Top 20 Series. There are many ways in which a player's success in the NFL is measured. One of the most obvious is a comparison of statistics. Each week during the NFL's regular season Profootballhof.com featured updated Top 20 lists for four main statistical categories.
Here, thanks to the help of Elias Sports Bureau, is an expanded look at Top 20 leaders in multiple NFL statistical categories. Check out where today’s stars compare to NFL greats at the start of the 2013 NFL Season. | Return to Top 20 at the Start of 2013>>>
CAREER NOTES. Matt Hasselbeck of the Tennessee Titans threw 221 passes in 2012 which upped his career total to 5,018 pass attempts. In doing so, Hasselbeck moved into the Top 20 all-time leaders in pass attempts to rank 20th, bumping Jim Everett off the list.
2012 LEADER: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (727 completions)
SINGLE-SEASON NFL RECORD: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (727 attempts in 2012)
Pass Attempts (at start of 2013 NFL Season)
| 1 | Brett Favre | 10,169 |
| 2 | Dan Marino* | 8,358 |
| 3 | Peyton Manning | 7,793 |
| 4 | John Elway* | 7,250 |
| 5 | Warren Moon* | 6,823 |
| 6 | Drew Bledsoe | 6,717 |
| 7 | Vinny Testaverde | 6,701 |
| 8 | Fran Tarkenton* | 6,467 |
| 9 | Kerry Collins | 6,261 |
| 10 | Drew Brees | 6,149 |
| 11 | Tom Brady | 5,958 |
| 12 | Dan Fouts* | 5,604 |
| 13 | Joe Montana* | 5,391 |
| 14 | Donovan McNabb | 5,374 |
| 15 | Dave Krieg | 5,311 |
| 16 | Boomer Esiason | 5,205 |
| 17 | Johnny Unitas* | 5,186 |
| 18 | Jim Hart | 5,076 |
| 19 | Steve DeBerg | 5,024 |
| 20 | Matt Hasselbeck | 5,018 |
* Pro Football Hall of Fame member
Bold - players active during 2012 season
Top 20 lists courtesy of Elias Sports Bureau