The short answer. Since 2005 (the span of our data), the most productive NFL player is Tom Brady — 89.2k pass yds · 649 TD. The rest of the top five: Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Brett Favre, Emmitt Smith. This ranks production over the modern era, not all-time greatness.
By position:QuarterbacksRunning BacksWide ReceiversTight EndsLinebackersCornerbacksDefensive EndsSafetys
Modern-era top 100 model
Ranked by the Balladex most productive score. Tap any player for his full career.
| # | Player | Pos | Career credentials | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TBTom Brady | Quarterback | 89.2k pass yds · 649 TD | 4180 |
| 2 | PMPeyton Manning | Quarterback | 71.9k pass yds · 539 TD | 3483 |
| 3 | DBDrew Brees | Quarterback | 80.4k pass yds · 571 TD | 2726 |
| 4 | BFBrett Favre | Quarterback | 71.8k pass yds · 508 TD | 2653 |
| 5 | ESEmmitt Smith | Running Back | 18.4k rush yds · 164 TD | 2332 |
| 6 | JRJerry Rice | Wide Receiver | 1549 rec · 22.9k yds · 197 TD | 2304 |
| 7 |  Aaron Rodgers | Quarterback | 67.5k pass yds · 537 TD | 2231 |
| 8 | JMJoe Montana | Quarterback | 40.6k pass yds · 273 TD | 2209 |
| 9 | DMDan Marino | Quarterback | 61.4k pass yds · 420 TD | 2143 |
| 10 |  Patrick Mahomes | Quarterback | 37k pass yds · 276 TD | 2068 |
| 11 | WPWalter Payton | Running Back | 16.7k rush yds · 110 TD | 2000 |
| 12 | JBJim Brown | Running Back | 12.3k rush yds · 106 TD | 1935 |
| 13 |  Matthew Stafford | Quarterback | 66.1k pass yds · 432 TD | 1927 |
| 14 | MFMarshall Faulk | Running Back | 12.3k rush yds · 100 TD | 1898 |
| 15 | LTLaDainian Tomlinson | Running Back | 13.7k rush yds · 145 TD | 1880 |
| 16 | SYSteve Young | Quarterback | 33.1k pass yds · 232 TD | 1864 |
| 17 | JUJohnny Unitas | Quarterback | 40.2k pass yds · 290 TD | 1846 |
| 18 | BSBarry Sanders | Running Back | 15.3k rush yds · 99 TD | 1813 |
| 19 | JEJohn Elway | Quarterback | 51.5k pass yds · 300 TD | 1783 |
| 20 | APAdrian Peterson | Running Back | 14.9k rush yds · 120 TD | 1718 |
| 21 | TBTerry Bradshaw | Quarterback | 28k pass yds · 212 TD | 1528 |
| 22 | TTThurman Thomas | Running Back | 12.1k rush yds · 65 TD | 1499 |
| 23 | BSBruce Smith | Defensive End | 200 sacks · 2 INT | 1491 |
| 24 | WMWarren Moon | Quarterback | 49.3k pass yds · 291 TD | 1486 |
| 25 | EDEric Dickerson | Running Back | 13.3k rush yds · 90 TD | 1461 |
| 26 |  Kirk Cousins | Quarterback | 46k pass yds · 310 TD | 1424 |
| 27 | LFLarry Fitzgerald | Wide Receiver | 1432 rec · 17.5k yds · 121 TD | 1405 |
| 28 | TOTerrell Owens | Wide Receiver | 1078 rec · 15.9k yds · 153 TD | 1398 |
| 29 | RMRandy Moss | Wide Receiver | 982 rec · 15.3k yds · 156 TD | 1369 |
| 30 | MHMarvin Harrison | Wide Receiver | 1102 rec · 14.6k yds · 128 TD | 1356 |
| 31 | TDTony Dorsett | Running Back | 12.7k rush yds · 77 TD | 1336 |
| 32 |  Jared Goff | Quarterback | 41.1k pass yds · 268 TD | 1335 |
| 33 | RWReggie White | Defensive End | 198 sacks · 3 INT | 1335 |
| 34 | RLRay Lewis | Linebacker | 42 sacks · 31 INT | 1330 |
| 35 | TGTony Gonzalez | Tight End | 1325 rec · 15.1k yds · 111 TD | 1300 |
| 36 |  Joe Flacco | Quarterback | 46.5k pass yds · 259 TD | 1288 |
| 37 |  Derrick Henry | Running Back | 13.5k rush yds · 129 TD | 1270 |
| 38 | CCCris Carter | Wide Receiver | 1101 rec · 13.9k yds · 130 TD | 1259 |
| 39 | LTLawrence Taylor | Linebacker | 133 sacks · 9 INT | 1251 |
| 40 |  Dak Prescott | Quarterback | 37.4k pass yds · 252 TD | 1244 |
| 41 | TATroy Aikman | Quarterback | 32.9k pass yds · 165 TD | 1218 |
| 42 |  Andy Dalton | Quarterback | 39.8k pass yds · 254 TD | 1208 |
| 43 | ECEarl Campbell | Running Back | 9.4k rush yds · 74 TD | 1174 |
| 44 | IBIsaac Bruce | Wide Receiver | 1024 rec · 15.2k yds · 91 TD | 1155 |
| 45 | TBTim Brown | Wide Receiver | 1094 rec · 14.9k yds · 100 TD | 1147 |
| 46 |  Christian McCaffrey | Running Back | 7.1k rush yds · 61 TD | 1134 |
| 47 |  Josh Allen | Quarterback | 31.4k pass yds · 227 TD | 1116 |
| 48 |  Alvin Kamara | Running Back | 7.3k rush yds · 63 TD | 1068 |
