NFL Milestone Tracker 2025: Who’s Closing in on History?

Follow the NFL’s biggest names as they chase career milestones that define greatness.

James Bisson - Editor-in-Chief at Covers.com
James Bisson โ€ข Editor-in-Chief
Sep 3, 2025 โ€ข 11:46 ET โ€ข 4 min read
Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carries the ball.
Photo By - Imagn Images. Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry carries the ball.

Every NFL season delivers its share of jaw-dropping stats, but there’s something different about a true milestone.

The round numbers. The legacy implications. The creeping sense that you’re watching history, not just highlights. Whether it’s a Hall of Fame lock inching toward immortality or a quietly consistent vet finally joining an elite club, these moments matter – and we’re tracking every one of them.

This page is your all-in-one hub for the NFL’s most meaningful career chases. From Derrick Henry’s march toward 100 rushing touchdowns to Travis Kelce climbing the all-time tight end leaderboard, we’ll keep you updated weekly with who's on the cusp, how far they have to go, and when they might get there. No fluff, no filler – just the stuff that ends up in Canton.

We'll update this tracker regularly as new data rolls in. Whether you’re a die-hard stathead, a legacy chaser, or just want to know when your favorite player is about to enter the record books, this is the space to watch.

All-Time NFL Passing Yards List

(Active players in bold)

Rank Name Yards Career
1 Tom Brady 89,214 2000-22
2 Drew Brees 80,358 2001-20
3 Peyton Manning 71,940 1998-2015
4 Brett Favre 71,838 1991-2010
5 Ben Roethlisberger 64,088 2004-21
6 Philip Rivers 63,440 2004-20
7 Aaron Rodgers 62,952 2005-24
8 Matt Ryan 62,792 2008-22
9 Dan Marino 61,361 1983-99
10 Matthew Stafford 59,809 2009-24

Aaron Rodgers ended 2024 with 3,897 passing yards, bringing his career total to 62,952 yards, which places him seventh on the NFL's all-time passing list. With just under 500 yards needed to surpass Philip Rivers (63,440 yards) for the sixth spot, Rodgers is poised to climb higher in the rankings, provided he continues his career.

Matthew Stafford enters the 2025 season with 59,809 career passing yards, ranking him tenth all-time. With just 191 yards needed to reach the 60,000-yard milestone, Stafford is on the cusp of joining an elite group of quarterbacks. Surpassing Dan Marino (61,361 yards) for the ninth spot would require an additional 1,553 yards – a virtual lock, health willing.

Notable Passing Yards Milestones

Name Milestone Needed Status
Matthew Stafford 60,000 yards 191 yards ๐Ÿ”’ Big ol' lock
Russell Wilson 50,000 yards 3,865 yards ๐Ÿคž Optimism in NY?
Joe Flacco 50,000 yards 4,303 yards โŒ Extremely unlikely
Andy Dalton 40,000 yards 500 yards ๐ŸŽฑ Ask again later?
Jared Goff 40,000 yards 4,942 yards ๐ŸŽฏ He's got a shot
Josh Allen 30,000 yards 3,566 yards โœ… Looking good
Baker Mayfield 30,000 yards 5,168 yards ๐Ÿ“‰ Virtually no chance

Passing Yards Milestones: AI Projections


Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford during a 2025 NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. (Imagn Images)

All-Time NFL Passing Touchdowns List

(Active players in bold)

Rank Name Touchdowns Career
1 Tom Brady 649 2000-22
2 Drew Brees 571 2001-20
3 Peyton Manning 539 1998-2015
4 Brett Favre 508 1991-2010
5 Aaron Rodgers 503 2005-24
6 Philip Rivers 421 2004-20
7 Dan Marino 420 1983-99
8 Ben Roethlisberger 418 2004-21
9 Matt Ryan 381 2008-22
10 Matthew Stafford 377 2009-24

Aaron Rodgers sits at 503 career touchdown passes, just five behind Brett Favre for fourth all-time. Whether he gets there depends entirely on whether he plays again — and after being released by the Jets following an injury-derailed stint, that’s an open question. If he signs with a contender and starts even a handful of games, passing Favre feels inevitable. If not, his final mark may sit frustratingly close to the man he once replaced in Green Bay.

Matthew Stafford currently ranks 10th all-time with 377 touchdown passes, but he’s just five scores shy of passing Matt Ryan and 42 away from overtaking Ben Roethlisberger. If Stafford plays a full 2025 campaign in L.A., jumping to at least eighth all-time is realistic. While reaching that ranking would require a big season – something he hasn’t done since 2021 – it’s still in play if the Rams' offense takes another step forward.

Notable Passing Touchdowns Milestones

Name Milestone Needed Status
Matthew Stafford 400 TDs 23 TDs ๐Ÿคท‍โ™‚๏ธ Can he get there?
Kirk Cousins 300 TDs 12 TDs  โ“Questions abound
Patrick Mahomes 250 TDs 5 TDs ๐Ÿ™„ Come on
Josh Allen 200 TDs 5 TDs ๐Ÿ™„ Come on (also)
Baker Mayfield 200 TDs 29 TDs ๐Ÿ’ช Liking his chances
Lamar Jackson 200 TDs 34 TDs โœจ Big new baseline

Passing Touchdowns Milestones: AI Projections


Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott
Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott runs the ball against the Cleveland Browns during the second quarter at Huntington Bank Field. (Imagn Images)

All-Time NFL Rushing Yards List

(Active players in bold)

