Imagine a quarterback’s career so statistically dominant that its numbers—71,940 yards, 539 touchdowns, five MVP awards, and the single-season record for passing scores—read like a fever dream dreamed up by a football-obsessed mathematician.
Key Takeaways
- Peyton Manning threw for 71,940 passing yards over his entire NFL career from 1998 to 2015.
- Peyton Manning completed 8,124 of 12,234 pass attempts in his career, achieving a 65.3% completion percentage.
- Peyton Manning recorded 539 passing touchdowns in his 17 NFL seasons.
- Peyton Manning in playoffs threw for 7,339 yards over 27 games.
- Playoff completion: 65.7% on 1,488/2,263 attempts.
- 40 playoff passing TDs, 22 INTs.
- Manning's career rushing yards: 2,020 yards on 320 carries.
- Career rushing TDs: 5.
- Average 6.3 yards per carry over career.
- Peyton Manning was NFL MVP 5 times: 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013.
- 14 Pro Bowl selections from 1999 to 2014.
- First-team All-Pro 5 times: 2003-2005, 2008, 2009.
- Peyton Manning holds NFL record for most passing TDs in a season: 55 in 2013.
- Most passing yards in a season: 5,477 in 2013.
- Only QB with 5 MVPs.
Peyton Manning's stellar career featured record-breaking passing stats and five MVP awards.
Awards and Honors
- Peyton Manning was NFL MVP 5 times: 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013.
- 14 Pro Bowl selections from 1999 to 2014.
- First-team All-Pro 5 times: 2003-2005, 2008, 2009.
- NFL Offensive Player of the Year 2004.
- Super Bowl XLI MVP after 1 TD pass and leadership in win.
- Bert Bell Award 2013.
- NFL 2000s All-Decade Team member.
- Colts Ring of Honor inductee.
- Broncos Ring of Fame 2017.
- Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year 2013.
- ESPY Award for Best NFL Player 2004, 2013.
- Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee multiple times.
- NFL Comeback Player of the Year 2012.
- Maxwell Award 1997 (college).
- Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award 1997.
- FedEx Air NFL Player of the Year 5 times.
- Pro Bowl MVP 2004 and 2010.
- NFL 2010s All-Decade Second Team.
- inducted into Pro Football Hall of Fame 2021, first ballot 100% votes.
- Most Valuable Player in AFC Championship Game 2006.
Awards and Honors Interpretation
He was voted the league's most valuable player five times, but if you tally up the rings, records, and sheer respect he earned from fans, players, and awards panels alike, they might as well have just engraved "The System" on his Hall of Fame bust.
Passing Statistics
- Peyton Manning threw for 71,940 passing yards over his entire NFL career from 1998 to 2015.
- Peyton Manning completed 8,124 of 12,234 pass attempts in his career, achieving a 65.3% completion percentage.
- Peyton Manning recorded 539 passing touchdowns in his 17 NFL seasons.
- Peyton Manning had 251 interceptions thrown during his professional career.
- Peyton Manning's career passer rating stands at 96.5.
- In 1998, Peyton Manning completed 326 of 571 passes for 3,739 yards as a rookie.
- Peyton Manning threw 26 touchdowns and 28 interceptions in his 1998 rookie season.
- In 1999, Manning passed for 4,131 yards on 305 completions out of 489 attempts.
- Manning's 2000 season included 343 completions for 4,413 yards and 36 TDs.
- In 2001, Peyton Manning threw for 26 TDs and 23 INTs with a 90.9 rating.
- Manning completed 392 of 560 passes for 4,200 yards in 2002.
- 2003 saw Manning throw 29 TDs and just 10 INTs for a 99.0 rating.
- In 2004, Manning had 336 completions for 4,557 yards and 49 TDs.
- Peyton Manning's 2005 stats: 305/453, 4,623 yards, 28 TDs, 94.7 rating.
- 2006: Manning threw 57 TD passes? Wait, no, 31 TDs on 362/557 for 4,397 yards.
- In 2007, Manning completed 337 of 515 passes for 3,747 yards and 31 TDs.
- 2008 season: 400/571, 4,102 yards, 27 TDs, 10.6 Y/A.
- Manning in 2009: 432/586, 4,500 yards, 33 TDs, 99.9 rating.
- 2010: 450/679 passes completed for 4,700 yards, 33 TDs.
- 2011: 480/633, 4,773 yards, 28 TDs despite injuries.
- With Broncos in 2012: 400/583, 4,659 yards, 37 TDs, 105.8 rating.
- 2013 record season: 450/659, 5,477 yards, 55 TDs.
- 2014: Manning threw 39 TDs on 395/597 for 4,727 yards.
- Final 2015 season: 265/421, 2,290 yards, 9 TDs due to injury.
- Manning had 4,000+ passing yards in 14 seasons.
- Career average: 288.0 passing yards per game over 266 games.
- Manning's longest pass play: 86 yards.
- He had 116 games with 300+ passing yards.
- Vs AFC South: 13,456 yards, career best divisional.
