NFL Yearly Leaders - Passing Yards per Attempt

The following is a list of the NFL yearly passing leaders ranked by passing yards per attempt. Statistics are current through the 2020 NFL season and include stats accrued in NFL, AFL and APFA games.

Leaders based on 224 pass attempts

      Passing
Year Player Team Att Cmp Pct Yds YPA Int TD Rating
2020 D. Watson Hou 544 382 70.2 4,823 8.87 7 33 112.4
2019 R. Tannehill Ten 286 201 70.3 2,742 9.59 6 22 117.5
2018 R. Fitzpatrick TB 246 164 66.7 2,366 9.62 12 17 100.4
2017 D. Brees NO 536 386 72.0 4,334 8.09 8 23 103.9
2016 M. Ryan Atl 534 373 69.9 4,944 9.26 7 38 117.1
2015 C. Palmer Ari 537 342 63.7 4,671 8.70 11 35 104.6
2014 T. Romo Dal 435 304 69.9 3,705 8.52 9 34 113.2
2013 N. Foles Phi 317 203 64.0 2,891 9.12 2 27 119.2
2012 R. Griffin Was 393 258 65.6 3,200 8.14 5 20 102.4
2011 A. Rodgers GB 502 343 68.3 4,643 9.25 6 45 122.5
2010 P. Rivers SD 541 357 66.0 4,710 8.71 13 30 101.8
2009 P. Rivers SD 486 317 65.2 4,254 8.75 9 28 104.4
2008 P. Rivers SD 478 312 65.3 4,009 8.39 11 34 105.5
2007 T. Brady NE 578 398 68.9 4,806 8.31 8 50 117.2
2006 T. Romo Dal 337 220 65.3 2,903 8.61 13 19 95.1
2005 B. Roethlisberger Pit 268 168 62.7 2,385 8.90 9 17 98.6
2004 P. Manning Ind 497 336 67.6 4,557 9.17 10 49 121.1
2003 S. McNair Ten 400 250 62.5 3,215 8.04 7 24 100.4
2002 T. Green KC 470 287 61.1 3,690 7.85 13 26 92.6
2001 K. Warner Stl 546 375 68.7 4,830 8.85 22 36 101.4
2000 K. Warner Stl 347 235 67.7 3,429 9.88 18 21 98.3
1999 K. Warner Stl 499 325 65.1 4,353 8.72 13 41 109.2
1998 C. Chandler Atl 327 190 58.1 3,154 9.64 12 25 100.9
1997 S. Young SF 356 241 67.7 3,029 8.51 6 19 104.7
1996 M. Brunell Jax 557 353 63.4 4,367 7.84 20 19 84.0
1995 J. Harbaugh Ind 314 200 63.7 2,575 8.20 5 17 100.7
1994 S. Young SF 461 324 70.3 3,969 8.61 10 35 112.8
1993 S. Young SF 462 314 68.0 4,023 8.71 16 29 101.5
1992 S. Young SF 402 268 66.7 3,465 8.62 7 25 107.0
1991 S. Young SF 279 180 64.5 2,517 9.02 8 17 101.8
1990 J. Schroeder LAR 334 182 54.5 2,849 8.53 9 19 90.8
1989 J. Montana SF 386 271 70.2 3,521 9.12 8 26 112.4
1988 B. Esiason Cin 388 223 57.5 3,572 9.21 14 28 97.4
1987 W. Wilson Min 264 140 53.0 2,106 7.98 13 14 76.7
1986 B. Esiason Cin 469 273 58.2 3,959 8.44 17 24 87.7
1985 D. Fouts SD 430 254 59.1 3,638 8.46 20 27 88.1
1984 D. Marino Mia 564 362 64.2 5,084 9.01 17 48 108.9
1983 L. Dickey GB 484 289 59.7 4,458 9.21 29 32 87.3
