It all started with Dan Marino. It was 1983 and the Miami Dolphins had just drafted him in the first round of the NFL draft. I was only 8 years old, but it was the year that saw the Miami Dolphins throw for the most passing yards in a single season. It marked the start of an entire generation of quarterbacks with seemingly impenetrable passing records. But who holds the record for the all-time leader in passing yards?
I am not alone in wondering this. In fact, it is one of the most talked about questions in the NFL. And the answer is: Brett Favre. The name alone is enough to send shivers down the spine of any NFL fan. I mean, for Heaven’s sake, he played for the Green Bay Packers for 17 seasons! That’s right, 17 seasons!
During that time, Favre racked up an impressive 71,838 passing yards. That is an astonishing 8,790 more yards than the second place holder, which is held by Peyton Manning. Manning had a total of 63,085 touchdown passes in his career. While Favre’s number is higher, it is only by a small margin than that of Manning.
Favre wasn’t the only one who earned himself a place on the list of all-time passing records. On the third spot is Drew Brees. Brees, who is currently playing for the New Orleans Saints, has a total of 62,680 passing yards so far. What’s even more impressive is that he produced these stats in just 16 seasons.
Tom Brady is another passing legend who deserves to be mentioned in this conversation. Brady has played 19 seasons since he was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2000, and in doing so has racked up 61,582 yards. Not bad for a QB who started out as a sixth round pick, eh?
But these impressive passing records are nothing compared to what some of the other veterans have accomplished. For example, there is John Elway from the Denver Broncos, who achieved 51,475 passing yards during his career. Or how about Fran Tarkenton from the Minnesota Vikings, who managed to accumulate 47,003 passing yards in his 17-season career?
These incredible QBs have showcased a level of determination and skill that will be remembered for generations to come. And even if these records are broken someday, they will always remain legendary figures in the history of American football.
Talking about breaking records, one of the most impressive passing records still stands to this day. I’m referring to the record for the shortest pass ever, which was thrown by Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots in 2001 against the Miami Dolphins. The pass was just 20 yards, and yet it was enough to break a 30-year old record!
Other impressive feats include Steve Young becoming the only QB to ever win MVP six times and Joe Montana retiring as the all-time leader in passing completions with 3,409. Both of them are incredibly impressive figures in NFL history and, I daresay, will never be broken.
In addition, there are a few QBs who have achieved an impressive record for the most consecutive completions in a single game. The record for this category is held by Don Strock of the Miami Dolphins, who completed 20 consecutive passes against the New England Patriots in 1977. It is no wonder why Strock is seen as a local legend in Miami.
Finally, it’s worth mentioning the impressive feats of Mark Rypien from the Washington Redskins. Rypien holds the record for the most passing yards and TDs on Thanksgiving Day, with 3,127 and 8 respectively. An incredible feat which, again, probably won’t be broken any time soon.
These are just some of the almost superhuman feats that some of the greatest QBs in the NFL have accomplished over the years. Some of their stats have remained untouched, while others have been broken and will probably be broken again. But one thing is for sure, these QBs have earned their places in NFL history and should be remembered as heroes of the gridiron.