Kansas City Chiefs All-Time Passing Yards Leaders starts with Patrick Mahomes, the franchise record-holder with 35,939 passing yards. For a team with Len Dawson, Trent Green, Alex Smith, Bill Kenney and Joe Montana in its quarterback history, Mahomes already sitting at No. 1 shows how quickly he has rewritten the Chiefs record book.
Len Dawson ranks second with 28,507 passing yards, while Trent Green sits third with 21,459. Alex Smith and Bill Kenney complete the top five, giving the leaderboard a strong mix of AFL history, early-2000s production, Andy Reid-era stability and modern Mahomes dominance.
For the full team index, visit our Kansas City Chiefs all-time leaders and player rankings hub. This list uses regular-season passing yards recorded with the Kansas City Chiefs franchise only, including the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise era.
Table of Contents
- How This Chiefs Passing Yards List Works
- Passing Yards vs. Chiefs Quarterback Legacy
- 1. Patrick Mahomes — 35,939 Passing Yards
- 2. Len Dawson — 28,507 Passing Yards
- 3. Trent Green — 21,459 Passing Yards
- 4. Alex Smith — 17,608 Passing Yards
- 5. Bill Kenney — 17,277 Passing Yards
- 6. Steve DeBerg — 11,873 Passing Yards
- 7. Mike Livingston — 11,295 Passing Yards
- 8. Elvis Grbac — 10,643 Passing Yards
- 9. Matt Cassel — 9,549 Passing Yards
- 10. Steve Bono — 6,489 Passing Yards
- Biggest Takeaways
- Full Ranking Table
- FAQ
- Conclusion
- More Chiefs and NFL Rankings
How This Chiefs Passing Yards List Works
This list ranks the Kansas City Chiefs all-time passing yards leaders by regular-season passing yards recorded with the Chiefs franchise. It does not include playoff passing yards, preseason stats or passing yards gained with another NFL team.
That matters for players like Alex Smith, Steve DeBerg, Elvis Grbac, Matt Cassel, Steve Bono and Joe Montana, who also played elsewhere. For this leaderboard, only their Chiefs franchise production counts.
This ranking follows the franchise passing yards leaderboard, with Patrick Mahomes first, Len Dawson second and Trent Green third. The full table has been expanded to the top 25 so the post has enough depth beyond the main graphic.
Last updated: 2026 offseason. Patrick Mahomes is still active, so his passing yards and passing touchdown totals can keep climbing.
Passing Yards vs. Chiefs Quarterback Legacy
Passing yards are not the only way to rank Chiefs quarterbacks, but they are useful for showing volume, longevity and how much responsibility a player carried in the offense. That is why this leaderboard creates a clean split between Mahomes, Dawson and Green at the top, then the next tier of long-term starters behind them.
Mahomes is already the statistical standard because he owns both the franchise passing yards and passing touchdown records. Dawson still carries massive historical weight because he defined the AFL era and won Super Bowl IV. Green, Smith, Kenney and DeBerg show that Kansas City had several productive passing chapters before the current dynasty.
The lower half of the table is still valuable for SEO and context. Names like Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, Dave Krieg and Steve Fuller help connect Chiefs-only production to broader NFL quarterback history without turning the article into an all-career ranking.
1. Patrick Mahomes — 35,939 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 2017–present with Kansas City, franchise-record 35,939 passing yards, franchise-record 267 passing touchdowns, three Super Bowl championships, three Super Bowl MVP awards and two NFL MVP awards.
Patrick Mahomes is the Kansas City Chiefs all-time passing yards leader, and he is still adding to the number. His 35,939 passing yards already put him ahead of every quarterback in franchise history, including Len Dawson, Trent Green and Alex Smith.
Mahomes changed the standard for Chiefs quarterback play almost immediately. His arm strength, movement skills, creativity and comfort outside structure turned Kansas City into one of the NFL’s defining modern offenses.
The scary part for the rest of the leaderboard is that this record is not finished. Mahomes already owns the passing yards and passing touchdown crowns, and every healthy season gives him a chance to push both records into territory that may become unreachable.
