Most Pick Sixes Thrown in NFL History

by Chase Stuart on October 15, 2013

To pick six, or not to pick six.

Three years ago to the day, I crunched the numbers to see which quarterbacks had thrown the most pick sixes thrown in NFL history. With three more years of data, a robust play-by-play database, and, ya know, Matt Schaub, I figured it was time for an update. In case you haven’t noticed, Schaub became the first player to ever throw pick sixes (picks six?) in four straight games, and then on Sunday, T.J. Yates got the Texans into the record books as Houston had an interception returned for a touchdown in five straight games. But I thought it would be fun to look at the career leaders in pick sixes (and remind you that I discussed the rising rate of interception scores in the offseason).

Nobody has exact pick six data available, but we can do a reasonably job of answering the question of who has had the most passes returned for touchdowns in league history. That’s because we have:

Scoring logs for all scores, showing all interceptions returned for a touchdown, dating back to 1940
Play-by-play logs for all players dating back to 1999. So we have all the information we need from that point through week six of the 2013 season.
Individual game logs for all players, showing all interceptions thrown dating back to 1960.

For all pick sixes thrown since 1999, we have the precise data. For any game from 1960 to 1998, we can do a very good job approximating who threw the pick-six. Most of the time, only one quarterback will throw an interception in any given team game. Fifty years from now, if you look at this box score from week six, you will be able to know for sure that Peyton Manning threw the interception that Paul Posluszny returned for a touchdown. The Broncos threw just one interception, and it was by Manning, so Manning must have thrown the pick-six. It doesn’t matter if the team has thrown five interceptions, as long as all were thrown by the same guy, such as Keith Null against the Titans in 2009.

The problem games are the ones where multiple players, usually quarterbacks, threw interceptions. For example, the record for defensive interception returns for touchdowns in a game is four, set by the Seattle Seahawks in 1984 against Kansas City. If you look at the boxscore, you’ll see that Todd Blackledge threw three interceptions, Bill Kenney threw two, and Sandy Osiecki added a sixth. So what do we do? Award Blackledge 2 pick sixes, Kenney 1.33, and Osiecky 0.67; obviously this isn’t perfect, but over the course of a player’s career, I think this will work well as an approximation. Because I’m running low on time, I’m going to just ignore pre-1960 data, although you could piece it together at the old link since obviously nothing has changed.

The table below includes all players who threw at least five pick sixes since 1960. It includes all postseason data, and unsurprisingly, Brett Favre is the career leader. He threw 10,960 career passes (including the playoffs), so he only threw a pick six on 0.32% of his passes (the leader in that category is Chris Redman, who threw a pick six once every 100 passes). Favre threw 366 career interceptions (again, including the playoffs), so he threw a pick six on “only” 9.6% of his interceptions. If you’re curious, Aaron Rodgers has thrown just one pick six in his entire career. That gives him a rate 0.032 pick sixes per pass attempt, the lowest among all passes with 1500 attempts since 1960.

