Eli Manning in elite INT territory

by Chase Stuart on December 20, 2013

in History, Passing, Trivia

After a five-interception performance against a dominant Seattle pass defense, Eli Manning now has 25 interceptions this season. The odds are extremely low, but it’s not impossible that he throws ten more interceptions and ties the modern record set by Vinny Testaverde in 1988. That year, a 25-year-old Testaverde threw 35 interceptions when the league average interception rate was 3.91%. Since Testaverde threw 466 passes that season, we could say that a league-average quarterback would have thrown 18.2 interceptions; therefore, Testaverde threw 16.8 interceptions over average that year.

So far in 2013, the average interception rate is just 2.70%. Since Manning has thrown 485 passes, we would expect a league-average passer to record 13.1 interceptions. With 25 interceptions, that puts Manning at 11.9 interceptions above average. The table below shows the top 100 leaders in interceptions over average since 1950.

Rk	Quarterback	Year	Team	Lg	Age	INT	Att	LgAvg INTRt	INTovAvg
1	Vinny Testaverde	1988	tam	NFL	25	35	466	3.91%	16.8
2	George Blanda	1962	oti	AFL	35	42	418	7%	12.7
3	Terry Bradshaw	1970	pit	NFL	22	24	218	5.21%	12.7
4	Eli Manning	2013	nyg	NFL	32	25	485	2.7%	11.9
5	Jake Plummer	1999	crd	NFL	25	24	381	3.35%	11.2
6	Geno Smith	2013	nyj	NFL	23	21	380	2.7%	10.7
7	Joe Namath	1975	nyj	NFL	32	28	326	5.34%	10.6
8	Brett Favre	2005	gnb	NFL	36	29	607	3.07%	10.3
9	Eddie LeBaron	1960	dal	NFL	30	25	225	6.66%	10
10	Tommy Wade	1965	pit	NFL	23	13	66	5.12%	9.6
11	Norm Snead	1973	nyg	NFL	34	22	235	5.31%	9.5
12	Kerry Collins	1997	car	NFL	25	21	381	3.05%	9.4
13	Tobin Rote	1959	det	NFL	31	19	162	5.95%	9.4
14	Zeke Bratkowski	1960	chi	NFL	29	21	175	6.66%	9.3
15	Dennis Shaw	1971	buf	NFL	24	26	291	5.78%	9.2
16	Peyton Manning	1998	clt	NFL	22	28	575	3.29%	9.1
17	Josh Freeman	2009	tam	NFL	21	18	290	3.08%	9.1
18	Eli Manning	2010	nyg	NFL	29	25	539	2.96%	9.1
19	Bobby Thomason	1956	phi	NFL	28	21	164	7.31%	9
20	Jay Cutler	2009	chi	NFL	26	26	555	3.08%	8.9
21	Jack Kemp	1964	buf	AFL	29	26	269	6.37%	8.9
22	Mark Sanchez	2009	nyj	NFL	23	20	364	3.08%	8.8
23	Y.A. Tittle	1955	sfo	NFL	29	28	287	6.75%	8.6
24	George Herring	1961	den	AFL	27	22	211	6.39%	8.5
25	Craig Whelihan	1998	sdg	NFL	27	19	320	3.29%	8.5
26	Y.A. Tittle	1964	nyg	NFL	38	22	281	4.82%	8.5
27	Bobby Hebert	1996	atl	NFL	36	25	488	3.39%	8.4
28	Brett Favre	2010	min	NFL	41	19	358	2.96%	8.4
29	Matthew Stafford	2009	det	NFL	21	20	377	3.08%	8.4
30	Ken Stabler	1975	rai	NFL	30	24	293	5.34%	8.3
31	Steve DeBerg	1986	tam	NFL	32	12	96	4.02%	8.1
32	Jake Delhomme	2009	car	NFL	34	18	321	3.08%	8.1
33	Ben Roethlisberger	2006	pit	NFL	24	23	469	3.17%	8.1
34	Richard Todd	1980	nyj	NFL	27	30	479	4.57%	8.1
35	Ken Stabler	1978	rai	NFL	33	30	406	5.4%	8.1
36	Rick Mirer	1995	sea	NFL	25	20	391	3.07%	8
37	Steve Grogan	1980	nwe	NFL	27	22	306	4.57%	8
38	Charlie Conerly	1951	nyg	NFL	30	22	189	7.42%	8
