Weekly Top 20 - thru Week #17
Career leaders in the NFL's four main statistical categories - through Week 17 of the 2008 NFL Regular Season.
| PASSER RATING | RUSHING YARDS | |||||
|
1
|
Steve Young |
96.81
|
|
1
|
Emmitt Smith |
18,355
|
|
2
|
Peyton Manning |
94.75
|
|
2
|
Walter Payton |
16,726
|
|
3
|
Kurt Warner |
93.79
|
|
3
|
Barry Sanders |
15,269
|
|
4
|
Tom Brady |
92.91
|
|
4
|
Curtis Martin |
14,101
|
|
5
|
Joe Montana |
92.26
|
|
5
|
Jerome Bettis |
13,662
|
|
6
|
Chad Pennington |
90.59
|
|
6
|
Eric Dickerson |
13,259
|
|
7
|
Ben Roethlisberger |
89.43
|
|
7
|
Tony Dorsett |
12,739
|
|
8
|
Drew Brees |
89.39
|
|
8
|
Jim Brown |
12,312
|
|
9
|
Daunte Culpepper |
88.96
|
|
9
|
Marshall Faulk |
12,279
|
|
10
|
Carson Palmer |
88.86
|
|
10
|
Marcus Allen |
12,243
|
|
11
|
Jeff Garcia |
87.54
|
|
11
|
Edgerrin James |
12,121
|
|
12
|
Dan Marino |
86.38
|
|
12
|
Franco Harris |
12,120
|
|
13
|
Trent Green |
86.03
|
|
13
|
Thurman Thomas |
12,074
|
|
14
|
Donovan McNabb |
85.86
|
|
14
|
LaDainian Tomlinson |
11,760
|
|
15
|
Marc Bulger |
85.57
|
|
15
|
John Riggins |
11,352
|
|
16
|
Brett Favre |
85.44
|
|
16
|
Fred Taylor |
11,271
|
|
17
|
Jake Delhomme |
85.14
|
|
17
|
Corey Dillon |
11,241
|
|
18
|
Rich Gannon |
84.71
|
|
18
|
O.J. Simpson |
11,236
|
|
19
|
Matt Hasselbeck |
84.46
|
|
19
|
Warrick Dunn |
10,967
|
|
20
|
Jim Kelly |
84.39
|
|
20
|
Ricky Watters |
10,643
|
| RECEPTIONS | SCORING | |||||
|
1
|
Jerry Rice |
1,549
|
|
1
|
Morten Andersen |
2,544
|
|
2
|
Marvin Harrison |
1,102
|
|
2
|
Gary Anderson |
2,434
|
|
3
|
Cris Carter |
1,101
|
|
3
|
George Blanda |
2,002
|
|
4
|
Tim Brown |
1,094
|
|
4
|
John Carney |
1,955
|
|
5
|
Isaac Bruce |
1,003
|
|
5
|
Matt Stover |
1,944
|
|
6T
|
Terrell Owens |
951
|
|
6
|
Jason Elam |
1,915
|
|
6T
|
Andre Reed |
951
|
|
7
|
Jason Hanson |
1,747
|
|
8
|
Art Monk |
940
|
|
8
|
Norm Johnson |
1,736
|
|
9
|
Tony Gonzalez |
916
|
|
9
|
Nick Lowery |
1,711
|
|
10
|
Keenan McCardell |
883
|
|
10
|
Jan Stenerud |
1,699
|
|
11
|
Torry Holt |
869
|
|
11
|
John Kasay |
1,634
|
|
12
|
Jimmy Smith |
862
|
|
12
|
Eddie Murray |
1,594
|
|
13
|
Irving Fryar |
851
|
|
13
|
Al Del Greco |
1,584
|
|
14
|
Rod Smith |
849
|
|
14
|
Adam Vinatieri |
1,492
|
|
15
|
Randy Moss |
843
|
|
15
|
Steve Christie |
1,476
|
|
16
|
Larry Centers |
827
|
|
16
|
Pat Leahy |
1,470
|
|
17
|
Steve Largent |
819
|
|
17
|
Jim Turner |
1,439
|
|
18
|
Shannon Sharpe |
815
|
|
18
|
Matt Bahr |
1,422
|
|
19T
|
Henry Ellard |
814
|
|
19
|
Jeff Wilkins |
1,416
|
|
19T
|
Keyshawn Johnson |
814
|
|
20
|
Mark Moseley |
1,382
|
| Italics denotes Hall of Famers | ||||||
| Bold denotes players active during the 2008 season | ||||||
| Statistics courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau | ||||||
AAFC Stats: The Pro Football Hall of Fame began tracking the Top 20 career leaders at the conclusion of the 1968 season. These lists were maintained in a museum display and later on our website. One difference from the Hall of Fame’s lists from other similar statistical lists was that they included the stats from the defunct All-America Football Conference (AAFC) that operated from 1946-49.
When the Hall’s Top 20 debuted in 1968, there were nine players on the lists that had connections to the AAFC. Today, there are only two players who would rank among the Top 20 if their stats from the AAFC were included. Otto Graham’s passer rating combining AAFC and NFL stats would equal 86.63. Lou “The Toe” Groza’s career point total would be 1,608 points if the 259 he scored in the AAFC were recognized by the NFL. That would place him among the Top 20 scorers of all-time.
Related Links:
Top 20 at start of 2008 season - leaders in 15 statistical categories
Top 20 - Interceptions
Dick LeBeau still ranks tied for 7th all-time in career interceptions. He picked off 62 passes in 14 seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Playoff Flashback: 1995 AFC Wild Card
The Colts traveled to San Diego to face the Chargers on New Year's Eve looking for its first playoff win since 1971.