List of National Football League annual pass completion percentage leaders
This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks who have led the regular season in pass completion percentage each year.[1] The record for completion percentage in a season is held by Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints who completed 74.4% of his passes in 2018. Five quarterbacks have led the NFL in completion percentage in four different seasons (Sammy Baugh, Bart Starr, Joe Montana, Steve Young, Drew Brees), and one player (Len Dawson) achieved the same feat in the AFL. Otto Graham led the AAFC in 1947 and the NFL three times (1953-1955).
Completion percentage leaders
Set record* | Tied record^ |
Top 25 single-season completion percentage leaders
The NFL requires players to reach certain minimums to qualify as a leader in per-game stats, percentage stats, and passer rating. Since 1978 the minimum number is 14 pass attempts per team game (224 per season). These are the completion percentage leaders as compiled by Pro football reference.[48]
Rank | Player | Completion % | Team | Season |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Drew Brees | 74.4% | New Orleans Saints | 2018 |
2 | Drew Brees (2) | 74.3% | New Orleans Saints | 2019 |
3 | Drew Brees (3) | 72.0% | New Orleans Saints | 2017 |
4 | Sam Bradford | 71.6% | Minnesota Vikings | 2016 |
5 | Drew Brees (4) | 71.2% | New Orleans Saints | 2011 |
6 | Drew Brees (5) | 70.6% | New Orleans Saints | 2009 |
Ken Anderson | Cincinnati Bengals | 1982 | ||
8 | Derek Carr | 70.4% | Oakland Raiders | 2019 |
9 | Sammy Baugh | 70.3% | Washington Redskins | 1945 |
Steve Young | San Francisco 49ers | 1994 | ||
Ryan Tannehill | Tennessee Titans | 2019 | ||
12 | Joe Montana | 70.2% | San Francisco 49ers | 1989 |
13 | Kirk Cousins | 70.1% | Minnesota Vikings | 2018 |
14 | Drew Brees (6) | 70.0% | New Orleans Saints | 2016 |
15 | Tony Romo | 69.9% | Dallas Cowboys | 2014 |
Matt Ryan | Atlanta Falcons | 2016 | ||
17 | Kirk Cousins (2) | 69.8% | Washington Redskins | 2015 |
18 | Carson Wentz | 69.6% | Philadelphia Eagles | 2018 |
19 | Philip Rivers | 69.5% | San Diego Chargers | 2013 |
20 | Matt Ryan (2) | 69.4% | Atlanta Falcons | 2018 |
21 | Brian Griese | 69.3% | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2004 |
22 | Drew Brees (7) | 69.2% | New Orleans Saints | 2014 |
Daunte Culpepper | Minnesota Vikings | 2004 | ||
24 | Troy Aikman | 69.1% | Dallas Cowboys | 1993 |
Kirk Cousins (3) | Minnesota Vikings | 2019 | ||
Jimmy Garoppolo | San Francisco 49ers | 2019 | ||
Rank | Player | Completion % | Team | Season |
Other leagues
All-America Football Conference (AAFC)
Year | Player | Completion percentage | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1946 | Charlie O'Rourke | 57.7%[49] | Los Angeles Dons |
1947 | Otto Graham | 60.6%[50] | Cleveland Browns |
1948 | Frankie Albert | 58.3%[51] | San Francisco 49ers |
1949 | George Ratterman | 57.9%[52] | Buffalo Bills |
American Football League (AFL)
Year | Player | Completion percentage | Team |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | Tom Flores | 54.0%[53] | Oakland Raiders |
1961 | Babe Parilli | 52.5%[54] | Boston Patriots |
1962 | Len Dawson | 61.0%[55] | Dallas Texans |
1963 | Tobin Rote | 59.4%[56] | San Diego Chargers |
1964 | Len Dawson | 56.2%[57] | Kansas City Chiefs |
1965 | Len Dawson | 53.4%[58] | Kansas City Chiefs |
1966 | Len Dawson | 56.0%[59] | Kansas City Chiefs |
1967 | Len Dawson | 57.7%[60] | Kansas City Chiefs |
1968 | Len Dawson | 58.5%[61] | Kansas City Chiefs |
1969 | Len Dawson | 59.0%[62] | Kansas City Chiefs |
Most titles
Titles | Player | Years | Team(s) |
---|---|---|---|
8 | Sammy Baugh | 1940, 1942, 1943, 1945–1949 | Washington Redskins |
Len Dawson | 1962, 1964–1969, 1975 | Dallas Texans, Kansas City Chiefs | |
6 | Drew Brees | 2009–2011, 2017–2019 | New Orleans Saints |
5 | Joe Montana | 1980, 1981, 1985, 1987, 1989 | San Francisco 49ers |
Steve Young | 1992, 1994–1997 | San Francisco 49ers | |
4 | Bart Starr | 1962, 1964, 1966, 1968 | Green Bay Packers |
See also
References
- "NFL Year-by-Year Pass Completion % Leaders". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved October 17, 2015.
- "1933 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1934 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1936 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1937 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1938 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1939 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1940 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1941/passing.htm
- "1942 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1943 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1944 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1945 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1946 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1947 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1948 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1949 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1950 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1951 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1952 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1953 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1954 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1955 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1956 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1957 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1958 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1959 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1960 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1962 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1964 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1966 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1968 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1974 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1975 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1976 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1982 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1983 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1992 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1994 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1995 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1996 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1997 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "2009 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "2011 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "2016 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "2017 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 3, 2018.
- "2018 NFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- "Completion % single season leaders"."Completion % single season leaders".
- "1946 AAFC Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1947 AAFC Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1948 AAFC Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1949 AAFC Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1960 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1961 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1962 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1963 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1964 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1965 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1966 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1967 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1968 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- "1969 AFL Leaders and Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved August 20, 2017.