Most Career Passing Yards by a Minnesota Vikings Player
The Minnesota Vikings have fielded a wide variety of quarterbacks over their storied history. From the dominance of Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton to the consistency of Kirk Cousins in recent years, the Vikings’ all-time passing yard leaders reflect the evolution of the franchise’s offense. Here’s a look at the top 10 quarterbacks in Vikings history by career passing yards.
TOP 10 LIST
10. Rich Gannon – 6,457 Yards
Before he was an MVP with the Raiders, Gannon started as a scrappy, mobile passer in Minnesota. He never fully broke out here, but the foundation was set.
9. Christian Ponder – 6,658 Yards
Ponder’s tenure was short and often chaotic, but the former first-rounder had his flashes — especially during the 2012 playoff push.
8. Brett Favre – 6,711 Yards
Yes, that Brett Favre. Even in his twilight, the future Hall of Famer made magic in 2009 with one of the greatest Vikings seasons ever.
7. Warren Moon – 10,102 Yards
The ageless wonder put up huge numbers in the mid-90s, earning Pro Bowl nods and racking up yardage like a man half his age.
6. Brad Johnson – 11,098 Yards
Johnson had two separate stints in purple and delivered consistent production, including a postseason run and steady veteran play.
5. Wade Wilson – 12,135 Yards
Best known for his 1988 Pro Bowl campaign, Wilson was a Viking lifer who hung around for over a decade, quietly stacking up stats.
4. Daunte Culpepper – 20,162 Yards
Culpepper’s cannon arm and powerful legs defined early 2000s Minnesota. That 2004 season with Moss? Unstoppable. Pure chaos.
3. Kirk Cousins – 23,265 Yards
Say what you want about Cousins — but consistency is his game. Few Vikings QBs have delivered this kind of weekly output.
2. Tommy Kramer – 24,775 Yards
Nicknamed “Two-Minute Tommy” for his late-game heroics, Kramer was the gunslinger of the 1980s Vikings offense.
1. Fran Tarkenton – 33,098 Yards
The original Viking legend. Tarkenton was ahead of his time — mobile, smart, and tough. Three Super Bowl appearances cemented his status atop the franchise record books.
Ranking the 10 best career passing yard leaders in Minnesota Vikings history
Top 50 Career Passing Performances in Minnesota Vikings History
This chart shows every Vikings quarterback to throw for 49+ career yards in a purple jersey, from legends like Fran Tarkenton and Tommy Kramer to forgotten names like Bill Cappleman and Bubby Brister.
| Rank | Player Name | Passing Yards |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fran Tarkenton | 33098 |
| 2 | Tommy Kramer | 24775 |
| 3 | Kirk Cousins | 23265 |
| 4 | Daunte Culpepper | 20162 |
| 5 | Wade Wilson | 12135 |
| 6 | Brad Johnson | 11098 |
| 7 | Warren Moon | 10102 |
| 8 | Brett Favre | 6711 |
| 9 | Christian Ponder | 6658 |
| 10 | Rich Gannon | 6457 |
| 11 | Teddy Bridgewater | 6150 |
| 12 | Randall Cunningham | 5680 |
| 13 | Joe Kapp | 4807 |
| 14 | Sam Darnold | 4319 |
| 15 | Sam Bradford | 4259 |
| 16 | Tarvaris Jackson | 3984 |
| 17 | Steve Dils | 3867 |
| 18 | Gary Cuozzo | 3552 |
| 19 | Case Keenum | 3547 |
| 20 | Gus Frerotte | 2847 |
| 21 | Jeff George | 2816 |
| 22 | Sean Salisbury | 2772 |
| 23 | Matt Cassel | 2232 |
| 24 | Bob Lee | 2153 |
| 25 | Jim McMahon | 1968 |
| 26 | Nick Mullens | 1568 |
| 27 | Ron Vander Kelen | 1375 |
| 28 | Donovan McNabb | 1026 |
| 29 | Joshua Dobbs | 895 |
| 30 | Todd Bouman | 880 |
| 31 | Joe Webb | 853 |
| 32 | Bob Berry | 708 |
| 33 | Tony Adams | 607 |
| 34 | Archie Manning | 545 |
| 35 | Brooks Bollinger | 537 |
| 36 | George Shaw | 530 |
| 37 | Kelly Holcomb | 515 |
| 38 | Norm Snead | 470 |
| 39 | Spergon Wynn | 418 |
| 40 | Sean Mannion | 315 |
| 41 | Shaun Hill | 257 |
| 42 | Josh Freeman | 190 |
| 43 | Jaren Hall | 168 |
| 44 | Alfred Anderson | 112 |
| 45 | Randy Moss | 106 |
| 46 | John McCormick | 104 |
| 47 | Sidney Rice | 94 |
| 48 | Justin Jefferson | 91 |
| 49 | Bubby Brister | 82 |
| 50 | Bill Cappleman | 49 |
From Tarkenton’s legendary legacy to Cousins’ reliable arm, the Minnesota Vikings have featured an impressive lineup of quarterbacks. These passers shaped different eras of Vikings football, creating a rich legacy under center in Minneapolis.
FAQ SECTION
Who leads the Vikings in career passing yards?
Fran Tarkenton holds the record with 33,098 passing yards.
How many yards does Kirk Cousins have with the Vikings?
Cousins has thrown for 23,265 yards during his tenure with Minnesota.
Did Warren Moon play for the Vikings?
Yes, Moon played three seasons with the Vikings in the mid-90s and passed for over 10,000 yards.
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