Honestly, if you looked at the record books twenty years ago, Dan Marino’s 420 touchdowns felt like a number from a different planet. It was untouchable. Then the league changed. Rules started favoring the offense, receivers got protected, and suddenly, we saw a decade where the NFL passing touchdown leaders all time list was getting rewritten every single Sunday.
But here we are in 2026, and the dust is finally starting to settle. Tom Brady didn’t just break the record; he took it to a place where it might stay for a very, very long time. When you look at the names at the top, you're seeing the "Golden Age" of the quarterback.
It’s weird to think about, but we might be living through the end of that specific era.
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The Mount Rushmore of Touchdowns
If you want to talk about the absolute peak of the position, you have to start with the four guys who cleared the 500-touchdown mark. For a long time, 400 was the "Hall of Fame" gold standard. Now? If you aren't hitting 500, you aren't even in the conversation for the top five.
Tom Brady sits at the top with 649. Let that sink in. To even tie him, a quarterback would need to throw 32 touchdowns every year for twenty seasons. No missed games. No slumps. No early retirement. Brady’s longevity is basically a glitch in the matrix. He played until he was 45, and he was still tossing 25 touchdowns in his final year with the Bucs.
Then you've got Drew Brees at 571. Brees was a machine in New Orleans. People kinda forget how small he was for the position, but his accuracy was surgical. Between 2011 and 2016, the guy was basically a lock for 30+ touchdowns every year. He and Sean Payton turned the Superdome into a touchdown factory.
The Pure Modern Greats
- Peyton Manning (539): The Sheriff. He’s the only one on this list who actually held the single-season record (55) and the career record at the same time for a bit.
- Aaron Rodgers (527): As of early 2026, Rodgers is the high-water mark for the guys still (technically) slinging it. After his stints with the Jets and Steelers, he finally jumped over Brett Favre.
- Brett Favre (508): The original ironman. He was the first to hit 500, and he did it with a "see it, throw it" mentality that resulted in almost as many heart attacks for his coaches as it did touchdowns for his fans.
Why Dan Marino Still Matters
It’s easy to look at Dan Marino at 420 touchdowns and think he’s "low" on the list. He’s currently sitting at 8th. But you’ve gotta understand the context. Marino set that mark in 1999. He played in an era where defenders could basically clothesline receivers over the middle.
If you put 1984 Dan Marino in today’s NFL? He’s probably throwing 60 touchdowns. Easy.
The fact that his name is still in the top ten among all these guys who played with the modern "illegal contact" rules is a testament to how far ahead of his time he was. He was the first guy to make 400 look possible.
The Active Threats: Can Anyone Catch Brady?
This is the big question every fan asks. Who’s next?
If you're looking at the current crop of stars, Patrick Mahomes is the name everyone circles. As of the start of the 2025-2026 cycle, Mahomes had already cleared 260 touchdowns before even hitting age 30. He’s the fastest to ever reach almost every milestone.
But here’s the reality check: injuries happen. Systems change. Mahomes would need to maintain his current pace for another twelve years to even sniff Tom Brady’s 649. It’s a tall order.
Matthew Stafford is another interesting one. He’s quietly climbed into the top ten, passing John Elway and hanging out around the 423 mark. He’s been a volume king for years, first in Detroit and then with the Rams. He might end up top five by the time he’s done, which is wild for a guy who spent a decade being called "underrated."
The Top 10 Leaders (By the Numbers)
Forget the fancy charts for a second. Let's look at how the standings actually look right now.
- Tom Brady: 649
- Drew Brees: 571
- Peyton Manning: 539
- Aaron Rodgers: 527 (Active-ish)
- Brett Favre: 508
- Philip Rivers: 425
- Matthew Stafford: 423 (Active)
- Dan Marino: 420
- Ben Roethlisberger: 418
- Matt Ryan: 381
Misconceptions About the Stats
Most people think "most touchdowns" means "best quarterback." It’s not that simple.
A lot of these leaders played in specific "Air Raid" or high-volume systems. Philip Rivers is a great example. He’s 6th all-time with 425 touchdowns. He was incredible, but he also never played in a Super Bowl. On the flip side, Joe Montana is way down the list with 273. Does that mean Rivers was better than Montana? Not a chance.
The "all-time" list is as much a measure of health and longevity as it is pure skill. You have to be good enough to keep your job for 15+ years, and you have to stay healthy enough to suit up. That’s why Joe Flacco (272) is currently higher than Joe Montana. It feels wrong, but that’s the nature of the modern passing game.
The "Era" Problem
If you compare Fran Tarkenton (342) to anyone today, it’s like comparing apples to spaceships. Tarkenton retired in 1978. For him to throw over 300 touchdowns back then is arguably more impressive than someone throwing 450 today. The game was slower, the season was shorter, and the rules were brutal.
What to Watch For Next
If you want to keep track of the NFL passing touchdown leaders all time, keep your eyes on the "young" veterans.
- Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson are climbing fast, but their rushing style might limit their career longevity compared to pocket passers.
- Joe Burrow has the accuracy, but he needs to stay on the field.
- C.J. Stroud is the new "statistical darling." If he stays on his current trajectory, check back in 2035.
Basically, the record is Brady's to lose. Unless Mahomes decides he wants to play until he's 48, we might be looking at a permanent #1.
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If you're a stats nerd, keep an eye on the "Active Leaders" lists during the season. It’s the best way to see who’s actually moving the needle in real-time. You can track game-by-game updates on sites like Pro-Football-Reference or the official NFL stats portal to see if Stafford or Rodgers makes a jump this week.
Next time you see a QB throw four touchdowns in a game, just remember: they only need to do that 162 more times to catch Tom. Good luck with that.