For a franchise that once waited decades between true long-term passing stars, Mahomes has completely rewritten the Chiefs record book.
2. Len Dawson — 28,507 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1962–1975 with the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise, 28,507 passing yards, 237 passing touchdowns, AFL champion, Super Bowl IV champion, Super Bowl IV MVP and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback.
Len Dawson ranks second in Chiefs career passing yards with 28,507. Before Mahomes arrived, Dawson was the clear quarterback standard in franchise history.
Dawson’s numbers came in a much different passing environment. Completion rates were lower, offensive rules were less friendly and quarterbacks took more punishment, so his efficiency and production deserve real era context.
He led the franchise through its AFL glory years and helped deliver the Chiefs’ first Super Bowl title. Even after Mahomes passed him statistically, Dawson remains one of the most important players Kansas City has ever had.
His place at No. 2 is not a downgrade. It is a reminder that the Chiefs have had two true franchise-defining quarterbacks at very different points in team history.
3. Trent Green — 21,459 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 2001–2006 with Kansas City, 21,459 passing yards, 118 passing touchdowns and multiple Pro Bowl selections.
Trent Green ranks third in Chiefs career passing yards with 21,459. His run in the early 2000s gave Kansas City one of the league’s most productive offenses.
Green was accurate, tough and comfortable operating Dick Vermeil’s attack. With Tony Gonzalez, Priest Holmes and a dominant offensive line around him, he consistently moved the ball and stacked big passing seasons.
The playoff results never matched the regular-season production, which is why that era can be frustrating for Chiefs fans. Still, Green’s yardage total is not empty.
He remains one of the best pure passing quarterbacks the franchise has had.
4. Alex Smith — 17,608 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 2013–2017 with Kansas City, 17,608 passing yards, 102 passing touchdowns, multiple Pro Bowl selections and four playoff appearances as a Chiefs starter.
Alex Smith ranks fourth in Chiefs career passing yards with 17,608. His time in Kansas City helped turn the franchise from inconsistent into stable under Andy Reid.
Smith was efficient, smart and careful with the football. He did not always attack downfield aggressively, but he protected the ball, extended plays with his legs and helped the Chiefs win consistently.
His final Kansas City season was his best, and it created the perfect bridge into the Mahomes era. That matters because Mahomes did not take over a broken franchise; he took over a team Smith had helped stabilize.
Smith’s role in Chiefs history is bigger than his stat line, but the stat line is still strong enough to put him fourth.
5. Bill Kenney — 17,277 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1980–1988 with Kansas City, 17,277 passing yards, 105 passing touchdowns and one Pro Bowl selection.
Bill Kenney ranks fifth in Chiefs career passing yards with 17,277. He was one of the franchise’s most productive quarterbacks during the 1980s.
Kenney gave Kansas City several strong passing seasons during a period when the team was still searching for a consistent identity. At his best, he could push the ball, handle volume and keep the offense competitive.
His 1983 Pro Bowl season remains the high point of his Chiefs career. He did not have the team success of Dawson, Smith or Mahomes, but his production was real.
Kenney’s total keeps him just behind Alex Smith and comfortably ahead of several recognizable Chiefs quarterbacks.
6. Steve DeBerg — 11,873 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1988–1991 with Kansas City, 11,873 passing yards and 67 passing touchdowns.
Steve DeBerg ranks sixth in Chiefs career passing yards with 11,873. His Kansas City chapter came late in his NFL career, but it was one of his better stretches.
DeBerg was smart, accurate and experienced. He helped guide the Chiefs during the early Marty Schottenheimer years, when Kansas City began turning back into a serious AFC team.
He was not a long-term superstar, but he gave the franchise competent, productive quarterback play at an important time.
That bridge value is why DeBerg still sits inside the Chiefs top 10.
7. Mike Livingston — 11,295 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1968–1979 with Kansas City, 11,295 passing yards and 56 passing touchdowns.
Mike Livingston ranks seventh in Chiefs career passing yards with 11,295. He spent more than a decade with Kansas City and became an important quarterback bridge after Len Dawson’s prime.
