Roger Staubach
NOTE: Due to the adoption of the 16-game schedule as well as rules changes that had a major effect on opening up the passing game, the 1978 and ’79 seasons significantly skew the Top 10 results. Therefore, following the Top 10 is a list of the next 5 best performances that occurred exclusively from 1970-77.
TOP 10
1- Steve DeBerg, 1979 San Francisco 49ers
3652 yards, 347-578, 60.0 %, 17 TD, 21 INT
2- Roger Staubach, 1979 Dallas Cowboys
3586 yards, 267-461, 57.9 %, 27 TD, 11 INT
3- Fran Tarkenton, 1978 Minnesota Vikings
3468 yards, 345-572, 60.3 %, 25 TD, 32 INT
4- Archie Manning, 1978 New Orleans Saints
3416 yards, 291-471, 61.8 %, 17 TD, 16 INT
5- Tommy Kramer, 1979 Minnesota Vikings
3397 yards, 315-566, 55.7 %, 23 TD, 24 INT
6- Roman Gabriel, 1973 Philadelphia Eagles
3219 yards, 270-460, 58.7 %, 23 TD, 12 INT
7- Roger Staubach, 1978 Dallas Cowboys
3190 yards, 231-413, 55.9 %, 25 TD, 16 INT
8- Archie Manning, 1979 New Orleans Saints
3169 yards, 252-420, 60.0 %, 15 TD, 20 INT
9- Jim Hart, 1978 St. Louis Cardinals
3121 yards, 240-477, 50.3 %, 16 TD, 18 INT
10-Pat Haden, 1978 Los Angeles Rams
2995 yards, 229-444, 51.6 %, 13 TD, 19 INT
Steve DeBerg
Fran Tarkenton
NEXT 5 (1970-77)
1- Fran Tarkenton, 1975 Minnesota Vikings
2994 yards, 273-425, 64.2 %, 25 TD, 13 INT
2- Fran Tarkenton, 1976 Minnesota Vikings
2961 yards, 255-412, 61.9 %, 17 TD, 8 INT
3- Jim Hart, 1976 St. Louis Cardinals
2946 yards, 218-388, 56.2 %, 18 TD, 13 INT
4- John Brodie, 1970 San Francisco 49ers
2941 yards, 223-378, 59.0 %, 24 TD, 10 INT
5- Archie Manning, 1972 New Orleans Saints
2781 yards, 230-448, 51.3 %, 18 TD, 21 INT
Archie Manning
Roman Gabriel
BEST BY FRANCHISES NOT LISTED
Washington Redskins: Joe Theismann, 1979
2797 yards, 233-395, 59.0 %, 20 TD, 13 INT
New York Giants: Fran Tarkenton, 1970
2777 yards, 219-389, 56.3 %, 19 TD, 12 INT
Atlanta Falcons: Steve Bartkowski, 1979
2505 yards, 204-380, 53.7 %, 17 TD, 20 INT
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Doug Williams, 1979*
2448 yards, 166-397, 41.8 %, 18 TD, 24 INT
Detroit Lions: Gary Danielson, 1978
2294 yards, 199-351, 56.7 %, 18 TD, 17 INT
Green Bay Packers: David Whitehurst, 1979
2247 yards, 179-322, 55.6 %, 10 TD, 18 INT
Chicago Bears: Jack Concannon, 1970
2130 yards, 194-385, 50.4 %, 16 TD, 18 INT
* Buccaneers joined NFL in 1976 as AFC team, switched to NFC in ‘77
Jim Hart
Pat Haden
John Brodie