We’re running down an index of various all-time NFL records of all types that help showcase the rich history of the NFL.
In the world of NFL football, the record books are filled with iconic performances, unforgettable moments, and legends of the gridiron.
With legendary names like Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Dick “Night Train” Lane, the annals of NFL history are filled with players that evoke the glory and excitement of the game.
The NFL record books encompass a wide array of achievements, from individual milestones like most career touchdowns and rushing yards to team accomplishments, such as longest winning streaks and most points scored in a game. Beyond these personal and collective feats, the records also capture memorable comebacks, blowouts and legendary moments.
Some records, like Norm Van Brocklin’s single-game passing yards, seem destined to be broken as they are frequently threatened by the best in the modern game. Others, like Tom Brady’s career passing yards, are hard to imagine ever being broken.
Below, you’ll find an index of various all-time NFL records of all types that help showcase the rich history of the NFL. This compilation aims to celebrate the remarkable achievements that have defined the sport and showcase the extraordinary talent that has shaped the NFL.
NFL All Time Records
Player Records
Most Passing Yards in a Game/Most Passing Touchdowns in a Game/Most Passing Yards in a Career/Most Interceptions Thrown in a Season/Longest Rushing Touchdown/Most Rushing Yards in a Game/Most Rushing Yards in a Game by a Quarterback/Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Game/Most Rushing Yards in a Season/Most Rushing Yards in a Career/Most Receiving Yards in a Game/Most Receptions in a Game/Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Game/Most Receptions in a Season/Most Receiving Yards in a Season by a Tight End/Most Sacks in a Game/Most Defensive Interceptions in a Season/Longest Field Goal/Longest Kickoff Return/Longest Punt Return/Longest Punt/Highest Paid Player/Most MVPs
Team Records
Longest Winning Streak/Longest Losing Streak/Longest Home Win Streak/Highest Scoring Game/Biggest Blowout/Biggest Comeback
Playoff Records
Longest Touchdown Pass in the Super Bowl/Most Touchdown Passes in a Super Bowl/Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Super Bowl/Most Touchdown Receptions in a Super Bowl/Longest Interception Return in a Super Bowl/Longest Kickoff Return in a Super Bowl/Longest Playoff Win Streak/Longest Playoff Losing Streak/Longest Postseason Drought/Highest Scoring Super Bowl/Biggest Super Bowl Upset/Biggest Super Bowl Comeback/Most Consecutive Super Bowl Appearances
Player Records
Most Passing Yards in a Game
Norm Van Brocklin completed just 27 passes in his record-setting 554-yard game for the Los Angeles Rams in 1955. While many quarterbacks have reached the 500 passing yard mark in a game, especially with modern NFL offenses frequently falling in love with the pass, none have managed to break Van Brocklin’s record that’s older than the Super Bowl.
Most Passing Touchdowns in a Game
Eight quarterbacks have reached the mark of seven touchdown passes in a single game, with Drew Brees doing so most recently in 2015. These quarterbacks have had varying levels of success and fame throughout their careers but are forever tied together with this single-game record.
Most Passing Yards in a Career
Unsurprisingly, the widely recognized G.O.A.T. of the NFL, Tom Brady, is the all-time career passing yards leader with over 89,000 in his illustrious career. With playoff yardage factored in, Brady’s total balloons to over 100,000 – a mark completely unimaginable to NFL fans 25 years ago and one of the most difficult NFL records to break.
Most Interceptions Thrown in a Season
George Blanda’s 42 interceptions with the Houston Oilers in 1962 are seven more than anyone else has recorded in a single season. While this was not the only season when he was the NFL interception leader, he still built a Hall of Fame resume, leading the league in completions and yards multiple times throughout his career with the Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders and Oilers.
Longest Rushing Touchdown
Only two players have managed a 99-yard carry, and they did it 36 years apart. Derrick Henry’s 99-yard run with the Tennessee Titans was one of the most impressive the game has seen as he ran over multiple Jacksonville Jaguars defenders in 2018, while Tony Dorsett showcased his speed in his breakaway run for the Dallas Cowboys in 1983.
Most Rushing Yards in a Game
Adrian Peterson’s 296-yard game shockingly included just 43 first-half rushing yards. The rookie running back’s second-half rushing performance was unlike any seen in the NFL before or since, as his 253 yards was enough to break the single-game rushing record by just 1 yard.
Most Rushing Yards in a Game by a Quarterback
The top 10 single-game rushing totals by quarterbacks have all come since 2000, showing the impact that mobile QBs have had on modern offenses. Colin Kaepernick’s 181-yard rushing total is the most of all time for a QB, and it came in a critical game in the divisional round of the 2013 playoffs against the Green Bay Packers.
Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Game
The two players to score six rushing touchdowns in a game did so over 90 years apart. Ernie Nevers was in sole possession of this record until Alvin Kamara’s six-touchdown performance for the New Orleans Saints on Christmas Day in 2020.
