL has begun to institute, however an even bigger cause is the expertise of the signal-callers who’ve entered the league. 

To place it in sharper focus, earlier than 2004, a quarterback had thrown 40 or extra passing touchdowns in a season simply 3 times. From 2004 to at the moment, that mark has been reached 19 instances.

That pattern figures to proceed, however which quarterbacks to at the present time have had essentially the most success in league historical past? Who has essentially the most passing touchdowns among the many elite QBs who’ve graced the NFL subject?

Listed here are the ten gamers with essentially the most regular-season passing touchdowns all through their careers.

10 gamers with essentially the most passing touchdowns in NFL historical past

Stafford, the No. 1 decide within the 2009 NFL Draft, has been a gunslinger from day one within the league. In contrast to many of the different names on this listing, he’s nonetheless taking part in at a excessive stage and has an opportunity to maneuver up the rankings. He has put up three seasons with 30 or extra TD passes in his 16-year profession. If the 37-year-old continues on his present tempo (common of 29 passing TDs throughout a 17-game season), he might find yourself simply outdoors the highest 5 on this listing if he performs till he is 40.

The lately retired Ryan checks in with the ninth-most TD passes in NFL historical past, together with 4 Professional Bowls and a 2016 NFL MVP to his identify. Ryan had a stretch throughout which few quarterbacks have been as dominant. Over a span of 11 years, Ryan completed 9 of them with 25 or extra passing touchdowns, together with two seasons with 35 or extra TD passes and fewer than 10 interceptions. 

A two-time Tremendous Bowl winner, Large Ben put up enormous seasons, however a big chunk of them got here within the later phases of his profession. Roethlisberger had 4 seasons with 30 or extra landing passes, with two coming inside his final three wholesome seasons. Within the second half of his profession, he additionally had a run, not counting an injury-shortened yr, when he threw for 25 or extra passing touchdowns in eight of 9 seasons.

7. Dan Marino: 420

The one quarterback on this listing to play earlier than 2000, Marino is the prototype for pocket passers. He was correct and decisive, and in consequence, began his profession with 30 or extra touchdowns in three of his first 4 NFL seasons. Actually, aside from Marino’s two seasons with 40-plus touchdowns in 1984 and 1986, just one different participant in NFL historical past had 40 or extra TD passes in a season earlier than the flip of the century. That was Kurt Warner in 1999.

An underrated passer of his era, Rivers was an eight-time Professional Bowler and is certainly one of simply 5 quarterbacks to compile greater than 5 seasons of 30 or extra passing touchdowns from 2006-2020 (his taking part in profession). His six seasons path solely Drew Brees, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning. Not dangerous firm. Furthermore, in his 15 years as a full-time starter, he by no means as soon as completed with 20 or fewer passing TDs.

The final identify on this listing who continues to be lively … properly, technically. Rodgers is certainly one of simply 5 gamers to cross the five hundred passing TD threshold, and joins one other well-known Packers quarterback within the group (extra on him later). The four-time MVP and 10-time Professional Bowler is aware of find out how to sling it, as evidenced by his landing complete, however he has additionally averted errors. His eight seasons with 30 or extra landing tosses and fewer than 10 interceptions are essentially the most all-time.

4. Brett Favre: 508 

Favre, the opposite Packers QB on the listing, made 11 Professional Bowls in his profession, however most impressively, he put up 30 or extra landing passes in 5 straight seasons from 1994 to 1998 for Inexperienced Bay. He would add 4 extra of these seasons over the remainder of his profession. His mark of 9 complete seasons with 30 or extra landing passes is tied for the second-most all-time, with solely Brees reaching 10 such seasons.

3. Peyton Manning: 539

The maestro of the best QB season of all time, Manning dished out an NFL-record 55 landing passes in 2013 for the Broncos. That file nonetheless stands to at the present time. He additionally, together with Rodgers, is the one signal-caller to provide two seasons with 45 or extra landing passes, placing up 49 in 2004 for the Colts. Though his profession ended with a less-than-stellar 9 landing passes in 2015, Manning completed with 9 seasons of 30 or extra touchdowns, equal to the variety of seasons (together with one he missed as a result of damage) through which he had fewer than 30 landing passes.

The one quarterback in NFL historical past to complete 10 seasons with 30 or extra landing passes, Brees was an offensive dynamo, recording these in a span of simply 11 seasons. As well as, he compiled 5 seasons with 5,000 or extra passing yards, one fewer than each different QB on this listing COMBINED. Few gamers commanded an offense like Brees.

It should not shock anybody that the chief is the GOAT. Brady delivered elite play properly into his 40s, one thing that’s nonetheless arduous for individuals to consider regardless of witnessing it. Actually, two of the three seasons through which he reached 40 TD passes got here at ages 43 and 44! Brady’s finest yr was in 2007, when he led the Patriots to an ideal common season behind a barrage of fifty TD passes. After an injury-shortened 2008, Brady posted 25 TDs in 13 of his final 14 seasons, a outstanding accomplishment.

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