39	Zeke Bratkowski	1954	chi	NFL	23	17	130	6.95%	8
40	Heath Shuler	1997	nor	NFL	26	14	203	3.05%	7.8
41	Boomer Esiason	1990	cin	NFL	29	22	402	3.55%	7.7
42	Milt Plum	1963	det	NFL	28	12	77	5.58%	7.7
43	Lynn Dickey	1983	gnb	NFL	34	29	484	4.41%	7.6
44	Scott Hunter	1971	gnb	NFL	24	17	163	5.78%	7.6
45	Ryan Leaf	2000	sdg	NFL	24	18	322	3.25%	7.5
46	Steve Grogan	1988	nwe	NFL	35	13	140	3.91%	7.5
47	Jim Hart	1967	crd	NFL	23	30	397	5.67%	7.5
48	Dan Pastorini	1981	ram	NFL	32	14	152	4.29%	7.5
49	Donald Hollas	1998	rai	NFL	31	16	260	3.29%	7.5
50	Al Dorow	1954	was	NFL	25	17	138	6.95%	7.4
51	Brett Favre	2008	nyj	NFL	39	22	522	2.81%	7.3
52	John Hadl	1968	sdg	AFL	28	32	440	5.62%	7.3
53	Babe Parilli	1953	gnb	NFL	23	19	166	7.17%	7.1
54	Ken Stabler	1980	oti	NFL	35	28	457	4.57%	7.1
55	Brett Favre	1993	gnb	NFL	24	24	522	3.25%	7
56	Billy Joe Tolliver	1999	nor	NFL	33	16	268	3.35%	7
57	Ryan Leaf	1998	sdg	NFL	22	15	245	3.29%	6.9
58	Terry Hanratty	1969	pit	NFL	21	13	126	4.9%	6.8
59	Adrian Burk	1951	phi	NFL	24	23	218	7.42%	6.8
60	Todd Blackledge	1985	kan	NFL	24	14	172	4.17%	6.8
61	Gus Frerotte	2007	ram	NFL	36	12	167	3.13%	6.8
62	Norm Snead	1963	was	NFL	24	27	363	5.58%	6.8
63	Joe Pisarcik	1978	nyg	NFL	26	23	301	5.4%	6.7
64	Steve Grogan	1981	nwe	NFL	28	16	216	4.29%	6.7
65	Kurt Warner	2000	ram	NFL	29	18	347	3.25%	6.7
66	Rex Grossman	2011	was	NFL	31	20	458	2.91%	6.7
67	Bobby Layne	1961	pit	NFL	35	16	149	6.27%	6.7
68	Richard Todd	1979	nyj	NFL	26	22	334	4.6%	6.6
69	King Hill	1963	phi	NFL	27	17	186	5.58%	6.6
70	Troy Aikman	1989	dal	NFL	23	18	293	3.9%	6.6
71	Gus Frerotte	2008	min	NFL	37	15	301	2.81%	6.5
72	Dave M. Brown	1996	nyg	NFL	26	20	398	3.39%	6.5
73	John Roach	1960	crd	NFL	27	19	188	6.66%	6.5
74	Carson Palmer	2011	rai	NFL	32	16	328	2.91%	6.5
75	Ryan Fitzpatrick	2011	buf	NFL	29	23	569	2.91%	6.5
76	Warren Moon	1986	oti	NFL	30	26	488	4.02%	6.4
77	Trent Green	2001	kan	NFL	31	24	523	3.37%	6.4
78	David Woodley	1985	pit	NFL	27	14	183	4.17%	6.4
79	Eddie LeBaron	1953	was	NFL	23	17	149	7.17%	6.3
80	George Shaw	1962	den	AFL	29	14	110	7%	6.3
81	John Hadl	1972	sdg	NFL	32	26	370	5.33%	6.3
82	Richard Todd	1984	nor	NFL	31	19	312	4.08%	6.3
83	Bert Jones	1973	clt	NFL	22	12	108	5.31%	6.3
84	Craig Morton	1976	nyg	NFL	33	20	284	4.84%	6.2
85	Daunte Culpepper	2002	min	NFL	25	23	549	3.05%	6.2
86	George Blanda	1966	oti	AFL	39	21	271	5.45%	6.2
87	Alex Van Pelt	1997	buf	NFL	27	10	124	3.05%	6.2
88	Rudy Bukich	1961	pit	NFL	29	16	156	6.27%	6.2
89	Vinny Testaverde	1994	cle	NFL	31	18	376	3.15%	6.2
90	Tobin Rote	1950	gnb	NFL	22	24	224	7.96%	6.2
91	Jim Kelly	1996	buf	NFL	36	19	379	3.39%	6.1
92	Craig Erickson	1993	tam	NFL	24	21	457	3.25%	6.1
93	Jim Plunkett	1972	nwe	NFL	25	25	355	5.33%	6.1
94	Mark Sanchez	2012	nyj	NFL	26	18	453	2.63%	6.1
95	Jeff Komlo	1979	det	NFL	23	23	368	4.6%	6.1
96	Don Horn	1970	gnb	NFL	25	10	76	5.21%	6
97	Caleb Hanie	2011	chi	NFL	26	9	102	2.91%	6
98	Chris Chandler	2004	ram	NFL	39	8	62	3.2%	6
99	John Skelton	2011	crd	NFL	23	14	275	2.91%	6
100	Joe Geri	1950	pit	NFL	26	15	113	7.96%	6