1982 D. Fouts SD 330 204 61.8 2,883 8.74 11 17 93.3
1981 C. Morton Den 376 225 59.8 3,195 8.50 14 21 90.5
1980 S. Grogan NE 306 175 57.2 2,475 8.09 22 18 73.1
1979 R. Todd NYJ 334 171 51.2 2,660 7.96 22 16 66.5
1978 T. Bradshaw Pit 368 207 56.2 2,915 7.92 20 28 84.7
1977 T. Bradshaw Pit 314 162 51.6 2,523 8.04 19 17 71.4
1976 K. Stabler Oak 291 194 66.7 2,737 9.40 17 27 103.4
1975 K. Anderson Cin 377 228 60.5 3,169 8.41 11 21 93.9
1974 K. Anderson Cin 328 213 64.9 2,667 8.13 10 18 95.7
1973 R. Staubach Dal 286 179 62.6 2,428 8.49 15 23 94.6
1972 J. Namath NYJ 324 162 50.0 2,816 8.69 21 19 72.5
1971 B. Berry Atl 226 136 60.2 2,005 8.87 16 11 75.9
1970 B. Griese Mia 245 142 58.0 2,019 8.24 17 12 72.1
1969 D. Lamonica (AFL) Oak 426 221 51.9 3,302 7.75 25 34 79.8
  C. Morton (NFL) Dal 302 162 53.6 2,619 8.67 15 21 85.4
1968 L. Dawson (AFL) KC 224 131 58.5 2,109 9.41 9 17 98.6
  E. Morrall (NFL) Bal 317 182 57.4 2,909 9.18 17 26 93.2
1967 J. Namath (AFL) NYJ 491 258 52.5 4,007 8.16 28 26 73.8
  F. Tarkenton (NFL) NYG 377 204 54.1 3,088 8.19 19 29 85.9
1966 L. Dawson (AFL) KC 284 159 56.0 2,527 8.90 10 26 101.7
  B. Starr (NFL) GB 251 156 62.2 2,257 8.99 3 14 105.0
1965 J. Hadl (AFL) SD 348 174 50.0 2,798 8.04 21 20 71.3
  J. Unitas (NFL) Bal 282 164 58.2 2,530 8.97 12 23 97.4
1964 J. Kemp (AFL) Buf 269 119 44.2 2,285 8.49 26 13 50.9
  J. Unitas (NFL) Bal 305 158 51.8 2,824 9.26 6 19 96.4
1963 T. Rote (AFL) SD 286 170 59.4 2,510 8.78 17 20 86.7
  Y. Tittle (NFL) NYG 367 221 60.2 3,145 8.57 14 36 104.8
1962 L. Dawson (AFL) DalT 310 189 61.0 2,759 8.90 17 29 98.3
  S. Jurgensen (NFL) Phi 366 196 53.6 3,261 8.91 26 22 74.3
1961 G. Blanda (AFL) Hou 362 187 51.7 3,330 9.20 22 36 91.3
  J. Brodie (NFL) SF 283 155 54.8 2,588 9.14 12 14 84.7
1960 J. Kemp (AFL) LAC 406 211 52.0 3,018 7.43 25 20 67.1
  M. Plum (NFL) Cle 250 151 60.4 2,297 9.19 5 21 110.4
1959 J. Unitas Bal 367 193 52.6 2,899 7.90 14 32 92.0
1958 B. Wade LA 341 181 53.1 2,875 8.43 22 18 72.2
1957 J. Unitas Bal 301 172 57.1 2,550 8.47 17 24 88.0
1956 B. Layne Det 244 129 52.9 1,909 7.82 17 9 62.0
1955 Y. Tittle SF 287 147 51.2 2,185 7.61 28 17 56.6
1954 N. Van Brocklin LA 260 139 53.5 2,637 10.14 21 13 71.9
1953 O. Graham Cle 258 167 64.7 2,722 10.55 9 11 99.7
1952 O. Graham Cle 364 181 49.7 2,816 7.74 24 20 66.6
1951 O. Graham Cle 265 147 55.5 2,205 8.32 16 17 79.2
1950 N. Van Brocklin LA 233 127 54.5 2,061 8.85 14 18 85.1