List of NFL quarterbacks with 5,000 passing yards in a season

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Passing for 5,000 yards in a single regular season is a rare achievement in the

500-yard game in the same season. All quarterbacks have needed at least 600 passing attempts to achieve the yardage, with the exception of Marino (564) and Mahomes (580, 2018 season
). Only Marino (362), Winston (380), and Mahomes (383, 2018 season) have done so with fewer than 400 pass completions.

In 2011, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Matthew Stafford each threw for over 5,000 yards. Patrick Mahomes and Ben Roethlisberger both accomplished it in 2018. NFL quarterbacks have passed for 5,000 yards in a season fifteen times. Despite the rarity of a 5,000-yard passing season, only four have resulted in MVP Honors. Patrick Mahomes earned it twice in 2018 and 2022, while Dan Marino and Peyton Manning have earned it once in 1984 and 2013 respectively. Stafford, Roethlisberger, and Jameis Winston are the only quarterbacks to not be selected to the Pro Bowl the same year of their 5,000-yard season. Patrick Mahomes has accomplished this feat most recently, throwing for 5,250 yards in the 2022 season. In the postseason, he became the first 5,000-yard passer to win the Super Bowl. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only franchise to have multiple quarterbacks (Winston and Brady) accomplish 5,000 passing yards.

All have done it while playing the full season. In 2021, the NFL approved a 17-game schedule, increasing the likelihood of a 5,000 yard passer.

NFL players with 5,000 passing yards in a season

Drew Brees has the most 5,000-yard seasons by a quarterback, with five.
Tom Brady is the oldest to pass for 5,000 yards at age 44 in 2021.
Quarterback Team Yards Season Games played Notes
Dan Marino^ Miami Dolphins 5,084* 1984 16
NFL MVP
, first player to pass for over 5,000 yards in a season
Drew Brees New Orleans Saints 5,069 2008 16
Offensive Player of the Year[4]
Drew Brees (2) New Orleans Saints 5,476* 2011 16
Offensive Player of the Year
, first quarterback with multiple 5,000-yard seasons
Tom Brady New England Patriots 5,235 16 [5]
Matthew Stafford Detroit Lions 5,038 16 Comeback Player of the Year[6]
Drew Brees (3) New Orleans Saints 5,177 2012 16 Second consecutive season passing for over 5,000 yards
Peyton Manning^ Denver Broncos 5,477* 2013 16
NFL MVP[7]
Drew Brees (4) New Orleans Saints 5,162 16 Third consecutive season passing for over 5,000 yards
Drew Brees (5) New Orleans Saints 5,208 2016 16
Ben Roethlisberger Pittsburgh Steelers 5,129 2018 16 [8]
Patrick Mahomes^ Kansas City Chiefs 5,097 16
NFL MVP
,
Jameis Winston Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5,109 2019 16 Led NFL in interceptions (30)[9]
Tom Brady (2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5,316 2021 17
Justin Herbert Los Angeles Chargers 5,014 17 [10]
Patrick Mahomes^ (2) Kansas City Chiefs 5,250 2022 17
NFL MVP

*League Record ^Named MVP

4,000 passing yards in a season

4,000 yards passing in a season was once considered a rare feat but has lost a bit of significance over the years. During the fourteen-game era, only

1967 AFL season. During the 1980s and 1990s, 4,000 yards became the standard for the league leaders in the NFL. Over the last decade, 4,000 yards has become almost commonplace in the NFL for quarterbacks. In the 2016 season alone, thirteen quarterbacks passed for over 4,000 yards, while the 1990 season, for example, had only one 4,000 yard passer and the 1978 season (the first with a sixteen-game schedule) had zero.[11][12] This may be a result of less emphasis being placed on the running game and rule changes that serve to offer greater protection to quarterbacks and their receivers. Every team except the Chicago Bears has had a 4,000 yard quarterback season, with the Bears and Jets being the only ones to never have had one with a sixteen/seventeen game schedule.[13] Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have had the most 4,000 yard seasons (fourteen).[14]

References

  1. ^ Dorman, Larry. "He sets passing record, eliminates Dallas".
  2. ^ "Brees breaks passing record". 2011-12-26.
  3. ^ Brett Martel, "Panthers come from behind to beat Saints 44-38", Associated Press, December 31, 2012.
  4. ^ "Drew Brees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  5. ^ "Tom Brady". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  6. ^ "Matthew Stafford". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  7. ^ "Peyton Manning". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  8. ^ "Ben Roethlisberger". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  9. ^ "Jameis Winston". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  10. ^ "Justin Herbert". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  11. ^ "2016 Passing Stats". NFL.com.
  12. ^ "NFL expands season, increases playoff berths in 1978 changes". Toledo Blade. (Ohio). Associated Press. March 30, 1977. p. 30.
  13. ^ "Bears failed to produce a 4,000-yard passer in 16-game era". 29 March 2021.
  14. ^ "History Release: 4,000 yard passers", Pro Football Hall of Fame, December 31, 2012 (accessed 2013-01-24).