Most Rushing Yards in a Season
Eric Dickerson’s 1984 season with the Los Angeles Rams will always live on in infamy for fans of NFL history. Not only did he set the all-time single-season rushing record, a mark that still stands after 40 years and survived a challenge from Adrian Peterson, he did so efficiently, averaging 5.6 yards per carry and scoring 14 touchdowns that season.
Most Rushing Yards in a Career
One of the many records set by Emmitt Smith in his Hall of Fame career is the all-time rushing yardage record. He led the league in rushing four separate times and reached the 1,000-yard mark in 11 different seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.
Most Receiving Yards in a Game
In a list containing recognizable stars like Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones, the single-game receiving yard leader never even made the Pro Bowl. Flipper Anderson’s 336 yards on Nov. 26, 1989, is a striking total for a single game, even in today’s pass-heavy style of offense.
Most Receptions in a Game
Brandon Marshall managed to receive 28 targets from quarterback Kyle Orton, hauling in 21 of these passes to record the most receptions of all time in one game for the Denver Broncos in a 2009 defeat to Peyton Manning and the juggernaut Indianapolis Colts.
Most Receiving Touchdowns in a Game
Three players have reached five receiving touchdowns in a single game, yet just one was a wide receiver. That was Jerry Rice, who was the most recent to accomplish the feat in 1990, in arguably the best single-game receiving performance of all time with 225 yards on 13 catches to go along with his five scores.
Most Receptions in a Season
Michael Thomas hauled in double-digit receptions in nine of his 16 games en route to breaking the single-season reception record with 149 catches. He hauled in 80.5% of his targets from quarterback Drew Brees for 1,725 yards in the 2019 season with the New Orleans Saints.
Most Receiving Yards in a Season by a Tight End
Travis Kelce’s 2020 NFL season was one of the best in history for a tight end. He led his team in catches, receiving yards and yards per game. Even though he missed a regular-season game, his receiving yard total of 1,416 is the most a tight end has recorded in a season.
Most Sacks in a Game
While many players have recorded 6.0 sacks in a game, only Derrick Thomas has reached 7.0 with his performance for the Kansas City Chiefs against the Seattle Seahawks in November of 1990.
Most Defensive Interceptions in a Season
Shockingly, Dick “Night Train” Lane’s 14 interceptions during his rookie season in 1952 with the Los Angeles Rams remains the all-time single-season interception record.
Longest Field Goal
Known as one of the greatest kickers of all time, it’s not a surprise that Justin Tucker holds the record for the longest made field goal. Tucker converted from 66 yards as time expired to give the Baltimore Ravens a win over the Detroit Lions in 2021.
Longest Kickoff Return
With the longest possible play in football and the longest kickoff return of all time, Cordarelle Patterson ran back the opening kickoff on Sunday Night Football against the Green Bay Packers during his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013.
Longest Punt Return
When the entire New Orleans Saints special teams unit thought the play was over after Tommy Barnhardt’s punt bounced in the back of the end zone, Los Angeles Rams returner Robert Bailey saw that the ball never bounced out of play and ran it back 103 yards for a touchdown in 1994 for the longest punt return of all time.
Longest Punt
Former New York Jets punter Steve O’Neal holds the record for the longest punt at 98 yards in a game against the Denver Broncos in 1969. Perhaps aided by the mile-high thin air, O’Neal’s punt from the back of the end zone landed at the opposing 33-yard line before rolling all the way to the 1.
Highest Paid Player
When Patrick Mahomes signed his 10-year, $450 million deal in 2020, he signed the largest contract by total value in NFL history by a wide margin. Despite Mahomes’ $45 million average annual salary, this deal has been lauded by many as a team-friendly agreement to allow the Kansas City Chiefs to continue to surround their legendary quarterback with talent.
Most MVPs
Winning the award in back-to-back years two separate times, Peyton Manning is the all-time leader in NFL MVPs. Manning won his fifth award in 2013 with the Denver Broncos in a season when he broke the NFL’s all-time passing yards and touchdown records.
Team Records
Longest Winning Streak
The 2008 Indianapolis Colts figured it out in Week 8 of the 2008 season, winning the rest of their regular-season games after losing four of their first seven. After a playoff upset against the San Diego Chargers, the Colts continued to ride MVP quarterback Peyton Manning a 14-0 start in 2009, reaching 23 consecutive victories. They passed the rival New England Patriots for the longest regular-season win streak of all time and established themselves as one of the best NFL teams of all time to not win the Super Bowl.
Longest Losing Streak
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first two seasons in the NFL were more than forgettable. Along with the Seattle Seahawks, the Bucs joined the NFL as an expansion franchise in 1976, picking up 39 players from existing teams while also being awarded extra selections in the NFL Draft. After an 0-14 season, the Buccaneers followed up one abysmal season with another, losing their first 12 games in 1977. Their losing streak to 26 consecutive games is the longest of all time.
Longest Home Win Streak
While many NFL fans know about the Miami Dolphins’ undefeated 1972 season, only seven of their record 27 consecutive home victories took place that season.
