Jan 11, 1987; Cleveland, OH, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback (7) John Elway throws a pass to running back (47) Gerald Wilhite against the Cleveland Browns during the 1986 AFC Championship at Cleveland Stadium. Denver defeated Cleveland in overtime 23-20.
Mandatory Credit: Tony Tomsic-USA TODAY NETWORK
These are the all-time passing yards leaders for every AFC team:
Baltimore Ravens
Jan 6, 2019; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) stands on the field before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers in a AFC Wild Card playoff football game at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Flacco – 2008-2018
Flacco, like Ryan, was drafted in 2008 and became a stalwart at the QB position in the 2010s. He led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2012 and accumulated 38,245 yards in Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills
Jim Kelly #12, Quarterback for the Buffalo Bills calls an audible at the line of scrimmage during the American Football Conference Wild Card game against the Miami Dolphins on 30 December 1995 at Rich Stadium, Orchard Park, New York, United States. The Bills won the game 37 – 22. (Photo by Al Bello/Allsport/Getty Images)
Jim Kelly – 1986-1996
Leader of the sensational K-Gun offense, Kelly helped the Bills make four straight Super Bowls and is in the NFL’s Hall of Fame. Kelly racked up 35,467 yards in his 11 years in Buffalo.
Cincinnati Bengals
Dec 9, 1973; Cincinnati, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson (14) in action against the Cleveland Browns at Riverfront Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Ken Anderson – 1971-1986
The Bengals have had a good history of QBs, with Anderson ranking as the best one statistically. The 1981 NFL MVP, Anderson posted 32,838 yards in his time with Cincinnati.
Cleveland Browns
Nov 1978; Unknown Location, USA; FILE PHOTO; Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Sipe (17) in action during the 1978 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports (c) Copyright Malcolm Emmons
Brian Sipe – 1974-1983
Sipe is infamous for his 1980 playoff interception against the Raiders, but he had a good career outside of that moment. He accumulated 23,713 passing yards for the Browns, a total that has not been topped due to a horrendous string of QB-related decisions made by Cleveland.
Denver Broncos
SAN DIEGO, CA – JANUARY 25: John Elway #7 of the Denver Broncos turns to hand the ball off to a running back against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998 at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The Broncos won the Super Bowl 31-24. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
John Elway – 1983-1998
One of the best the NFL has ever seen, Elway delivered the Broncos two Super Bowls to end his career, adding to his enormous collection of achievements. The strong-armed passer totaled 51,475 yards with Denver.
Houston Texans
Dec 29, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub (8) scrambles out of pocket against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. The Titans won 16-10. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Matt Schaub – 2007-2013
Schaub led the Texans to the majority of the playoff success the franchise has had. Schaub’s 23,221 yards lead the team largely because it is the youngest franchise in the NFL, and C.J. Stroud will have a good chance to beat that record.
Indianapolis Colts
INDIANAPOLIS – JANUARY 24: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts looks to pass while playing against the New York Jets during the AFC Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 24, 2010 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Colts defeated the Jets 30-17. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Peyton Manning – 1998-2010
The Sheriff’s 54,828 yards for the Colts hardly due justice to just how good he was for Indy. He revolutionized the impact a quarterback could have on an offense with the way he scanned defenses and controlled the line of scrimmage to exploit any possible weakness.
Jacksonville Jaguars
CLEVELAND, OH – DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Mark Brunell #8 of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks to pass as he runs with the football against the Cleveland Browns during a game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 19, 1999 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Jaguars defeated the Browns 24-14. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
Mark Brunell – 1995-2003
The lefty Brunell helped the expansion Jags quickly become one of the NFL’s best offenses. During his time in Jacksonville, Brunell accumulated 25,698 yards and helped the team reach two AFC title games.
Kansas City Chiefs
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 23: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs reacts during the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on October 23, 2022 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Patrick Mahomes – 2018-present
Mahomes has only been in Kansas City for eight seasons, yet has become one of the best QBs the league has ever seen in that short period. Leading the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories, the gunslinging Mahomes has totaled 32,352 passing yards so far in his career.
Las Vegas Raiders
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – SEPTEMBER 18: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders reacts after an overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
Derek Carr – 2014-2022
Although his time with the Raiders ended rather unceremoniously, Carr made four Pro Bowls and helped right the ship following the team’s struggles in the early 2010s. Carr recorded 35,222 yards for the Silver and Black.
Los Angeles Chargers
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 08: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers throws a pass against the New York Giants on November 8, 2009 at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
Philip Rivers – 2004-2019
The Chargers may not have enjoyed too much playoff success with Rivers at the helm, but he was still one of the league’s best passers for over a decade. He passed for 59,271 yards to go along with his eight career Pro Bowls.
Miami Dolphins
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY–OCTOBER 04: Quarterback Dan Marino #13 of the Miami Dolphins follows the action in the game between the Miami Dolphins vs the New York Jets at The Meadowlands (aka Giants Stadium) on October 4, 1998 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Dan Marino – 1983-1999
The career Dolphin retired as the NFL’s all-time leading passer with 61,361 career yards. He set an NFL record at the time with 48 TD passes in 1984, leading the Dolphins to the Super Bowl that year.
New England Patriots
New England Patriot quarterback Tom Brady (12) as he completes a pass against the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship Game, 01/19/2002. (Photo by Arthur Anderson/Getty Images)
Tom Brady – 2000-2019
The best quarterback in league history, Brady tossed for 4,000 yards in 10 separate seasons and accumulated a whopping 74,571 passing yards during his time in New England. He also won three MVPs and six Super Bowls with the Pats.
New York Jets
MIAMI, FL – JANUARY 12: Joe Namath #12 of the New York Jets drops back to pass against the Baltimore Colts during Super Bowl III at the Orange Bowl on January 12, 1969 in Miami, Florida. The Jets defeated the Colts 16-7. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Joe Namath – 1965-1976
Broadway Joe led the league in passing three times and helped the Jets to their iconic win in Super Bowl III. He totaled 27,057 passing yards in New York.
Pittsburgh Steelers
FOXBORO, MA – SEPTEMBER 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers reacts after a touchdown in the second half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium on September 10, 2015 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
Ben Roethlisberger – 2004-2021
Big Ben helped the Steelers win two Super Bowls during his long tenure as the team’s QB, throwing for 64,088 yards in the process. He also made six Pro Bowls during that span.
Tennessee Titans
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY–OCTOBER 13: Quarterback Warren Moon #1 of the Houston Oilers appears in the game against the New York Jets during the Houston Oilers vs New York Jets game on October 13, 1991 at the Meadowlands (aka Giants Stadium) in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Warren Moon – 1984-1993
The talented Moon was one of the league’s first black quarterbacks, and also one of its best quarterbacks, period. He made nine Pro Bowls on his way to the Hall of Fame and totaled 33,685 passing yards.
