Most Interceptions in the NFL Since 2020

Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates III have the most NFL regular-season interceptions from 2020 through 2025, with 21 each. Kerby Joseph and Trevon Diggs are one interception behind them at 20, while four players share the next spot at 19.

This leaderboard measures interceptions, not overall coverage ability. It includes every player in the supplied data with at least 10 picks during the six-season window. Because ties share a rank, the complete table contains 49 players but ends at rank 36.

Method and Scope

The totals cover the 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 NFL regular seasons. Postseason interceptions are excluded. A player’s production follows him across teams, and every interception is counted equally regardless of field position or return result.

Players are ordered by interception total. Tied players receive the same competition rank, and the next rank skips the positions occupied by the tie. The tier graphics cover the 20 players with at least 15 interceptions, while the table extends the list to all 49 players supplied with at least 10.

Interceptions capture ball production, but they do not provide a complete evaluation of a cornerback or safety. Coverage assignments, targets, route leverage, pass breakups, tackling and scheme all matter. Quarterbacks may also avoid elite cover defenders, limiting their chances to make a play on the ball.

Tier 1: 21 Interceptions

Tier 1 features Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates III, tied with 21 regular-season interceptions from 2020 through 2025.

Justin Simmons: 21 Interceptions

Justin Simmons shares the lead with 21 interceptions in 76 games. His rate of 0.276 picks per game is notably higher than Bates’ rate, so Simmons matched the top total in 22 fewer appearances. That combination of volume and efficiency makes his six-season result especially impressive.

Jessie Bates III: 21 Interceptions

Jessie Bates III reached the same 21-interception total across 98 games. His 309 return yards and three interception-return touchdowns were both higher than Simmons’ figures in the supplied data. Bates therefore paired the co-leading takeaway total with more production after the catch.

Tier 2: 20 Interceptions

Tier 2 features Kerby Joseph and Trevon Diggs, tied with 20 regular-season interceptions from 2020 through 2025.

Kerby Joseph: 20 Interceptions

Kerby Joseph recorded 20 interceptions in only 55 games, a rate of 0.364 per game. That is the second-best rate anywhere in the 49-player table, trailing only J.C. Jackson. Joseph also entered the league in 2022, so he accumulated his total without playing in the first two seasons of the article’s window.

Trevon Diggs: 20 Interceptions

Trevon Diggs produced 20 interceptions in 67 games. His 11-pick season in 2021 is the highest single-season total by any player during this six-year span, and it accounts for more than half of his total. The result illustrates how one extraordinary season can shape a cumulative leaderboard without diminishing the difficulty of reaching 20 overall.

Tier 3: 19 Interceptions

Tier 3 features Tyrann Mathieu, Kevin Byard III, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Xavier McKinney with 19 regular-season interceptions each.

Tyrann Mathieu: 19 Interceptions

Tyrann Mathieu collected 19 interceptions in 82 games. He turned them into 321 return yards and three touchdowns, the strongest return-yardage total among the four players in this tier. His production reflects the value of a defender who can identify throws from several alignments rather than operating in one fixed role.

Kevin Byard III: 19 Interceptions

Kevin Byard III also finished with 19 interceptions and was the only player in the full table to appear in 100 games. His total rests on durability and sustained production across the entire window. While his rate was lower than those of the other Tier 3 players, remaining available created more chances to contribute.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson: 19 Interceptions

C.J. Gardner-Johnson needed 71 games to reach 19 picks, giving him a strong rate of 0.268 per game. He also registered seven sacks in the supplied data, more than any player ranked above him. The combination fits a defensive back used near the line of scrimmage as well as in coverage.

Xavier McKinney: 19 Interceptions

Xavier McKinney matched Mathieu’s 19 interceptions in the same 82-game sample. The tie is a reminder that two players can arrive at an identical headline total through different seasons, teams and coverage responsibilities. McKinney’s 19 picks included 214 return yards and one touchdown.

Tier 4: 18 Interceptions

Tier 4 features J.C. Jackson with 18 regular-season interceptions from 2020 through 2025.

J.C. Jackson: 18 Interceptions

J.C. Jackson stands alone at 18 interceptions, but the raw rank understates his pace. He played only 48 games, producing 0.375 interceptions per game. That is the best rate among all 49 players in the complete table. Availability limited his cumulative total, while his interception frequency was unmatched.

Tier 5: 17 Interceptions

Tier 5 features Xavien Howard with 17 regular-season interceptions from 2020 through 2025.

Xavien Howard: 17 Interceptions

Xavien Howard recorded 17 interceptions in 64 games. Ten came in 2020, giving him the second-highest single-season total in the article’s time frame and accounting for nearly 59 percent of his six-year figure. Like Diggs, Howard shows the lasting influence of a dominant individual season on an aggregate list.

Tier 6: 16 Interceptions

Tier 6 features Harrison Smith, Rasul Douglas, Marlon Humphrey and Donte Jackson with 16 regular-season interceptions each.

Harrison Smith: 16 Interceptions

Harrison Smith combined 16 interceptions with 8.5 sacks in 93 games. No player ahead of him on this list had more sacks during the window. Those numbers do not measure every part of his role, but they do show production both in coverage and as a pressure threat.

Rasul Douglas: 16 Interceptions

Rasul Douglas turned 16 interceptions into 230 return yards and three touchdowns across 89 games. His three scores were the highest in this four-player tier. The return production matters because an interception can change possession, while a return touchdown immediately changes the score.