Highest Scoring Game
A 1966 matchup between Washington and the New York Giants was the highest-scoring affair in NFL history with a total of 113 points. The points came from the game’s eight turnovers rather than long drives, as neither team reached 400 total yards in the game. Washington’s 72 points are also the most scored by one team.
Biggest Blowout
Three teams are tied with the NFL’s biggest blowout since 1935. All three won by 59 points. They accomplished this feat very different ways, as the 1954 Cleveland Browns and 1976 Los Angeles Rams succeeded by forcing turnovers and running the ball. Tom Brady, on the other hand, had five second-quarter touchdown passes in an all-out aerial attack for the 2009 New England Patriots.
Biggest Comeback
In the only regular-season comeback greater than 30 points, the Minnesota Vikings trailed 33-0 at halftime and 36-7 late in the third quarter. The offense quickly started clicking, sending the game to overtime before an eventual game winning field goal.
Playoff Records
Longest Touchdown Pass in the Super Bowl
In a thrilling, back-and-forth affair between the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots, quarterback Jake Delhomme connected with Muhsin Muhammad for an 85-yard touchdown pass early on in the fourth quarter for the longest in Super Bowl history. After three more scores in the final three minutes of the game, the Patriots defeated the Panthers in Super Bowl 38 on a last-second field goal in 2004.
Most Touchdown Passes in a Super Bowl
The San Diego Chargers had no answer for the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 29 in 1995. Quarterback Steve Young threw a record six touchdown passes in the game, including four in the first half before another two to Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in the second.
Most Rushing Touchdowns in a Super Bowl
Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts are the only two players to rush for three touchdowns in the Super Bowl, doing so in 1998 and 2023, respectively. All of Davis’ touchdowns were 1-yard runs, while two of Hurts’ three were from the Eagles famed “tush push” play.
Most Touchdown Receptions in a Super Bowl
The only player to catch three touchdown passes in the Super Bowl managed to do it twice, showing how dominant Jerry Rice was when it mattered most. His touchdown receptions helped the San Francisco 49ers to dominant victories over the AFC champion Denver Broncos in 1990 and ‘95.
Longest Interception Return in a Super Bowl
In one of the most iconic moments in Super Bowl history, edge rusher James Harrison picked off Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner at his own goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown on the last play of the first half. Harrison’s record-breaking return gave his Pittsburgh Steelers a 17-7 lead and it was a pivotal swing in points contributing towards the Steelers’ eventual victory in Super Bowl 43 in 2009.
Longest Kickoff Return in a Super Bowl
Shortly before the lights went out at the Superdome in Super Bowl 47, Baltimore Ravens returner Jacoby Jones took the second half’s opening kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown in 2013. Jones surpassed former Super Bowl 31 MVP Desmond Howard of the Green Bay Packers on this all-time kick return list. Howard had a 99-yard kickoff return among numerous other special teams highlights in 1997.
Longest Playoff Win Streak
The New England Patriots dynasty of the early 2000s included a 10-game win streak from 2002-06, the longest playoff streak of all time. This coincided with the beginning of Tom Brady’s career as a starter, as he won three Super Bowls before losing a single playoff game.
Longest Playoff Losing Streak
While they have had success in recent years, the Detroit Lions’ nine-game playoff losing streak is the longest of all time. This streak was exceptionally difficult for Lions fans as the team went 31 years between playoff victories.
Longest Postseason Drought
In streaks that spanned portions of four different decades from the 1940s to the ’70s, both the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals and Washington missed the postseason in 25 consecutive seasons. The Cardinals were very successful in the ’40s prior to the beginning of their streak, and Washington made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons to conclude its drought.
Highest Scoring Super Bowl
It’s not all that surprising that legendary quarterback Steve Young and arguably the best receiver of all time, Jerry Rice, powered the San Francisco 49ers to 49 points in the Super Bowl in 1995. The San Diego Chargers scored two touchdowns late in the game and converted two-point conversions on both, bringing their total to 26 and making this game the highest-scoring Super Bowl of all time.
Biggest Super Bowl Upset
The New York Jets were victorious in Super Bowl 3 as 18-point underdogs against the Baltimore Colts. This famed quarterback duel between “Broadway Joe” and Jonny Unitas was won by Namath, marking the AFL’s (now AFC) first victory in the Super Bowl after two non-competitive defeats.
Biggest Super Bowl Comeback
The New England Patriots’ 25-point comeback in Super Bowl 51 in 2017 is by far the largest in Super Bowl history. The Patriots trailed the NFC champion Atlanta Falcons 28-3 late in the third quarter before Tom Brady, James White and the Patriots offense scored 31 unanswered points to complete the comeback in overtime.
Most Consecutive Super Bowl Appearances
The Buffalo Bills are the holders of the most infamous record in the history of the National Football League – the most consecutive Super Bowl appearances with four from 1991-94. That’s because the Bills also lost all four games.
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