Rk	Name	First Yr	Pick Six	Car Pass	% of Att	Car INT	% of INT
1	Brett Favre	1991	35	10960	0.32%	366	9.6
2	Dan Marino	1983	30	9045	0.33%	276	10.9
3	Joe Namath	1965	25.8	3879	0.66%	224	11.5
4	Peyton Manning	1998	25	8794	0.28%	232	10.8
5	Norm Snead	1961	23.3	4353	0.54%	257	9.1
6	Vinny Testaverde	1987	22.7	6890	0.33%	272	8.3
7	Kerry Collins	1995	20.2	6502	0.31%	207	9.8
8	Steve DeBerg	1978	20.2	5096	0.4%	207	9.7
9	Carson Palmer	2004	20	4368	0.46%	142	14.1
10	Drew Brees	2001	19	6778	0.28%	174	10.9
11	John Elway	1983	19	7901	0.24%	247	7.7
12	Lynn Dickey	1971	17.1	3184	0.54%	182	9.4
13	Ken Stabler	1970	17	4144	0.41%	235	7.2
14	Jon Kitna	1997	17	4512	0.38%	169	10.1
15	Kurt Warner	1998	17	4532	0.38%	142	12
16	Ben Roethlisberger	2004	17	4363	0.39%	130	13.1
17	Babe Parilli	1952	16.8	3395	0.5%	222	7.6
18	Warren Moon	1984	16	7226	0.22%	247	6.5
19	Eli Manning	2004	16	5042	0.32%	167	9.6
20	Mark Brunell	1994	15	4947	0.3%	119	12.6
21	Steve McNair	1995	15	4855	0.31%	130	11.5
22	Drew Bledsoe	1993	15	6969	0.22%	218	6.9
23	Sonny Jurgensen	1957	14.4	4274	0.34%	192	7.5
24	George Blanda	1949	14.1	4196	0.34%	294	4.8
25	Matt Hasselbeck	1999	14	5424	0.26%	156	9
26	Brad Johnson	1994	14	4550	0.31%	134	10.4
27	Joey Harrington	2002	14	2538	0.55%	85	16.5
28	Len Dawson	1957	14	3929	0.36%	191	7.3
29	John Hadl	1962	13.7	4754	0.29%	272	5
30	Phil Simms	1979	13.7	4926	0.28%	163	8.4
31	Chris Chandler	1988	13.3	4102	0.33%	150	8.9
32	Fran Tarkenton	1961	13.3	6759	0.2%	283	4.7
33	Jim Kelly	1986	13.3	5324	0.25%	203	6.5
34	Craig Morton	1965	13.2	4013	0.33%	203	6.5
35	Jim Zorn	1976	13.2	3177	0.41%	143	9.2
36	Jake Delhomme	1999	13	3158	0.41%	111	11.7
37	Jim Everett	1986	13	5099	0.25%	186	7
38	Jake Plummer	1997	13	4547	0.29%	171	7.6
39	Don Meredith	1960	12.9	2386	0.54%	116	11.1
40	Bob Griese	1967	12.9	3637	0.35%	184	7
41	Jim Hart	1966	12.8	5157	0.25%	251	5.1
42	Trent Dilfer	1994	12.5	3307	0.38%	133	9.4
43	Jim Plunkett	1971	12.5	3973	0.31%	210	6
44	Tommy Kramer	1977	12.5	3791	0.33%	165	7.5
45	Dan Fouts	1973	12.3	5890	0.21%	258	4.8
46	Brian Griese	1998	12	2796	0.43%	99	12.1
47	Johnny Unitas	1956	12	5412	0.22%	263	4.6
48	Troy Aikman	1989	12	5217	0.23%	158	7.6
49	Jeff Blake	1992	12	3241	0.37%	99	12.1
50	Philip Rivers	2004	12	4016	0.30%	107	11.2
51	Matt Schaub	2004	12	3145	0.38%	81	14.8
52	Dave Krieg	1980	11.9	5593	0.21%	208	5.7
53	Richard Todd	1976	11.6	3107	0.37%	173	6.7
54	Bobby Hebert	1985	11.3	3223	0.35%	131	8.7
55	Charley Johnson	1961	11.3	3392	0.33%	181	6.2
56	John Brodie	1957	11.2	4634	0.24%	231	4.9
57	Jeff George	1990	11.2	4096	0.27%	116	9.6
58	Elvis Grbac	1994	11.2	2578	0.43%	87	12.8
59	Frank Tripucka	1949	11.1	1745	0.64%	124	9
60	Stan Humphries	1989	11.1	2744	0.4%	97	11.4
61	Roman Gabriel	1962	11.1	4561	0.24%	151	7.3
62	Jeff Garcia	1999	11	3893	0.28%	90	12.2
63	Gus Frerotte	1994	11	3181	0.35%	109	10.1
64	Matthew Stafford	2009	11	2145	0.51%	60	18.3
65	Steve Grogan	1975	10.8	3688	0.29%	215	5
66	Chris Miller	1987	10.8	2954	0.36%	107	10
67	Boomer Esiason	1984	10.8	5304	0.2%	187	5.7
68	Archie Manning	1971	10.7	3642	0.29%	173	6.2
69	Wade Wilson	1981	10.7	2613	0.41%	108	9.9
70	Rich Gannon	1987	10.1	4446	0.23%	113	8.9
71	Donovan McNabb	1999	10	5951	0.17%	134	7.5
72	Terry Bradshaw	1970	10	4357	0.23%	236	4.2
73	Jay Cutler	2006	10	3214	0.31%	107	9.3
74	Tony Romo	2004	10	3593	0.28%	96	10.4
75	Gary Hogeboom	1980	9.6	1354	0.71%	62	15.5
76	Scott Mitchell	1991	9.2	2400	0.38%	86	10.7
77	Jay Fiedler	1995	9	1827	0.49%	74	12.2
78	Marc Bulger	2002	9	3284	0.27%	98	9.2
79	Danny White	1976	9	3310	0.27%	148	6.1
80	Mark Rypien	1988	9	2847	0.32%	98	9.2
81	Earl Morrall	1956	8.8	2792	0.32%	155	5.7