| 49 | RSRoger Staubach | Quarterback | 22.7k pass yds · 153 TD | 1066 |
| 50 | RGRob Gronkowski | Tight End | 621 rec · 9.3k yds · 92 TD | 1060 |
| 51 |  Lamar Jackson | Quarterback | 23.6k pass yds · 193 TD | 1025 |
| 52 | SLSteve Largent | Wide Receiver | 819 rec · 13.1k yds · 100 TD | 1024 |
| 53 | CJCalvin Johnson | Wide Receiver | 731 rec · 11.6k yds · 83 TD | 1019 |
| 54 |  Baker Mayfield | Quarterback | 28.3k pass yds · 195 TD | 1018 |
| 55 | SSShannon Sharpe | Tight End | 815 rec · 10.1k yds · 62 TD | 1017 |
| 56 | AGAntonio Gates | Tight End | 955 rec · 11.8k yds · 116 TD | 990 |
| 57 |  Saquon Barkley | Running Back | 8.5k rush yds · 55 TD | 987 |
| 58 |  Davante Adams | Wide Receiver | 977 rec · 12.2k yds · 114 TD | 984 |
| 59 |  Joe Burrow | Quarterback | 22.2k pass yds · 168 TD | 960 |
| 60 |  Justin Herbert | Quarterback | 25.8k pass yds · 168 TD | 960 |
| 61 |  Mike Evans | Wide Receiver | 890 rec · 13.4k yds · 111 TD | 957 |
| 62 |  Jonathan Taylor | Running Back | 8k rush yds · 75 TD | 923 |
| 63 |  Josh Jacobs | Running Back | 7.8k rush yds · 74 TD | 918 |
| 64 |  Aaron Jones Sr. | Running Back | 8k rush yds · 54 TD | 907 |
| 65 | RLRonnie Lott | Safety | 9 sacks · 63 INT | 902 |
| 66 |  Jameis Winston | Quarterback | 25.6k pass yds · 162 TD | 880 |
| 67 |  Carson Wentz | Quarterback | 23.9k pass yds · 162 TD | 873 |
| 68 |  Deshaun Watson | Quarterback | 18.9k pass yds · 130 TD | 825 |
| 69 |  Travis Kelce | Tight End | 1096 rec · 13.2k yds · 84 TD | 820 |
| 70 |  Geno Smith | Quarterback | 23.3k pass yds · 130 TD | 805 |
| 71 | GSGale Sayers | Running Back | 5k rush yds · 39 TD | 797 |
| 72 | EREd Reed | Safety | 6 sacks · 64 INT | 789 |
| 73 |  Sam Darnold | Quarterback | 21.2k pass yds · 130 TD | 784 |
| 74 |  Cameron Jordan | Defensive End | 132 sacks · 3 INT | 777 |
| 75 | DSDeion Sanders | Cornerback | 1 sacks · 53 INT | 772 |
| 76 |  James Conner | Running Back | 6.1k rush yds · 60 TD | 770 |
| 77 |  Calais Campbell | Defensive End | 117 sacks · 3 INT | 754 |
| 78 |  T.J. Watt | Linebacker | 120 sacks · 10 INT | 753 |
| 79 |  Marcus Mariota | Quarterback | 18.2k pass yds · 111 TD | 747 |
| 80 |  Cooper Kupp | Wide Receiver | 692 rec · 8.5k yds · 60 TD | 746 |
| 81 |  David Montgomery | Running Back | 6.3k rush yds · 61 TD | 743 |
| 82 |  Kyler Murray | Quarterback | 21.1k pass yds · 123 TD | 741 |
| 83 |  Tua Tagovailoa | Quarterback | 18.2k pass yds · 120 TD | 739 |
| 84 |  Jacoby Brissett | Quarterback | 15.9k pass yds · 85 TD | 714 |
| 85 |  Khalil Mack | Linebacker | 116 sacks · 3 INT | 710 |
| 86 |  Trevor Lawrence | Quarterback | 19k pass yds · 108 TD | 709 |
| 87 |  Jalen Hurts | Quarterback | 18.8k pass yds · 118 TD | 703 |
| 88 |  Myles Garrett | Defensive End | 126 sacks | 689 |
| 89 |  Bijan Robinson | Running Back | 4.5k rush yds · 29 TD | 680 |
| 90 |  Brock Purdy | Quarterback | 12.9k pass yds · 97 TD | 671 |
| 91 |  Jahmyr Gibbs | Running Back | 4.1k rush yds · 46 TD | 669 |
| 92 |  Tony Pollard | Running Back | 6.1k rush yds · 34 TD | 667 |
| 93 |  D'Andre Swift | Running Back | 5.1k rush yds · 42 TD | 663 |
| 94 |  Jordan Love | Quarterback | 12.9k pass yds · 93 TD | 654 |
| 95 |  Danielle Hunter | Defensive End | 118 sacks | 653 |
| 96 |  Justin Jefferson | Wide Receiver | 598 rec · 8.7k yds · 45 TD | 652 |
| 97 |  Ja'Marr Chase | Wide Receiver | 547 rec · 7.1k yds · 58 TD | 649 |
| 98 |  CeeDee Lamb | Wide Receiver | 610 rec · 7.9k yds · 45 TD | 647 |
| 99 |  James Cook III | Running Back | 4.8k rush yds · 37 TD | 627 |
| 100 |  Odell Beckham Jr. | Wide Receiver | 548 rec · 7.7k yds · 54 TD | 625 |
Method. A transparent Balladex model estimate, not a definitive verdict. Each player is scored on career production, best peak seasons, efficiency and longevity, then ranked across the database (2005–present). Because our data begins in 2005, this is a modern-era production board and deliberately excludes pre-2005 greats — it is not an all-time ranking. Explore the stat leaders, power rankings, player comparisons, the stats glossary, and embed this ranking on your site.