Marlon Humphrey: 16 Interceptions

Marlon Humphrey finished with 16 interceptions, seven sacks and 14 forced fumbles in 85 games. His forced-fumble total was the highest among all 49 players supplied. That broader takeaway production helps explain why interception totals alone are only one part of evaluating defensive impact.

Donte Jackson: 16 Interceptions

Donte Jackson matched the other Tier 6 players with 16 picks, doing so in 83 games. His 276 interception-return yards were the best figure in the tier. Jackson’s place here is based on a sustained ability to finish opportunities rather than one season carrying most of the total.

Tier 7: 15 Interceptions

Tier 7 features Derek Stingley Jr., DaRon Bland, Quandre Diggs, Jalen Ramsey, Kenny Moore II and Byron Murphy Jr. with 15 regular-season interceptions each.

Derek Stingley Jr.: 15 Interceptions

Derek Stingley Jr. reached 15 interceptions in 54 games, a rate of 0.278 per game. That is the fifth-best rate in the full field and the best among the six players tied in this tier. His shorter career sample makes the cumulative total stand out beside veterans with many more appearances.

DaRon Bland: 15 Interceptions

DaRon Bland needed only 53 games to record 15 interceptions. More remarkably, he returned six of them for touchdowns, the highest total in the entire supplied dataset. His 2023 season included five interception-return touchdowns, an NFL single-season record.

Quandre Diggs: 15 Interceptions

Quandre Diggs recorded 15 interceptions in 85 games. He did not return one for a touchdown during the window, which provides a useful contrast with Bland: both created the same number of changes of possession, but their scoring outcomes after the catch were dramatically different.

Jalen Ramsey: 15 Interceptions

Jalen Ramsey produced 15 interceptions and six sacks across 92 games. His inclusion is a good example of why this table should not be read as a complete coverage ranking. The number of throws a defender sees can affect interception opportunity, especially when offenses choose to work away from a difficult matchup.

Kenny Moore II: 15 Interceptions

Kenny Moore II accumulated 15 interceptions, 298 return yards and four return touchdowns in 90 games. Only Bland scored more often after interceptions in this dataset. Moore’s results show how a defender working extensively from the slot can turn traffic and route recognition into points.

Byron Murphy Jr.: 15 Interceptions

Byron Murphy Jr. rounds out the graphic with 15 interceptions in 88 games. He also recovered seven fumbles, the highest figure in the supplied field. His takeaway profile therefore extends beyond passes caught from opposing quarterbacks.

What the Leaderboard Reveals

Volume and efficiency identify different standouts

Simmons and Bates lead in total interceptions, but Jackson leads in interceptions per game. Joseph is the clearest blend of the two measures: he is one pick off the overall lead and ranks second in rate. Reporting both totals and appearances gives a fairer picture than treating every player as if he had the same opportunity.

Safeties control the top of the table

Seven of the eight players with at least 19 interceptions primarily played safety roles during the window. Diggs is the lone cornerback in that group. Safeties often work with a wider view of the quarterback and route combinations, although role and scheme differ by team and season.

A few peak seasons heavily influenced the order

Diggs collected 11 interceptions in 2021, Howard had 10 in 2020, and Joseph had nine in 2024. Those three seasons account for 55 percent, 59 percent and 45 percent of their respective totals. Cumulative leaderboards reward sustained production, but historic peaks can also create lasting separation.

Not every interception produces the same result

Bland and Moore both ranked in the 15-interception group, yet they combined for 10 interception-return touchdowns. Return yards and scores should not change the interception count, but they reveal which takeaways generated additional field position or immediate points.

Complete Interceptions Table

FAQ

Why does a 49-player table end at rank 36?

The list uses competition ranking. Players with the same interception total share a rank, and the following rank skips the positions occupied by the tie. Fourteen players are tied at 10 interceptions, so all 14 hold rank 36 and all are included.

Who had the best interception rate from 2020 through 2025?

J.C. Jackson had the best rate among the 49 listed players, recording 18 interceptions in 48 regular-season games. His rate of 0.375 per game narrowly topped Kerby Joseph’s 0.364.

Who scored the most touchdowns on interception returns?

DaRon Bland led the supplied field with six interception-return touchdowns. Kenny Moore II was second with four, while Jessie Bates III, Tyrann Mathieu, Rasul Douglas and Kyle Dugger each had three.

Does this list include playoff interceptions?

No. The totals cover regular-season games from 2020 through 2025. Postseason statistics are excluded so every player’s number follows the same scope.

The complete table follows the supplied aggregate dataset and was checked against the cited leaderboards. Game counts, return yards, return touchdowns, sacks and fumble totals discussed in the analysis come from that same dataset. Rates are calculated as interceptions divided by games played and are rounded to three decimal places.

Last Reviewed: August 15, 2026.

Conclusion

Justin Simmons and Jessie Bates III share the 2020–2025 regular-season lead with 21 interceptions, followed by Kerby Joseph and Trevon Diggs at 20. The totals establish the leaders, but the underlying opportunities add important context: J.C. Jackson produced the best interception rate, Joseph reached 20 in only 55 games, and Bland turned six of his 15 picks into touchdowns.

The table also shows why interception totals should be used precisely. They measure completed takeaways, not every coverage win or every part of defensive back play. Within that boundary, these 49 players were the NFL’s most productive interceptors across the six completed seasons.

Related NFL Rankings

• Most Interceptions in NFL History
• Most Interceptions in the NFL Since 2015
• Best Safeties in the NFL Since 2020
• Best Cornerbacks in the NFL Since 2020

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