Free Online Quarterback Rating Calculator

NFL passer rating uses a formula with four components, each capped at 0 minimum and 2.375 maximum: A (Completion %) = ((CMP/ATT) - 0.3) × 5; B (Yards/Attempt) = ((YDS/ATT) - 3) × 0.25; C (TD %) = (TD/ATT) × 20; D (INT %) = 2.375 - ((INT/ATT) × 25). The final rating is ((A + B + C + D) / 6) × 100, creating a scale from 0 to 158.3. Each component is standardized so that 1.0 represents average performance based on league data from 1960-1970.

A perfect passer rating of 158.3 is the highest possible rating in the NFL system. To achieve it in a single game, a quarterback must attempt at least 10 passes, complete at least 77.5% of passes, average at least 12.5 yards per attempt, have at least 11.875% of passes result in touchdowns, and throw zero interceptions. As of 2025, there have been 82 instances of perfect ratings in regular season history among 67 players. Lamar Jackson leads with four perfect games, while Ben Roethlisberger also has four. Only Nick Foles achieved a perfect rating with seven touchdown passes.

Passer rating (0-158.3 scale) only considers passing statistics: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdowns per attempt, and interceptions per attempt. ESPN's Total QBR (0-100 scale) accounts for all quarterback contributions including passing, rushing, sacks, fumbles, penalties, and scrambles. QBR also weighs plays by game context (score, time, field position) and difficulty, discounting garbage time and giving less credit for screen passes where receivers do the work. QBR's formula is proprietary and not publicly available, while passer rating's formula is transparent and has been used since 1973.

Modern NFL passer rating benchmarks: 120+ = Elite (top QBs), 110-119 = Excellent (Pro Bowl level), 100-109 = Very Good (quality starter), 90-99 = Above Average (solid starter), 80-89 = Average (league average is now 90-95), 70-79 = Below Average (backup level), Under 70 = Poor (unacceptable). When the formula was created, 66.7 was average and 100+ was excellent, but passing has improved dramatically. In 2017 the league average was 88.6, and by 2020 it reached 93.6. Today, a rating around 95 is considered average, while 110+ represents elite quarterback play.

NCAA uses a completely different formula called Passing Efficiency: ((8.4 × YDS) + (330 × TD) + (100 × CMP) - (200 × INT)) / ATT. The scale ranges from -731.6 to 1261.6, with 100 originally indicating average performance. NCAA rating weights touchdowns and interceptions much more heavily than the NFL formula. A 150+ NCAA rating is excellent, 120-150 is very good, 100-120 is good, and 80-100 is average. The NCAA formula is simpler and doesn't cap individual components like the NFL formula does, allowing for much higher ratings with exceptional performances.

The 158.3 maximum results from the formula's design with each of four components capped at 2.375. When you max out all four components (2.375 + 2.375 + 2.375 + 2.375 = 9.5), divide by 6 (9.5 / 6 = 1.583333), and multiply by 100, you get 158.3. The formula was designed in 1971 to make 1.0 in each component represent average performance from 1960-1970 data. The capping prevents extreme outliers: completion % caps at 77.5%, yards per attempt at 12.5, touchdown % at 11.875%, and interception % at 0%. This design creates a standardized scale for comparing quarterbacks across eras.

As of 2025, the career passer rating leaders (minimum 1,500 attempts) include several modern quarterbacks. Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and Deshaun Watson are among the top career leaders. Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Peyton Manning are also in the top 10. Career ratings above 100 are considered elite, and only a select group of quarterbacks maintain such high ratings over their entire careers. The increasing league average means more quarterbacks achieve high career ratings today than in previous eras.

As of 2025, there have been 82 instances of perfect passer ratings (158.3) in the regular season among 67 different players. Eight players achieved the feat multiple times: Lamar Jackson (4), Ben Roethlisberger (4), Tom Brady (3), Peyton Manning (3), Kurt Warner (3), Craig Morton (2), Ken O'Brien (2), and Jared Goff (2). Only four players posted perfect ratings in the postseason: Terry Bradshaw, Dave Krieg, Peyton Manning, and Don Meredith. Tom Brady is the oldest QB to achieve a perfect rating at 43 years, 4 months old. Drew Bledsoe, Robert Griffin III, and Marcus Mariota achieved perfect ratings in their rookie seasons.

To achieve a perfect 158.3 rating with a given number of attempts: Complete at least 77.5% of passes (e.g., 31 of 40 attempts), average at least 12.5 yards per attempt (e.g., 500 yards on 40 attempts), have at least 11.875% touchdown percentage (e.g., 5 TDs on 40 attempts), and throw zero interceptions. Minimum 10 attempts required. The requirements scale with attempts: 20 attempts needs 16 completions, 250 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT; 30 attempts needs 24 completions, 375 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT; 40 attempts needs 31 completions, 500 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT.

No, NFL passer rating only includes passing statistics: attempts, completions, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions. Rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, scrambles, and QB runs are not included in the formula. This is a major criticism of passer rating, especially in the modern era with mobile quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen, and Jalen Hurts who add significant value through rushing. ESPN's Total QBR addresses this limitation by including all rushing contributions, sacks taken, and fumbles. For a complete picture of QB performance, passer rating should be supplemented with rushing statistics.

