all-time nfl passing yards leaders 1920s - 1970s

Between January 1, 1920 and December 31, 1979, Fran Tarkenton had the most passing yards, with 47,003 yards.

Showing:

Regular season

	NAME	YDS	GP	CMP	ATT	PCT	AVG	YDS/G	TD	INT	RTG	TD%	INT%
1	Fran Tarkenton F. Tarkenton	47,003	246	3,686	6,467	57.0	7.3	191.1	342	266	80.4	5.3	4.1
2	Johnny Unitas J. Unitas	40,239	210	2,830	5,186	54.6	7.8	191.6	290	253	78.2	5.6	4.9
3	John Hadl J. Hadl	33,505	224	2,362	4,687	50.4	7.1	149.6	244	268	67.4	5.2	5.7
4	Sonny Jurgensen S. Jurgensen	32,224	218	2,433	4,262	57.1	7.6	147.8	255	189	82.6	6.0	4.4
5	John Brodie J. Brodie	31,548	199	2,469	4,491	55.0	7.0	158.5	214	224	72.3	4.8	5.0
6	Norm Snead N. Snead	30,797	178	2,276	4,353	52.3	7.1	173.0	196	257	65.5	4.5	5.9
7	Roman Gabriel R. Gabriel	29,444	183	2,366	4,498	52.6	6.5	160.9	201	149	74.3	4.5	3.3
8	Jim Hart J. Hart	29,208	165	2,159	4,279	50.5	6.8	177.0	177	205	66.4	4.1	4.8
9	Len Dawson L. Dawson	28,711	203	2,136	3,741	57.1	7.7	141.4	239	183	82.6	6.4	4.9
10	Y.A. Tittle	28,339	178	2,118	3,817	55.5	7.4	159.2	212	221	73.6	5.6	5.8
11	Joe Namath J. Namath	27,663	140	1,886	3,762	50.1	7.4	197.6	173	220	65.5	4.6	5.8
12	George Blanda G. Blanda	26,718	317	1,902	3,987	47.7	6.7	84.3	236	272	61.1	5.9	6.8
13	Bobby Layne B. Layne	24,740	152	1,643	3,349	49.1	7.4	162.8	184	223	64.3	5.5	6.7
14	Bart Starr B. Starr	24,718	188	1,808	3,149	57.4	7.8	131.5	152	138	80.5	4.8	4.4
15	Charley Johnson C. Johnson	24,410	163	1,737	3,392	51.2	7.2	149.8	170	181	69.2	5.0	5.3
16	Bob Griese B. Griese	24,302	156	1,865	3,329	56.0	7.3	155.8	186	168	76.8	5.6	5.0
17	Norm Van Brocklin N. Van Brocklin	23,010	132	1,521	2,837	53.6	8.1	174.3	167	176	74.3	5.9	6.2
18	Roger Staubach R. Staubach	22,700	131	1,685	2,958	57.0	7.7	173.3	153	109	83.4	5.2	3.7
19	Babe Parilli B. Parilli	22,681	189	1,552	3,329	46.6	6.8	120.0	178	220	59.6	5.3	6.6
20	Craig Morton C. Morton	22,370	173	1,627	3,083	52.8	7.3	129.3	150	157	71.3	4.9	5.1
21	Jack Kemp J. Kemp	21,218	123	1,436	3,071	46.8	6.9	172.5	114	183	57.4	3.7	6.0
22	Earl Morrall E. Morrall	20,809	247	1,379	2,688	51.3	7.7	84.2	161	148	74.1	6.0	5.5
23	Billy Kilmer B. Kilmer	20,495	167	1,585	2,984	53.1	6.9	122.7	152	146	71.6	5.1	4.9
24	Ken Anderson K. Anderson	20,030	119	1,570	2,785	56.4	7.2	168.3	125	101	78.9	4.5	3.6
25	Terry Bradshaw T. Bradshaw	19,918	129	1,474	2,859	51.6	7.0	154.4	147	163	67.5	5.1	5.7

Unlock 2x data

StatMuse has game-level data for passing yards going back to the 1950 season.

