The Lions' best quarterbacks since 1966
Matthew Stafford has the most passing yards of the 57 quarterbacks who played with the Lions since 1966, 45,118 in 165 games. Jared Goff is 2nd, with 23,415.
The Lions' quarterbacks this season
- Jared Goff7 games, 280.6 a game23,415 with the Lions, the 2nd-most since 1966.1,964passing yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1966–69
Compare with in · side by side
| Place | Player | passing yards | passing TDs | wins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Stafford2009 – 2020 · 165 games | 45,118 | 282 | 74 |
| 2 | Jared Goff2021 – 2026 · still playing | 23,415 | 164 | 53 |
| +1,964 this season | ||||
| 3 | Scott Mitchell1994 – 1998 · 57 games | 12,647 | 79 | 27 |
| 4 | Greg Landry1968 – 1978 · 102 games | 12,451 | 80 | 40 |
| 5 | Gary Danielson1976 – 1984 · 85 games | 11,885 | 69 | 23 |
| 6 | Eric Hipple1980 – 1989 · 102 games | 10,711 | 55 | 28 |
| 7 | Joey Harrington2002 – 2005 · 58 games | 10,242 | 60 | 18 |
| 8 | Jon Kitna2006 – 2008 · 36 games | 9,032 | 44 | 10 |
| 9 | Charlie Batch1998 – 2001 · 48 games | 9,016 | 49 | 19 |
| 10 | Bill Munson1968 – 1975 · 60 games | 8,461 | 56 | 24 |
| 11 | Rodney Peete1989 – 1993 · 47 games | 8,164 | 38 | 21 |
| 12 | Chuck Long1986 – 1989 · 23 games | 3,743 | 19 | 4 |
| 13 | Erik Kramer1991 – 1993 · 25 games | 3,408 | 23 | 10 |
| 14 | Shaun Hill2010 – 2013 · 15 games | 2,891 | 18 | 3 |
| 15 | Bob Gagliano1989 – 1990 · 20 games | 2,861 | 16 | 6 |
| 16 | Karl Sweetan1966 – 1967 · 20 games | 2,710 | 14 | 6 |
| 17 | Jeff Komlo1979 – 1981 · 23 games | 2,554 | 12 | 2 |
| 18 | Gus Frerotte1999 · 9 games | 2,117 | 9 | 2 |
| 19 | Joe Reed1975 – 1979 · 29 games | 1,920 | 14 | 6 |
| 20 | Dan Orlovsky2005 – 2015 · 14 games | 1,880 | 9 | 0 |
| 21 | Milt Plum1966 – 1967 · 23 games | 1,868 | 8 | 3 |
| 22 | Daunte Culpepper2008 – 2009 · 13 games | 1,731 | 7 | 0 |
| 23 | Mike McMahon2001 – 2004 · 19 games | 1,709 | 10 | 1 |
| 24 | Dave Krieg1994 · 14 games | 1,629 | 14 | 5 |
| 25 | Rusty Hilger1988 · 11 games | 1,558 | 7 | 3 |
passing yards by decade
2020s
- › Jared Goff2021 – 2026 · 89 games23,415
- Matthew Stafford2020 · 16 games4,084
- Tim Boyle2021 · 4 games526
- Chase Daniel2020 · 4 games264
- Hendon Hooker2024 · 3 games62
2010s
- Matthew Stafford2010 – 2019 · 139 games38,767
- Shaun Hill2010 – 2013 · 15 games2,891
- David Blough2019 · 5 games984
- Drew Stanton2010 · 6 games780
- Jeff Driskel2019 · 3 games685
2000s
- Joey Harrington2002 – 2005 · 58 games10,242
- Jon Kitna2006 – 2008 · 36 games9,032
- Charlie Batch2000 – 2001 · 25 games4,881
- Matthew Stafford2009 · 10 games2,267
- Daunte Culpepper2008 – 2009 · 13 games1,731
1990s
- Scott Mitchell1994 – 1998 · 57 games12,647
- Rodney Peete1990 – 1993 · 39 games6,685
- Charlie Batch1998 – 1999 · 23 games4,135
- Erik Kramer1991 – 1993 · 25 games3,408
- Gus Frerotte1999 · 9 games2,117
1980s
- Eric Hipple1980 – 1989 · 102 games10,711
- Gary Danielson1980 – 1984 · 55 games9,146
- Chuck Long1986 – 1989 · 23 games3,743
- Bob Gagliano1989 · 11 games1,671
- Rusty Hilger1988 · 11 games1,558
1970s
- Greg Landry1970 – 1978 · 88 games11,260
- Bill Munson1970 – 1975 · 40 games5,088
- Gary Danielson1976 – 1978 · 30 games2,739
- Jeff Komlo1979 · 16 games2,238
- Joe Reed1975 – 1979 · 29 games1,920
1966–69
- Bill Munson1968 – 1969 · 20 games3,373
- Karl Sweetan1966 – 1967 · 20 games2,710
- Milt Plum1966 – 1967 · 23 games1,868
- Greg Landry1968 – 1969 · 14 games1,191
Also with the Lions: running backs · receivers · tight ends · Detroit Lions record book
Method
- Every quarterback who played with the Lions since 1966, ranked by passing yards over his games there. Regular-season games only.
- The numbers here start in 1966, so a quarterback who played with the Lions before then isn't here.
- A quarterback's wins are his starts'.
- A decade counts his passing yards with the Lions in its seasons.