Livingston moved between backup and starter roles across different phases of Chiefs history. His numbers reflect longevity, patience and steady service more than one dominant peak.
That still matters on a franchise leaderboard. Not every top-10 quarterback has to be a superstar; some players hold important places because they kept the position functional for years.
Livingston’s total shows how long he stayed part of the Chiefs quarterback picture.
8. Elvis Grbac — 10,643 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1997–2000 with Kansas City, 10,643 passing yards, 66 passing touchdowns and one Pro Bowl selection.
Elvis Grbac ranks eighth in Chiefs career passing yards with 10,643. His Kansas City career was shorter than most names above him, but his production was strong enough to stick in the top 10.
Grbac had the arm talent to attack defenses and produce big passing games. He helped Kansas City remain competitive during the late 1990s and made a Pro Bowl during his Chiefs run.
His time with the franchise can be debated because the team did not break through in January. But regular-season production is the point of this list, and Grbac produced.
His 10,643 passing yards keep him ahead of Matt Cassel, Steve Bono and Joe Montana on the Chiefs-only leaderboard.
9. Matt Cassel — 9,549 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 2009–2012 with Kansas City, 9,549 passing yards, 59 passing touchdowns and one Pro Bowl selection.
Matt Cassel ranks ninth in Chiefs career passing yards with 9,549. His best Kansas City season came in 2010, when he helped lead the Chiefs to an AFC West title.
Cassel developed a strong connection with Dwayne Bowe and gave Kansas City a productive passing season during a rebuilding stretch. That 2010 year is the reason his Chiefs run still has a place in the record book.
The consistency did not last as long as the franchise wanted, but Cassel’s total is still enough to keep him inside the top 10.
He is a good example of a quarterback whose peak season carried real weight, even if the overall era was uneven.
10. Steve Bono — 6,489 Passing Yards
Kansas City Chiefs Stats & Accolades: 1994–1996 with Kansas City, 6,489 passing yards, 37 passing touchdowns and one Pro Bowl selection.
Steve Bono rounds out the top 10 in Chiefs career passing yards with 6,489. His Kansas City run was brief, but it came during a strong regular-season stretch for the franchise.
Bono was not a high-volume passer. He fit a controlled offense, protected the ball and helped the Chiefs win games with defense, field position and a physical style.
His 1995 season helped Kansas City finish with one of the league’s best records, even if the postseason ended painfully.
Bono’s yardage total keeps him just ahead of Joe Montana and Steve Fuller in the Chiefs record book.
Biggest Takeaways From the Chiefs Passing Yards List
The biggest takeaway is Patrick Mahomes’ speed to the top. He already owns the Chiefs passing yards record with 35,939 yards and is still active, which means the No. 1 number can keep moving.
The second takeaway is that Len Dawson’s legacy still holds up. Even after Mahomes passed him, Dawson remains second with 28,507 passing yards and still owns one of the most important quarterback careers in franchise history.
The third takeaway is how many different Chiefs eras show up in the top 25. Dawson represents the Dallas Texans/AFL roots, Green represents the early-2000s offensive surge, Smith represents the Andy Reid reset, and Mahomes represents the modern dynasty.
Full Ranking Table: Kansas City Chiefs All-Time Passing Yards Leaders
Note: This table is sorted by regular-season passing yards with the Chiefs franchise only. Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs franchise-era stats are included. Playoff stats are not included.