82	Randy Johnson	1966	8.7	1286	0.68%	90	9.7
83	Ken Anderson	1971	8.7	4641	0.19%	166	5.2
84	Joe Montana	1979	8.6	6125	0.14%	160	5.4
85	Bill Nelsen	1963	8.5	2037	0.42%	109	7.8
86	Mike Tomczak	1985	8.2	2480	0.33%	115	7.1
87	Bert Jones	1973	8.2	2613	0.31%	103	7.9
88	Don Majkowski	1987	8.1	1928	0.42%	69	11.8
89	Tim Couch	1999	8	1714	0.47%	67	11.9
90	Tom Brady	2000	8	7084	0.11%	149	5.4
91	Steve Walsh	1989	8	1376	0.58%	54	14.8
92	Chad Pennington	2000	8	2687	0.3%	72	11.1
93	Ryan Fitzpatrick	2005	8	2327	0.34%	85	9.4
94	Jim McMahon	1982	8	2728	0.29%	94	8.5
95	Bubby Brister	1986	7.9	2274	0.35%	78	10.1
96	Milt Plum	1957	7.8	2443	0.32%	131	6
97	Billy Kilmer	1961	7.5	3162	0.24%	153	4.9
98	Joe Kapp	1967	7.5	1019	0.74%	70	10.7
99	Neil O'Donnell	1991	7.5	3504	0.21%	76	9.9
100	Jack Kemp	1957	7.4	3233	0.23%	193	3.8
101	Tommy Maddox	1992	7.3	1296	0.57%	57	12.9
102	Rudy Bukich	1953	7.3	1190	0.61%	74	9.9
103	Derek Anderson	2006	7	1440	0.49%	55	12.7
104	Chad Henne	2008	7	1510	0.46%	52	13.5
105	David Carr	2002	7	2267	0.31%	71	9.9
106	Daunte Culpepper	1999	7	3333	0.21%	111	6.3
107	Bernie Kosar	1985	7	3635	0.19%	97	7.2
108	Tony Banks	1996	7	2359	0.3%	73	9.6
109	Kordell Stewart	1995	7	2500	0.28%	92	7.6
110	Michael Vick	2001	7	3162	0.22%	88	8
111	Joe Ferguson	1973	6.9	4639	0.15%	218	3.2
112	Bart Starr	1956	6.8	3362	0.2%	141	4.8
113	Eric Hipple	1980	6.8	1584	0.43%	72	9.4
114	Ed Brown	1954	6.7	2007	0.33%	139	4.8
115	Brian Sipe	1974	6.7	3479	0.19%	152	4.4
116	Vince Evans	1977	6.7	1398	0.48%	75	8.9
117	Ty Detmer	1993	6.7	967	0.69%	37	18
118	Steve Bartkowski	1975	6.5	3567	0.18%	152	4.3
119	David Woodley	1980	6.5	1381	0.47%	69	9.4
120	Steve Beuerlein	1988	6.5	3359	0.19%	113	5.8
121	Rodney Peete	1989	6.5	2378	0.27%	92	7
122	Randy Wright	1984	6.4	1119	0.57%	57	11.2
123	Pete Beathard	1964	6.3	1368	0.46%	88	7.2
124	Neil Lomax	1981	6.3	3204	0.2%	92	6.9
125	Todd Blackledge	1983	6.3	902	0.7%	40	15.8
126	Zeke Bratkowski	1954	6.3	1524	0.41%	124	5.1
127	Ryan Leaf	1998	6.3	655	0.96%	36	17.5
128	Erik Kramer	1987	6.3	2429	0.26%	82	7.6
129	Jeff Hostetler	1985	6.2	2453	0.25%	71	8.7
130	Dave M. Brown	1992	6	1644	0.36%	59	10.2
131	Jim Harbaugh	1987	6	4081	0.15%	122	4.9
132	Aaron Brooks	2000	6	3040	0.2%	95	6.3
133	Kyle Orton	2005	6	2214	0.27%	57	10.5
134	Bill Kenney	1980	6	2446	0.25%	86	7
135	Mark Sanchez	2009	6	2024	0.3%	72	8.3
136	Josh Freeman	2009	6	1967	0.31%	66	9.1
137	Andy Dalton	2011	6	1331	0.45%	39	15.4
138	Trent Green	1997	6	3794	0.16%	116	5.2
139	A.J. Feeley	2001	6	762	0.79%	31	19.4
140	Rex Grossman	2003	6	1695	0.35%	64	9.4
141	Joe Flacco	2008	6	3097	0.19%	72	8.3
142	Sam Bradford	2010	6	1730	0.35%	37	16.2
143	Blaine Gabbert	2011	6	777	0.77%	24	25
144	Dan Pastorini	1971	5.9	3171	0.18%	169	3.5
145	Ken O'Brien	1984	5.8	3669	0.16%	102	5.6
146	Randall Cunningham	1985	5.5	4654	0.12%	143	3.8
147	Vince Ferragamo	1977	5.4	1803	0.3%	102	5.2
148	Billy Joe Tolliver	1989	5.3	1707	0.31%	64	8.3
149	Jack Trudeau	1986	5.2	1677	0.31%	70	7.4
150	Frank Reich	1985	5.1	1036	0.49%	39	13.1
151	Billy Wade	1954	5.1	2554	0.2%	135	3.8
152	Cotton Davidson	1954	5.1	1752	0.29%	108	4.7
153	Jacky Lee	1960	5.1	838	0.6%	57	8.9
154	Joe Theismann	1974	5	3813	0.13%	145	3.5
155	Steve Young	1985	5	4620	0.11%	120	4.2
156	Chris Weinke	2001	5	709	0.71%	26	19.2
157	Kyle Boller	2003	5	1519	0.33%	54	9.3
158	Trent Edwards	2007	5	929	0.54%	30	16.7
159	Scott Brunner	1980	5	1097	0.46%	57	8.8
160	Alex Smith	2005	5	2461	0.2%	66	7.6
161	Chris Redman	2000	5	500	1%	14	35.7
162	Matt Cassel	2005	5	2062	0.24%	60	8.3
163	Mike McMahon	2001	5	515	0.97%	21	23.8
164	Christian Ponder	2011	5	874	0.57%	30	16.7