Manning currently ranks 4th, although it won’t take much for him to vault into second place. ^[1]Note that for the 1960s, I calculated the AFL and NFL as two separate leagues with two separate interception rates. I did not remove each quarterback when calculating the league average, which would … Continue reading It’s been an ugly year for both New York teams, as Geno Smith ranks second in the league at 10.7 interceptions over average, and there is a huge gap between Manning and Smith and number three on the list, Terrelle Pryor, at 4.7. For Jets fans, this is particularly discomforting, coming off the heels of a 2012 season where Mark Sanchez led the league with 6.1 interceptions above average.

What about the best interception production since 1950? That title belongs to Atlanta’s Steve Bartkowski, who threw only five interceptions in 1983 on 432 pass attempts. No quarterback from 2013 makes the list, with Kansas City’s Alex Smith currently atop the league with 7.0 interceptions below average.

Rk	Quarterback	Year	Team	Lg	Age	INT	Att	INT RT	INTovAvg
1	Steve Bartkowski	1983	atl	NFL	31	5	432	4.41%	-14.1
2	Sonny Jurgensen	1967	was	NFL	33	16	508	5.67%	-12.8
3	Roman Gabriel	1969	ram	NFL	29	7	399	4.9%	-12.6
4	Roman Gabriel	1973	phi	NFL	33	12	460	5.31%	-12.4
5	Ken O'Brien	1985	nyj	NFL	25	8	488	4.17%	-12.4
6	Jim Hart	1974	crd	NFL	30	8	388	5.2%	-12.2
7	Fran Tarkenton	1969	nyg	NFL	29	8	409	4.9%	-12
8	Fran Tarkenton	1976	min	NFL	36	8	412	4.84%	-12
9	Steve DeBerg	1990	kan	NFL	36	4	444	3.55%	-11.8
10	Roger Staubach	1977	dal	NFL	35	9	361	5.74%	-11.7
11	Milt Plum	1960	cle	NFL	25	5	250	6.66%	-11.7
12	Bert Jones	1977	clt	NFL	26	11	393	5.74%	-11.6
13	Y.A. Tittle	1954	sfo	NFL	28	9	295	6.95%	-11.5
14	Brian Sipe	1980	cle	NFL	31	14	554	4.57%	-11.3
15	Bernie Kosar	1986	cle	NFL	23	10	531	4.02%	-11.3
16	Johnny Unitas	1963	clt	NFL	30	12	410	5.58%	-10.9
17	Joe Montana	1983	sfo	NFL	27	12	515	4.41%	-10.7
18	Marc Bulger	2006	ram	NFL	29	8	588	3.17%	-10.7
19	Ken Anderson	1981	cin	NFL	32	10	479	4.29%	-10.6
20	Tom Brady	2010	nwe	NFL	33	4	492	2.96%	-10.6
21	Chris Miller	1989	atl	NFL	24	10	526	3.9%	-10.5