Passer rating was created in 1971 when sacks became an official statistic (1969). The formula designers chose not to include sacks, considering them more reflective of offensive line performance than quarterback play, though this is debatable. Modern analysis shows sacks are often the QB's fault: holding the ball too long, missing open receivers, or failing to adjust protections. The exclusion of sacks is a significant flaw in passer rating. ESPN's Total QBR includes sacks, as they represent negative plays that should count against the quarterback. A QB with a high passer rating but many sacks taken may not be as effective as the rating suggests.

The lowest possible passer rating is 0.0, achieved when a quarterback throws all passes incomplete and has multiple interceptions. To get exactly 0.0, each component must equal zero: Component A (completion %) = 0 requires less than 30% completions; Component B (yards/attempt) = 0 requires less than 3 yards per attempt; Component C (TD %) = 0 requires zero touchdowns; Component D (INT %) = 0 requires 9.5% or more interceptions (e.g., 2+ INTs on 20 attempts). In practice, ratings below 40 are extremely rare and indicate a disastrous performance. Historical examples of ratings near zero include games with multiple interceptions, no touchdowns, and very low completion percentages.

The average NFL passer rating has increased significantly since 1973: 1973 (formula introduced): 61.7, 1980s: mid-70s, 1990s: low 80s, 2000s: mid-80s, 2010: 85.0, 2017: 88.6, 2020: 93.6, 2023-2025: 90-95 range. The increase reflects rule changes favoring passing (illegal contact, defensive holding, roughing the passer), better QB development, improved passing schemes, more passing-friendly offenses, and better protection rules for quarterbacks. What was considered 'excellent' (100+) in 1973 is now merely 'above average.' This grade inflation means modern QBs need ratings of 110+ to be considered elite, whereas 90+ was elite in the 1970s-1980s.

Passer rating has significant strengths and weaknesses. Strengths: Simple formula that's easy to calculate and understand, has been used consistently since 1973 allowing historical comparisons, correlates well with team success and winning percentage, and accounts for efficiency in passing. Weaknesses: Doesn't include rushing yards (critical for mobile QBs), ignores sacks taken, doesn't account for dropped passes or receiver performance, doesn't consider game situation or context, treats all interceptions equally regardless of depth or situation, and doesn't account for strength of schedule. It's best used alongside other metrics like completion percentage, yards per attempt, TD:INT ratio, QBR, and EPA (Expected Points Added) for a complete evaluation.

Total Quarterback Rating (QBR) is ESPN's proprietary metric on a 0-100 scale (50 = average). Unlike passer rating, QBR includes: all plays (passing, rushing, sacks, scrambles), play-by-play analysis of every game action, context weighting (score, time, field position, down & distance), difficulty adjustments, credit allocation (less credit for screen passes, more for pressured throws), fumbles and penalties, and clutch performance bonuses. The exact formula is not publicly available, making it less transparent than passer rating. QBR aims to measure total QB contribution to winning, not just passing efficiency. It typically aligns better with the 'eye test' than passer rating, but the proprietary nature and complexity make it controversial among analysts.

Yes, any player who attempts a forward pass receives a passer rating for those attempts. Wide receivers, running backs, and even offensive linemen who throw trick play passes get passer ratings. Notable examples include: Wide receivers on WR passes (end-arounds with throws), running backs on halfback option passes, punters and kickers on fake punts/field goals with passes, and Antwaan Randle El (former WR) has a perfect 158.3 career rating on 7 attempts with 1 TD and 0 INTs. These players often have very high ratings because they attempt passes rarely and only in favorable situations, usually wide-open receivers on trick plays. Minimum 10 attempts are needed for season/career qualification in official statistics.

Completion percentage is Component A of passer rating: ((CMP/ATT) - 0.3) × 5, capped at 0-2.375. The formula makes 30% completions = 0.0 and 77.5% completions = 2.375 (maximum). Each 9.5% increase in completion rate adds 0.475 to the component. Examples: 30% = 0.0, 50% = 1.0, 60% = 1.5, 70% = 2.0, 77.5%+ = 2.375. In modern NFL, completion percentage typically ranges from 55% (poor) to 70% (excellent). A quarterback completing 65% of passes gets 1.75 in Component A, contributing 29.2 points to the final rating. High completion percentage alone cannot create a perfect rating; you need excellence in all four components simultaneously.

In the passer rating formula, interceptions and touchdowns are NOT equally weighted. Interceptions: Component D = 2.375 - ((INT/ATT) × 25). One interception per 100 attempts reduces rating by 4.17 points. Touchdowns: Component C = (TD/ATT) × 20. One touchdown per 100 attempts increases rating by 3.33 points. Therefore, interceptions hurt about 25% MORE than touchdowns help (4.17 vs 3.33 points per 100 attempts). This reflects the historical context: when the formula was created in 1971, interceptions were considered especially damaging to winning, more so than touchdowns were beneficial. Modern analysts debate whether this weighting remains appropriate given today's pass-heavy, high-scoring NFL.

For a single-game perfect rating, the minimum is 10 attempts. For season and career statistics, the minimums are: Season leaders: Must average 1 attempt per team game (17 attempts for 17-game season). Career leaders: 1,500 career attempts minimum for official recognition on NFL.com and Pro-Football-Reference.com. Rookie of the Year consideration: Typically 200-300 attempts minimum. These minimums prevent statistical flukes where a player completes 2 of 2 passes for 50 yards and a TD (perfect 158.3 rating) from being considered official. Most starting quarterbacks attempt 450-600 passes per season, far exceeding these minimums.