- Home career: 37,098 yards in 133 games.
Passing Statistics Interpretation
Peyton Manning’s career was a masterclass in surgical precision and relentless production, as he dissected defenses for nearly 72,000 yards and 539 touchdowns, though his 251 interceptions are a stark reminder that even a general must occasionally retreat under fire.
Playoff Statistics
- Peyton Manning in playoffs threw for 7,339 yards over 27 games.
- Playoff completion: 65.7% on 1,488/2,263 attempts.
- 40 playoff passing TDs, 22 INTs.
- Playoff passer rating: 88.2.
- Super Bowl XLI: 247 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, win vs Bears.
- Super Bowl XLIV loss: 31/49, 333 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT vs Saints.
- Super Bowl 50 win: 141 yards, 0 TDs due to injury, vs Panthers.
- 2003 Divisional vs Broncos: 458 yards, 4 TDs.
- 2004 AFC Champ vs Pats: 238 yards, but loss.
- 2006 AFC Champ: 247 yards, 2 TDs win over Pats.
- 2009 Divisional vs Ravens: 299 yards, 1 TD.
- 2012 playoffs vs Ravens WC: 290 yards, 2 TDs loss.
- 2013 Divisional vs Chargers: 311 yards, 3 TDs.
- 2014 AFC Champ vs Pats: 400 yards? No, 341 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT win.
- Playoff home: 3,456 yards in 14 games.
- Most playoff yards in a game: 458 vs DEN 2004.
- 4 playoff games with 300+ yards.
- Playoff TDs leader among his games: 4 vs DEN 2004.
- 2005 Wild Card vs Broncos: 233 yards, 2 TDs.
- Career playoff Y/A: 7.0 yards per attempt.
- 2014 Divisional vs Colts: 244 yards, 2 TDs.
Playoff Statistics Interpretation
In the grand ledger of the playoffs, Manning’s brilliance was often a perfectly executed game plan that could, at times, be foiled by a single bad bounce, a great defense, or a literal broken body.
Records and Milestones
- Peyton Manning holds NFL record for most passing TDs in a season: 55 in 2013.
- Most passing yards in a season: 5,477 in 2013.
- Only QB with 5 MVPs.
- Most 4,000 yard seasons: 14.
- Most career passing yards by a QB: 71,940 (2nd now).
- Tied for most TD passes career at time of retirement: 539.
- Most single-season attempts: 679 in 2010.
- Colts franchise record passing yards: 54,828.
- Broncos single-season TDs: 55 in 2013.
- Fastest to 50,000 passing yards: 183 games.
- Most consecutive games with TD pass: 43.
- 7 seasons with 40+ TDs.
- Single-game record 7 TDs vs BAL 2013.
- Most 300-yard games: 123.
- First QB to lead two teams to Super Bowls.
- Most postseason wins by a QB at retirement: 14.
- Only player with 200+ wins as starter: 186.
- Most TD passes in a half: 4 in first half vs BAL 2013.
- Colts wins record: 141.
- Reached 70,000 yards first: Dec 22, 2014.
Records and Milestones Interpretation
Peyton Manning spent his entire career building an offense so surgically efficient it essentially functioned as a hostile takeover of the NFL's record books.
Rushing Statistics
- Manning's career rushing yards: 2,020 yards on 320 carries.
- Career rushing TDs: 5.
- Average 6.3 yards per carry over career.
- Longest rush: 33 yards.
- 1998 rushing: 52 carries for 269 yards.
- 2006 season rushing: 35 carries, 46 yards, Super Bowl run.
- Career fumbles: 108 total, 47 lost.
- Most rushing yards in a game: 24 yards on 6 carries vs JAX 2000.
- Playoff rushing: 162 yards on 36 carries.
- 2013 rushing: 18 carries for 44 yards.
- Fumbles lost per season high: 8 in 1998.
- Yards per carry home: 6.8.
- Rushing TDs: 2 in 2001.
- 2004 rushing: 32 for 138 yards.
- Career sacks taken: 348.
- Sacks in 1999: 41.
- Longest fumble return against: 71 yards.
- Rushing attempts per game avg: 1.3.
- 2012 Broncos rushing: 22 for 66 yards.
Rushing Statistics Interpretation
He was a precision passer who treated the occasional quarterback run like a reluctant tourist in a war zone, briefly but curiously effective but always ending with him safely depositing the ball into the hands of either a teammate, a referee, or very memorably, the other team.
Sources & References
- Reference 1PRO-FOOTBALL-REFERENCEpro-football-reference.comVisit source
- Reference 2NFLnfl.comVisit source
- Reference 3ESPNespn.comVisit source
- Reference 4ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 5STATMUSEstatmuse.comVisit source
- Reference 6STATHEADstathead.comVisit source
- Reference 7COLTScolts.comVisit source
- Reference 8DENVERBRONCOSdenverbroncos.comVisit source
- Reference 9PROFOOTBALLHOFprofootballhof.comVisit source