22	Bert Jones	1975	clt	NFL	24	8	344	5.34%	-10.4
23	Roman Gabriel	1971	ram	NFL	31	10	352	5.78%	-10.3
24	Roger Staubach	1979	dal	NFL	37	11	461	4.6%	-10.2
25	Tom Brady	2007	nwe	NFL	30	8	578	3.13%	-10.1
26	Bart Starr	1966	gnb	NFL	32	3	251	5.21%	-10.1
27	Bill Munson	1968	det	NFL	27	8	329	5.45%	-9.9
28	Babe Parilli	1962	nwe	AFL	32	8	253	7%	-9.7
29	Fran Tarkenton	1975	min	NFL	35	13	425	5.34%	-9.7
30	John Brodie	1970	sfo	NFL	35	10	378	5.21%	-9.7
31	Aaron Rodgers	2009	gnb	NFL	26	7	541	3.08%	-9.6
32	Ken O'Brien	1988	nyj	NFL	28	7	424	3.91%	-9.6
33	Tony Eason	1984	nwe	NFL	25	8	431	4.08%	-9.6
34	Otto Graham	1953	cle	NFL	32	9	258	7.17%	-9.5
35	Rich Gannon	2001	rai	NFL	36	9	549	3.37%	-9.5
36	Archie Manning	1978	nor	NFL	29	16	471	5.4%	-9.4
37	Brett Favre	2009	min	NFL	40	7	531	3.08%	-9.3
38	Joe Theismann	1983	was	NFL	34	11	459	4.41%	-9.3
39	Roman Gabriel	1970	ram	NFL	30	12	407	5.21%	-9.2
40	Johnny Unitas	1958	clt	NFL	25	7	263	6.15%	-9.2
41	Dan Fouts	1981	sdg	NFL	30	17	609	4.29%	-9.2
42	Ken Anderson	1975	cin	NFL	26	11	377	5.34%	-9.1
43	Bart Starr	1964	gnb	NFL	30	4	272	4.82%	-9.1
44	Ken Anderson	1972	cin	NFL	23	7	301	5.33%	-9
45	Joe Montana	1981	sfo	NFL	25	12	488	4.29%	-9
46	Milt Plum	1961	cle	NFL	26	10	302	6.27%	-8.9
47	Aaron Brooks	2003	nor	NFL	27	8	518	3.26%	-8.9
48	Rich Gannon	2002	rai	NFL	37	10	618	3.05%	-8.9
49	Neil O'Donnell	1993	pit	NFL	27	7	486	3.25%	-8.8
50	Tom Brady	2012	nwe	NFL	35	8	637	2.63%	-8.8
51	Bobby Layne	1950	det	NFL	24	18	336	7.96%	-8.8
52	Johnny Unitas	1967	clt	NFL	34	16	436	5.67%	-8.7
53	Johnny Unitas	1964	clt	NFL	31	6	305	4.82%	-8.7
54	Peyton Manning	2006	clt	NFL	30	9	557	3.17%	-8.7
55	Ron Jaworski	1980	phi	NFL	29	12	451	4.57%	-8.6
56	Bill Kenney	1983	kan	NFL	28	18	603	4.41%	-8.6
57	Aaron Rodgers	2011	gnb	NFL	28	6	502	2.91%	-8.6
58	Steve Young	1992	sfo	NFL	31	7	402	3.87%	-8.6
59	Tobin Rote	1954	gnb	NFL	26	18	382	6.95%	-8.5
60	Peyton Manning	2003	clt	NFL	27	10	566	3.26%	-8.5
61	Daryle Lamonica	1968	rai	AFL	27	15	416	5.62%	-8.4
62	Richard Todd	1981	nyj	NFL	28	13	497	4.29%	-8.3
63	Bart Starr	1962	gnb	NFL	28	9	285	6.07%	-8.3
