List of the Day: Best Passing Yardage Seasons, 1950s NFL

Johnny Unitas

TOP 10
1- Johnny Unitas, 1959 Baltimore Colts
2899 yards, 193-367, 52.6 %, 32 TD, 14 INT

2- Bill Wade, 1958 Los Angeles Rams
2875 yards, 181-341, 53.1 %, 18 TD, 22 INT

3- Otto Graham, 1952 Cleveland Browns
2816 yards, 181-364, 49.7 %, 20 TD, 24 INT

4- Otto Graham, 1953 Cleveland Browns
2722 yards, 167-258, 64.7 %, 11 TD, 9 INT

5- Norm Van Brocklin, 1954 Los Angeles Rams
2637 yards, 139-260, 53.5 %, 13 TD, 21 INT

6- Norm Van Brocklin, 1959 Philadelphia Eagles
2617 yards, 191-340, 56.2 %, 16 TD, 14 INT

7- Johnny Unitas, 1957 Baltimore Colts
2550 yards, 172-301, 57.1 %, 24 TD, 17 INT

8- Bobby Layne, 1958 Detroit Lions/Pittsburgh Steelers*
2510 yards, 145-294, 49.3 %, 14 TD, 12 INT

9- Bobby Thomason, 1953 Philadelphia Eagles
2462 yards, 162-304, 53.3 %, 21 TD, 20 INT

10-Norm Van Brocklin, 1958 Philadelphia Eagles
2409 yards, 198-374, 52.9 %, 15 TD, 20 INT


Bill Wade



Otto Graham



Norm Van Brocklin

BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT IN TOP 10
Detroit Lions: Bobby Layne, 1951
2403 yards, 152-332, 45.8 %, 26 TD, 23 INT

Green Bay Packers: Tobin Rote, 1954
2311 yards, 180-382, 47.1 %, 14 TD, 18 INT

New York Yanks: George Ratterman, 1950**
2251 yards, 140-294, 47.6 %, 22 TD, 24 INT

San Francisco 49ers: Y.A. Tittle, 1954
2205 yards, 170-295, 57.6 %, 9 TD, 9 INT

Chicago Bears: George Blanda, 1953
2164 yards, 169-362, 46.7 %, 14 TD, 23 INT

New York Giants: Charlie Conerly, 1957
1712 yards, 128-232, 55.2 %, 11 TD, 11 INT

Chicago Cardinals: Jim Hardy, 1950
1636 yards, 117-257, 45.5 %, 17 TD, 24 INT

Washington Redskins: Eddie LeBaron, 1957
1508 yards, 99-167, 59.3 %, 11 TD, 10 INT

Dallas Texans: Frank Tripucka, 1952***
769 yards, 86-174, 49.4 %, 3 TD, 17 INT

* Layne appeared in 2 games with Detroit, 10 with Pittsburgh
** Yanks folded following 1951 season
***Texans played in 1952 only


Bobby Thomason



Bobby Layne



Tobin Rote



Charlie Conerly