Rank Player Yards Career
1 Emmitt Smith 18,355 1990-2004
2 Walter Payton 16,726 1975-87
3 Frank Gore 16,000 2005-20
4 Barrry Sanders 15,269 1989-98
5 Adrian Peterson 14,918 2007-21
6 Curtis Martin 14,101 1995-2005
7 LaDainian Tomlinson 13,684 2001-11
8 Jerome Bettis 13,662 1993-2005
9 Eric Dickerson 13,259 1983-93
10 Tony Dorsett 12,739 1977-88
19 Derrick Henry 11,423 2016-24

Henry enters 2025 with 11,423 career rushing yards, sitting at 19th on the NFL’s all-time list. He needs just 1,317 yards to crack the top 10, which would leave him within striking range of the next four names on the list. If he comes anywhere close to his career-best 1,921-yard showing in 2024 – he’s not just entering rarefied air, he’s stomping through it in cleats. The question now isn’t if Henry makes history – it’s how high he can climb before it’s over.

Notable Rushing Yards Milestones

Name Milestone Needed Status
Derrick Henry 12,000 yards 577 yards ๐Ÿ”‹ Plenty in the tank
Ezekiel Elliott 10,000 yards 870 yards โณ Time's running out
Joe Mixon 8,000 yards 572 yards ๐Ÿฅ A lock if healthy
Saquon Barkley 8,000 yards 784 yards ๐Ÿ’จ Why stop at 8K?
Aaron Jones 8,000 yards 982 yards ๐ŸŒค๏ธ Conditions are good
Josh Jacobs 8,000 yards 1,126 yards ๐Ÿ›ฃ๏ธ Has a clear path
Nick Chubb 8,000 yards 1,157 yards ๐Ÿ›ฌ Landing spot coming?

Rushing Yards Milestones: AI Projections


All-Time NFL Rushing Touchdowns List

(Active players in bold)

Rank Player Touchdowns Career
1 Emmitt Smith 164 1990-2004
2 LaDainian Tomlinson 145 2001-11
3 Marcus Allen 123 1982-97
4 Adrian Peterson 120 2007-21
5 Walter Payton 110 1975-87
T6 Jim Brown 106 1957-65
T6 Derrick Henry 106 2016-24
8 John Riggins 104 1971-85
T9 Shaun Alexander 100 2000-08
T9 Marshall Faulk 100 1994-2005

Derrick Henry enters 2025 tied with Jim Brown for 6th all-time in rushing touchdowns (106) – a historic perch alongside one of the game's true icons. Just five more scores would move him past Walter Payton into the top five, solidifying his legacy as one of the most dominant power backs the league has ever seen.


Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins tries to make a catch during the second half against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. (Imagn Images)

All-Time NFL Receiving Yards List

(Active players in bold)

Rank Player Yards Career
1 Jerry Rice 22,895 1985-2004
2 Larry Fitzgerald 17,492 2004-20
3 Terrell Owens 15,934 1996-2010
4 Randy Moss 15,292 1998-2012
5 Isaac Bruce 15,208 1994-2009
6 Tony Gonzalez 15,127 1997-2013
7 Tim Brown 14,934 1988-2004
8 Steve Smith Sr. 14,731 2001-16
9 Marvin Harrison 14,580 1996-2008
10 Reggie Wayne 14,345 2001-14
21 DeAndre Hopkins 12,965 2013-24

DeAndre Hopkins enters 2025 with 12,965 career receiving yards, sitting just outside the top 20 all-time – but not for long. He needs fewer than 300 yards to crack that tier, and just 1,381 to leap into the top 10, surpassing Reggie Wayne. While his days as a WR1 are behind him, Hopkins remains a reliable red-zone and possession threat, and another productive season could vault him into elite historical company.

Notable Receiving Yards Milestones

Name Milestone Needed Status
DeAndre Hopkins 13,000 yards 35 yards ๐Ÿฅ‡ Set for 14K gold
Mike Evans 13,000 yards 316 yards ๐Ÿš€ Full steam ahead
Travis Kelce 13,000 yards 849 yards ๐Ÿฅฑ Is the energy there?
Davante Adams 12,000 yards 156 yards ๐Ÿงช Volume could mean 13K
Keenan Allen 12,000 yards 726 yards ๐Ÿชซ Battery running low
Tyreek Hill 12,000 yards 902 yards โšก He still has wheels
Stefon Diggs 11,000 yards 509 yards  ๐Ÿ“… Ahead of schedule?
Amari Cooper 11,000 yards 967 yards ๐ŸŽฏ Who's his QB?
Brandin Cooks 10,000 yards 468 yards ๐ŸŽข Expect a wild ride

Receiving Yards Milestones: AI Projections

Pages related to this topic

James Bisson
Editor-in-Chief

James Bisson is the Editor-in-Chief at Covers. He has been a writer, reporter and editor for more than 20 years, including a nine-year stint with The Canadian Press and more than five years at theScore. He has covered dozens of marquee events including the 2010 Winter Olympics, the 2006 Stanley Cup final and Wrestlemania 23, and his work has appeared in more than 200 publications, including the Los Angeles Times, the Guardian, Yahoo! Sports, the Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.

His book, “100 Greatest Canadian Sports Moments”, was a hardcover best-seller in Canada in 2008 and earned him appearances on CBC Radio and Canada AM. He has written more than 50 sportsbook reviews, more than 200 industry news articles, and dozens of other sportsbook-related content articles.

A graduate of the broadcast journalism program at Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University), James has been an avid bettor since the early 2000s, and cites bet365 as his favorite sports betting site due to its superior functionality and quick payouts. His biggest professional highlight: Covering Canada's first Olympic gold medal on home soil – and interviewing Bret Hart. Twice.

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