The quarterback has the most important role of any position in American sports, overseeing the entire offense of their respective NFL side.
Those prominently discussed as the greatest NFL players of all time are usually quarterbacks, Tom Brady residing at the top of that list while current star Patrick Mahomes etches ever closer.
While individual stats mean far less in the NFL than other sports, the performance of the quarterback can be tracked with numbers better than any other position on the gridiron.
Yards represent the amount of territory gained by the quarterback passing the ball.
Touchdowns are the major scoring plays when the ball reaches the end zone.
Interceptions are turnovers thrown by the quarterback, picked off by opposing defenders.
Completion percentage reflects the QB's passing accuracy.
Yards per attempt are often an indicator of how ambitious and impactful a quarterback is with each throw, the more the better.
Of course, none of these stats factor in win/loss records, accolades, achievements and rings, but league-leading honours are an impressive feat nonetheless.
Here are the league leaders for each of the above stats for every NFL season this century.
2023:
Yards: Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) - 4642
Touchdowns: Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) - 36
Completion %: Jake Browning (Cincinnati Bengals) - 70.4
Interceptions: Sam Howell (Washington Commanders) - 21
Yards per attempt: Brock Purdy (San Fransisco 49ers) - 9.6
2022:
Yards: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) - 5250
Touchdowns: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) - 41
Completion %: Geno Smith (Seattle Seahawks) - 69.8
Interceptions: Dak Prescott (Dallas Cowboys) - 15
Yards per attempt: Tua Tagovailoa (Miami Dolphins) - 8.9
2021:
Yards: Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 5316
Touchdowns: Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 46
Completion %: Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) - 70.4
Interceptions: Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams) - 17
Yards per attempt: Joe Burrow (Cincinnati Bengals) - 8.9
2020:
Yards: Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 4823
Touchdowns: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) - 48
Completion %: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) - 70.7
Interceptions: Carson Wentz (Philadelphia Eagles) - 15
Yards per attempt: Deshaun Watson (Houston Texans) - 8.9
2019:
Yards: Jameis Winston (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 5109
Touchdowns: Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens) - 36
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 74.3
Interceptions: Jameis Winston (New Orleans Saints) - 30
Yards per attempt: Ryan Tannehill (Tennessee Titans) - 9.6
2018:
Yards: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsbirgh Steelers) - 5129
Touchdowns: Patrick Mahomes (Kansas City Chiefs) - 50
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 74.4
Interceptions: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 16
Yards per attempt: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 9.6
2017:
Yards: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 4577
Touchdowns: Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks) - 34
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 72.0
Interceptions: DeShone Kizer (Cleveland Browns) - 22
Yards per attempt: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 8.1
2016:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 5208
Touchdowns: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) - 40
Completion %: Sam Bradford (Minnesota Vikings) - 71.6
Interceptions: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 21
Yards per attempt: Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons) - 9.3
2015:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 4870
Touchdowns: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 36
Completion %: Kirk Cousins (Washington Redskins) - 69.8
Interceptions: Blake Bortless (Jacksonville Jaguars) - 18
Yards per attempt: Carson Palmer (Arizona Cardinals) - 8.7
2014:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 4952
Touchdowns: Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts) - 40
Completion %: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) - 69.9
Interceptions: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 18
Yards per attempt: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) - 8.5
2013:
Yards: Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) - 5477
Touchdowns: Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) - 55
Completion %: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 69.5
Interceptions: Eli Manning (New York Giants) - 27
Yards per attempt: Nick Foles (Philadelphia Eagles) - 9.1
2012:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 5177
Touchdowns: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 43
Completion %: Peyton Manning (Denver Broncos) - 68.6
Interceptions: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) - 19
Yards per attempt: Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins) - 8.1
2011:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 5476
Touchdowns: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 46
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 71.2ย
Interceptions: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Buffalo Bills) - 23
Yards per attempt: Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) - 9.2
2010:
Yards: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 4710
Touchdowns: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 36
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 68.1
Interceptions: Eli Manning (New York Giants) - 25
Yards per attempt:ย Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 8.7
2009:
Yards: Matt Schaub (Houston Texans) - 4770
Touchdowns: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 34
Completion %: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 70.6ย
Interceptions: Jay Cutler (Chicago Bears) - 26
Yards per attempt: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 8.8
2008:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 5069
Touchdowns: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 34
Completion %: Chad Pennington (Miami Dolphins) - 67.4
Interceptions: Brett Favre (New York Jets) - 22
Yards per attempt: Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers) - 8.4
2007:
Yards: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 4806
Touchdowns: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 50
Completion %: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 68.9
Interceptions: Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) - 20
Yards per attempt: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 8.3
2006:
Yards: Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints) - 4418
Touchdowns: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 31
Completion %: David Carr (Houston Texans) - 68.3
Interceptions: Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 23
Yards per attempt: Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys) - 8.6
2005:
Yards: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 4410
Touchdowns: Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) - 32
Completion %: Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) - 67.8
Interceptions: Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers) - 29
Yards per attempt:ย Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers) - 8.9
2004:
Yards: Daunte Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) - 4717
Touchdowns: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 49
Completion %: Brian Griese (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - 69.3
Interceptions: Vinny Testaverde (Dallas Cowboys) - 20
Yards per attempt: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 9.2
2003:
Yards: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 4267
Touchdowns: Brett Favre (Green Bay Packers) - 32
Completion %: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 67.0
Interceptions: Marc Bulger (St Louis Rams) - 22
Yards per attempt: Steve McNair (Tennessee Titans) - 8.0
2002:
Yards: Rich Gannon (Oakland Raiders) - 4689
Touchdowns: Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - 28
Completion %: Chad Pennington (New York Jets) - 68.9
Interceptions: Daunte Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) - 23
Yards per attempt: Trent Green (Kansas City Chiefs) - 7.9
2001:
Yards: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 4830
Touchdowns: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 36
Completion %: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 68.7
Interceptions: Trent Green (Kansas City Chiefs) - 24
Yards per attempt: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 8.8
2000:
Yards: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 4413
Touchdowns: Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) - 33
Completion %: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 67.7
Interceptions: Vinny Testaverde (New York Jets) - 25
Yards per attempt: Kurt Warner (St Louis Rams) - 9.9
Leaderboardย
*Excludes interceptions*
Drew Brees - 18
Tom Brady - 11
Peyton Manning - 10
Kurt Warner - 6
Phillip Rivers - 5
Aaron Rodgers - 4
Patrick Mahomes - 3
Carson Palmer - 3
Tony Romo - 3
