Top 5 Passing TD Leaders of the 2010s: Brees and Brady Lead List With 1,540 Combined Touchdowns
Top 5 Passing TD Leaders of the 2010s Deliver 1,540 Scores
A graphic popped up on social media in the early hours of July 4 and spread fast. It showed part of a list and dropped a simple line: that’s a lot of passing touchdowns, 1,540 to be exact. The numbers come from the 2010 through 2019 seasons, a stretch when the NFL leaned harder into the passing game than ever before.
The post only displayed the bottom three names, which left fans guessing who ranked above Aaron Rodgers. Here is the complete, verified top five.
Full Top 5 Passing Touchdown Leaders 2010-2019
| Rank | Quarterback | Passing Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drew Brees | 345 |
| 2 | Tom Brady | 316 |
| 3 | Aaron Rodgers | 305 |
| 4 | Philip Rivers | 291 |
| 5 | Matt Ryan | 283 |
Those five quarterbacks alone accounted for 1,540 passing touchdowns across the decade.
How These Quarterbacks Stacked Up
Drew Brees sat at the top for good reason. He stayed healthy, threw often, and turned the Superdome into a scoring factory year after year. Tom Brady kept producing at a high level even as the Patriots roster changed around him.
Aaron Rodgers landed in third despite missing time with injuries in a couple of seasons. His efficiency and big-play ability kept the Packers competitive, and he still cleared 300 touchdowns in that span. Philip Rivers delivered volume for the Chargers with a quick release and willingness to push the ball downfield. Matt Ryan had his signature 2016 MVP campaign and remained a steady presence for the Falcons.
Why the 2010s Produced So Many Scores Through the Air
Rule changes that protected receivers and quarterbacks opened the field. Defenses had fewer tools to disrupt timing routes or pressure passers without drawing flags. Offensive coordinators borrowed spread concepts from college and built schemes that stressed linebackers and safeties in coverage.
That's a lot of passing touchdowns.
1,540 to be exact 🚀 pic.twitter.com/v471XxJUcg
— NFL (@NFL) July 3, 2026
The result showed up on the stat sheet. These five signal-callers did not just benefit from the environment. They helped define it with preparation, arm talent, and the ability to read defenses before the snap.
The Plays Behind the Numbers
The video attached to the viral post captures one of those moments: a receiver going airborne in traffic to secure a touchdown. Plays like that turned routine drives into highlight-reel material and kept fans on their feet. The athleticism required to finish those passes in the 2010s often matched the precision of the throw itself.
Whether it was Rodgers threading a needle in Green Bay, Brees hitting a crossing route in New Orleans, or Rivers launching deep to a streaking receiver in San Diego, the decade delivered constant fireworks.
What Fans Remember
Anyone who watched regularly during those years can picture the scenes. Lambeau Field in October with Rodgers surveying the defense. The Superdome shaking after another Brees touchdown. Even on the road, these quarterbacks found ways to move the chains and reach the end zone.
The 1,540 total is more than a number. It reflects an era when the passing game became the heartbeat of most offenses and these five players stood at the center of it.