More NFL News

Jalen Hurts' future in Philadelphia is now a question mark

Oct 16, 2026

Sam Darnold gets hit 17 times by Broncos defense, takes ownership of miscues as Seahawks fall in OT

Oct 16, 2026

Broncos beat the Seahawks 17-14 in OT on Ja'Quan McMillian's pick, Wil Lutz's 53-yarder

Oct 16, 2026

The 49ers open the practice window for WR Christian Kirk

Oct 16, 2026

Broncos cornerback Riley Moss active for game against Seahawks

Oct 15, 2026

Jon Morris, former AFL and NFL center with Patriots, dies at 84

Oct 15, 2026

More Vikings Stats

Team Leaders

PASS

662

Murray

RUSH

410

Jones

REC

258

Jefferson

Team Rankings

PPG

21.8

21st

OPP PPG

12.8

1st

RUSH YDS/G

116.0

13th

PASS YDS/G

187.6

27th

2026 Division Standings

TEAM	W	L	PCT
Vikings	5	0	1.000
Bears	3	2	.600
Packers	3	2	.600
Lions	3	2	.600

Schedule

DATE	MATCHUP			TIME (ET)
Sun 10/25	IND	@	MIN	1:00 PM
Sun 11/1	MIN	@	DET	1:00 PM
Mon 11/9	BUF	@	MIN	8:15 PM
Sun 11/15	MIN	@	GB	1:00 PM
Sun 11/22	MIN	@	SF	8:20 PM

Last Game

Vikings

5 - 0

Final

Saints

1 - 4

Sun 11 Oct 2026

NFL 2026 Leaders

Pass Yards Leaders

1,572

Stafford

1,485

Goff

1,408

Love

Rush Yards Leaders

580

Robinson

537

Walker

532

Cook

Rec Yards Leaders

717

Smith-Njigba

537

Olave

507

Lamb

Pass TD Leaders

13

Purdy

12

Goff

12

Cousins

Rush TD Leaders

8

Allen

7

Gibbs

7

Henry

Rec TD Leaders

7

Smith-Njigba

6

Watson

5

St. Brown

QB Rating Leaders

119.6

Jackson

119.3

Purdy

111.3

Goff

Sack Leaders

7.5

Anderson

6.0

Rousseau

5.5

Turner

NFL 2026 Rankings

PPG Rankings

32.8

30.8

30.3

29.5

29.2

Opp PPG Rankings

12.8

14.0

18.6

18.8

19.2

Total Yards Rankings

424.4

412.0

405.8

396.2

394.2

393.8

Rush Yards Rankings

173.2

166.8

164.4

162.3

158.0

139.6

Pass Yards Rankings

317.0

297.0

281.6

280.4

276.2

Sack Leaders

20.0

18.0

17.0

NFL Fantasy 2026

Fantasy RB Rankings

126.7

Gibbs

103.8

Henry

103.2

Robinson

Fantasy WR Rankings

115.9

Smith-Njigba

83.4

Watson

76.1

Lamb

Fantasy TE Rankings

52.4

Likely

50.8

Kittle

49.6

LaPorta

Fantasy K Rankings

75

Shrader

68

Reichard

60

Myers

NFL 2026 Betting

Best Record ATS

4-1

3-1-1

Worst Record ATS

0-4-1

1-4

1-3-1

1-3-2

NFL 2026 Standings

NFC East	W	L	T	PCT
Giants	3	1	1	.700
Eagles	2	3	0	.400
Cowboys	2	3	0	.400
Commanders	1	3	1	.300
NFC North	W	L	T	PCT
Vikings	5	0	0	1.000
Packers	3	2	0	.600
Lions	3	2	0	.600
Bears	3	2	0	.600
NFC South	W	L	T	PCT
Panthers	2	2	0	.500
Falcons	2	3	0	.400
Buccaneers	1	4	0	.200
Saints	1	4	0	.200
NFC West	W	L	T	PCT
49ers	5	0	0	1.000
Seahawks	3	3	0	.500
Rams	2	3	0	.400
Cardinals	1	4	0	.200

AFC East	W	L	T	PCT
Bills	4	1	0	.800
Patriots	3	2	0	.600
Jets	2	3	0	.400
Dolphins	0	5	0	.000
AFC North	W	L	T	PCT
Ravens	4	1	0	.800
Browns	3	2	0	.600
Steelers	3	2	0	.600
Bengals	3	2	0	.600
AFC South	W	L	T	PCT
Jaguars	4	1	0	.800
Colts	2	3	0	.400
Texans	1	4	0	.200
Titans	0	5	0	.000
AFC West	W	L	T	PCT
Chiefs	4	0	0	1.000
Broncos	4	2	0	.667
Raiders	3	2	0	.600
Chargers	0	5	0	.000