List of National Football League annual passing touchdowns leaders
This is a list of National Football League quarterbacks who have led the regular season in passing touchdowns each year. The record for touchdown passes in a season is held by Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos who threw 55 in 2013. Tom Brady has led the NFL in passing touchdowns in five different seasons, more than any other quarterback in NFL history; he is also the only quarterback to lead the NFL in passing touchdowns in three different decades.
Passing touchdown leaders
| Set record* |
Top 25 Single Season Passing Touchdown Seasons
| Rank | Player | Team | Season | TD | TD Pct. | Int. | Int. Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peyton Manning (1/3) | Denver | 2013 | 55 | 8.3 | 10 | 1.5 |
| 2 | Tom Brady (1/4) | New England | 2007 | 50 | 8.7 | 8 | 1.4 |
| Patrick Mahomes (1/2) | Kansas City | 2018 | 8.6 | 12 | 2.1 | ||
| 4 | Peyton Manning (2/3) | Indianapolis | 2004 | 49 | 9.9 | 10 | 2.0 |
| 5 | Dan Marino (1/2) | Miami | 1984 | 48 | 8.5 | 17 | 3.0 |
| Aaron Rodgers (1/4) | Green Bay | 2020 | 9.1 | 5 | 1.0 | ||
| 7 | Drew Brees (1/3) | New Orleans | 2011 | 46 | 7.0 | 14 | 2.1 |
| 8 | Aaron Rodgers (2/4) | Green Bay | 2011 | 45 | 9.0 | 6 | 1.2 |
| 9 | Dan Marino (2/2) | Miami | 1986 | 44 | 7.1 | 23 | 3.7 |
| 10 | Drew Brees (2/3) | New Orleans | 2012 | 43 | 6.4 | 19 | 2.8 |
| Tom Brady (2/4) | Tampa Bay | 2021 | 6.0 | 12 | 1.7 | ||
| 12 | Kurt Warner | St. Louis Rams | 1999 | 41 | 8.2 | 13 | 2.6 |
| Matthew Stafford (1/2) | Detroit | 2011 | 6.2 | 16 | 2.4 | ||
| Matthew Stafford (2/2) | Los Angeles Rams | 2021 | 6.8 | 17 | 2.8 | ||
| Patrick Mahomes (2/2) | Kansas City Chiefs | 2022 | 6.3 | 12 | 1.9 | ||
| 16 | Andrew Luck (1/2) | Indianapolis | 2014 | 40 | 6.5 | 16 | 2.6 |
| Aaron Rodgers (3/4) | Green Bay | 2016 | 6.6 | 7 | 1.1 | ||
| Tom Brady (3/4) | Tampa Bay | 2020 | 6.6 | 12 | 2.0 | ||
| Russell Wilson | Seattle | 2020 | 7.2 | 13 | 2.3 | ||
| 20 | Brett Favre | Green Bay | 1996 | 39 | 7.2 | 13 | 2.4 |
| Daunte Culpepper | Minnesota | 2004 | 7.1 | 11 | 2.0 | ||
| Tom Brady (4/4) | New England | 2011 | 6.4 | 12 | 2.0 | ||
| Aaron Rodgers (4/4) | Green Bay | 2012 | 7.1 | 8 | 1.4 | ||
| Drew Brees (3/3) | New Orleans | 2013 | 6.0 | 12 | 1.8 | ||
| Peyton Manning (3/3) | Denver | 2014 | 6.5 | 15 | 2.5 | ||
| Andrew Luck (2/2) | Indianapolis | 2018 | 6.1 | 15 | 2.3 | ||
| Rank | Player | Team | Season | TD | TD Pct. | Int. | Int. Pct. |
Other leagues
All-America Football Conference (AAFC)
| Year | Player | TDs | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | Otto Graham (1) | 17 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1947 | Otto Graham (2) | 25 | Cleveland Browns |
| 1948 | Frankie Albert (1) | 29* | San Francisco 49ers |
| 1949 | Frankie Albert (2) | 27 | San Francisco 49ers |
American Football League (AFL)
| Year | Player | TDs | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | Al Dorow | 26 | New York Titans |
| 1961 | George Blanda | 36* | Houston Oilers |
| 1962 | Len Dawson (1) | 29 | Dallas Texans |
| 1963 | Len Dawson (2) | 26 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1964 | Babe Parilli | 31 | Boston Patriots |
| 1965 | Len Dawson (3) | 21 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1966 | Len Dawson (4) | 26 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 1967 | Daryle Lamonica (1) | 30 | Oakland Raiders |
| 1968 | John Hadl | 27 | San Diego Chargers |
| 1969 | Daryle Lamonica (2) | 34 | Oakland Raiders |
Most titles
| Titles | Player | Years | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Tom Brady | 2002, 2007, 2010, 2015, 2021 | New England Patriots (4) / Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1) |
| 4 | Johnny Unitas | 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960 | Baltimore Colts |
| Len Dawson | 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966 | Kansas City Chiefs (AFL) | |
| Steve Young | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1998 | San Francisco 49ers | |
| Brett Favre | 1995, 1996, 1997, 2003 | Green Bay Packers | |
| Drew Brees | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012 | New Orleans Saints | |
| Peyton Manning | 2000, 2004, 2006, 2013 | Indianapolis Colts (3) / Denver Broncos (1) | |
| 3 | Arnie Herber | 1932, 1934, 1936 | Green Bay Packers |
| Dan Marino | 1984, 1985, 1986 | Miami Dolphins | |
| Sid Luckman | 1943, 1945, 1946 | Chicago Bears | |
| Y.A. Tittle | 1955, 1962, 1963 | San Francisco 49ers (1) / New York Giants (2) |
Johnny Unitas is the only player to win four titles in a row. Three players (Steve Young, Dan Marino and Brett Favre) have won three in a row.
List Of National Football League Annual Passing Touchdowns Leaders Media
Tom Brady led the league in passing touchdowns five times, an NFL record.
Johnny Unitas is the only player to have led the league in passing touchdowns in four consecutive seasons (1957–1960).
Y. A. Tittle held the record for most passing touchdowns in a season for 21 years and led the league in passing touchdowns three times.
Joe Burrow is the most recent passing touchdowns leader, heaving led the league in with 43 passing touchdowns in the 2024 season.
Len Dawson led the AFL in passing touchdowns four times.