Note: the above list includes quarterbacks whose careers began before 1960, but the pick six data is for post-1960 (while all other data is career data).

I can confirm that six quarterbacks have thrown three picks six in the same game, and the number may even be slightly higher. Eli Manning was the most recent, throwing three against the Vikings not long before he would win his first Super Bowl. Rich Gannon threw three against the Bucs in Super Bowl XXXVII, while Favre also once threw three interceptions in a playoff game.

Ed Baker threw three fourth-quarter pick sixes in relief in 1972 for the Oilers against the Bengals. A year earlier, my main man John Hadl threw three interceptions against the Oilers, and all were returned for touchdowns. And in 1968 against the Bills, Joe Namath had three passes returned for touchdowns. That won’t help my case to persuade you that Namath was underrated, I suppose. If someone wants to check and post in the comments, I see three other games since 1960 where a quarterback might have thrown three pick sixes (PFR boxscores are here, here, and here). [Ed. note: According to JWL in the comments, Tommy Wade joins the list due to his work against the Steelers in ’65.]

What about the single-season leaders? Surprisingly, Peyton Manning is the leader there, with six in the 2001 season that earned Jim Mora a pink slip.

Year	Team	Name	Pick Sixes
2001	IND	Peyton Manning	6
1966	CHI	Rudy Bukich	5.7
2010	CIN	Carson Palmer	5
2006	CHI	Rex Grossman	5
2004	MIA	A.J. Feeley	5
2001	CAR	Chris Weinke	5
2001	GNB	Brett Favre	5
1999	MIA	Dan Marino	5
1997	MIA	Dan Marino	5
1985	PIT	David Woodley	5
1983	STL	Neil Lomax	5
1967	NYJ	Joe Namath	5
1967	BOS	Babe Parilli	5
1996	BUF	Jim Kelly	4.5
1967	STL	Jim Hart	4.5
1964	PIT	Ed Brown	4.4
1965	PIT	Tommy Wade	4.3
1984	KAN	Todd Blackledge	4.3
1962	DEN	Frank Tripucka	4.3
2013	HOU	Matt Schaub	4
2012	DET	Matthew Stafford	4
2012	CIN	Andy Dalton	4
2011	SDG	Philip Rivers	4
2010	IND	Peyton Manning	4
2010	NOR	Drew Brees	4
2008	NYJ	Brett Favre	4
2005	OAK	Kerry Collins	4
2004	PIT	Ben Roethlisberger	4
2003	DET	Joey Harrington	4
2003	TAM	Brad Johnson	4
2002	OAK	Rich Gannon	4
2000	STL	Kurt Warner	4
2000	TEN	Steve McNair	4
2000	NYJ	Vinny Testaverde	4
1998	ARI	Jake Plummer	4
1997	TAM	Trent Dilfer	4
1997	SEA	Warren Moon	4
1996	JAX	Mark Brunell	4
1995	ARI	Dave Krieg	4
1993	GNB	Brett Favre	4
1992	MIA	Dan Marino	4
1988	MIA	Dan Marino	4
1985	TAM	Steve DeBerg	4
1985	NYG	Phil Simms	4
1983	GNB	Lynn Dickey	4
1982	MIN	Tommy Kramer	4
1968	PIT	Dick Shiner	4
1967	KAN	Len Dawson	4
1965	BOS	Babe Parilli	4
1963	DAL	Don Meredith	4

Tagged as: Interceptions

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