| Rank | Player | Chiefs Years | Passing Yards | Passing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Mahomes | 2017–present | 35,939 | 267 |
| 2 | Len Dawson | 1962–1975 | 28,507 | 237 |
| 3 | Trent Green | 2001–2006 | 21,459 | 118 |
| 4 | Alex Smith | 2013–2017 | 17,608 | 102 |
| 5 | Bill Kenney | 1980–1988 | 17,277 | 105 |
| 6 | Steve DeBerg | 1988–1991 | 11,873 | 67 |
| 7 | Mike Livingston | 1968–1979 | 11,295 | 56 |
| 8 | Elvis Grbac | 1997–2000 | 10,643 | 66 |
| 9 | Matt Cassel | 2009–2012 | 9,549 | 59 |
| 10 | Steve Bono | 1994–1996 | 6,489 | 37 |
| 11 | Joe Montana | 1993–1994 | 5,427 | 29 |
| 12 | Steve Fuller | 1979–1982 | 5,333 | 22 |
| 13 | Cotton Davidson | 1960–1962 | 4,919 | 32 |
| 14 | Damon Huard | 2004–2008 | 4,612 | 24 |
| 15 | Todd Blackledge | 1983–1987 | 4,510 | 26 |
| 16 | Dave Krieg | 1992 | 4,353 | 22 |
| 17 | Rich Gannon | 1995–1998 | 3,997 | 23 |
| 18 | Tyler Thigpen | 2007–2009 | 2,649 | 18 |
| 19 | Tony Adams | 1975–1978 | 2,126 | 9 |
| 20 | Brodie Croyle | 2006–2010 | 1,669 | 8 |
| 21 | Pete Beathard | 1964–1967, 1973 | 1,649 | 8 |
| 22 | Brady Quinn | 2012 | 1,141 | 2 |
| 23 | Eddie Wilson | 1962–1964 | 994 | 4 |
| 24 | Tyler Palko | 2010–2011 | 831 | 2 |
| 25 | Kyle Orton | 2011 | 779 | 1 |
FAQ: Kansas City Chiefs All-Time Passing Yards Leaders
Who has the most passing yards in Kansas City Chiefs history?
Patrick Mahomes has the most passing yards in Kansas City Chiefs history with 35,939 regular-season passing yards.
Who is second in Chiefs career passing yards?
Len Dawson ranks second in Chiefs career passing yards with 28,507 passing yards.
Who is third in Kansas City Chiefs all-time passing yards?
Trent Green ranks third with 21,459 passing yards for Kansas City.
Where does Alex Smith rank in Chiefs passing yards?
Alex Smith ranks fourth in Chiefs career passing yards with 17,608 passing yards.
Is Patrick Mahomes also the Chiefs passing touchdown leader?
Yes. Patrick Mahomes is also the Chiefs all-time passing touchdown leader with 267 passing touchdowns.
Does this Chiefs list include Dallas Texans franchise stats?
Yes. The Chiefs franchise began as the Dallas Texans before becoming the Kansas City Chiefs, so franchise-era totals are included for players from that period.
Are playoff passing yards included in this Chiefs ranking?
No. This ranking uses regular-season passing yards with the Chiefs franchise only. Playoff passing yards are not included.
How many players are included in the full table?
The full table includes the top 25 Kansas City Chiefs passing yards leaders by regular-season franchise passing yards.
Conclusion: Patrick Mahomes Owns the Chiefs Passing Yards Record
Patrick Mahomes remains the Kansas City Chiefs all-time passing yards leader with 35,939 yards. Len Dawson ranks second with 28,507, while Trent Green is third with 21,459.
The list shows how much Mahomes has changed the franchise. Dawson was the original Chiefs quarterback legend, Green led a high-powered early-2000s offense, Smith helped create stability under Andy Reid and Mahomes elevated Kansas City into one of the NFL’s defining modern teams.
Mahomes already owns the passing yards crown, and because he is still active, the record can keep climbing. For Chiefs fans, the No. 1 spot now belongs to the quarterback who turned Kansas City’s passing history into something completely different.
More Chiefs and NFL Rankings
For the full franchise picture, visit our Kansas City Chiefs all-time leaders and player rankings hub and our best Kansas City Chiefs players of all-time ranking.
You can also read our related Chiefs pages for best Kansas City Chiefs quarterbacks of all-time, Kansas City Chiefs all-time passing touchdown leaders, Kansas City Chiefs all-time rushing yards leaders and Kansas City Chiefs all-time receiving yards leaders.
For broader NFL history, check out our best NFL quarterbacks of all-time ranking and the NFL team all-time player rankings hub. You can also follow SOG Football on Instagram for more NFL rankings, debates and football history graphics.