64	Bernie Kosar	1991	cle	NFL	28	9	494	3.5%	-8.3
65	Fran Tarkenton	1970	nyg	NFL	30	12	389	5.21%	-8.3
66	Jeff Garcia	2000	sfo	NFL	30	10	561	3.25%	-8.3
67	Jason Campbell	2008	was	NFL	27	6	506	2.81%	-8.2
68	Butch Songin	1960	nwe	AFL	36	15	392	5.92%	-8.2
69	Roger Staubach	1971	dal	NFL	29	4	211	5.78%	-8.2
70	Bill Munson	1974	det	NFL	33	7	292	5.2%	-8.2
71	Gary Danielson	1980	det	NFL	29	11	417	4.57%	-8.1
72	Jim Zorn	1981	sea	NFL	28	9	397	4.29%	-8.1
73	Roman Gabriel	1967	ram	NFL	27	13	371	5.67%	-8
74	Josh Freeman	2010	tam	NFL	22	6	474	2.96%	-8
75	Earl Morrall	1957	pit	NFL	23	12	289	6.92%	-8
76	Tony Eason	1986	nwe	NFL	27	10	448	4.02%	-8
77	Alex Smith	2011	sfo	NFL	27	5	445	2.91%	-7.9
78	John Elway	1993	den	NFL	33	10	551	3.25%	-7.9
79	Tony Romo	2009	dal	NFL	29	9	550	3.08%	-7.9
80	Matt Ryan	2010	atl	NFL	25	9	571	2.96%	-7.9
81	Dan Marino	1990	mia	NFL	29	11	531	3.55%	-7.9
82	Billy Wade	1963	chi	NFL	33	12	356	5.58%	-7.9
83	Johnny Unitas	1959	clt	NFL	26	14	367	5.95%	-7.8
84	Doug Williams	1980	tam	NFL	25	16	521	4.57%	-7.8
85	Milt Plum	1959	cle	NFL	24	8	266	5.95%	-7.8
86	Brad Johnson	2001	tam	NFL	33	11	559	3.37%	-7.8
87	Donovan McNabb	2007	phi	NFL	31	7	473	3.13%	-7.8
88	Brad Johnson	2002	tam	NFL	34	6	451	3.05%	-7.8
89	Jim Hart	1978	crd	NFL	34	18	477	5.4%	-7.8
90	Phil Simms	1988	nyg	NFL	34	11	479	3.91%	-7.7
91	Warren Moon	1990	oti	NFL	34	13	584	3.55%	-7.7
92	Ken O'Brien	1987	nyj	NFL	27	8	393	4%	-7.7
93	John Hadl	1969	sdg	AFL	29	11	324	5.78%	-7.7
94	Neil Lomax	1985	crd	NFL	26	12	471	4.17%	-7.7
95	Joe Montana	1985	sfo	NFL	29	13	494	4.17%	-7.6
96	Bert Jones	1976	clt	NFL	25	9	343	4.84%	-7.6
97	Joe Montana	1984	sfo	NFL	28	10	432	4.08%	-7.6
98	Fran Tarkenton	1973	min	NFL	33	7	274	5.31%	-7.6
99	Ken Anderson	1977	cin	NFL	28	11	323	5.74%	-7.5
100	Sonny Jurgensen	1970	was	NFL	36	10	337	5.21%	-7.5

We can also use this same process to create career lists. For Manning, 2013 is just the latest in a long line of bad interception seasons. His struggles this year, combined with his previous issues, have him in the top ten in career ^[2]Only quarterback seasons beginning in 1950 were included. interceptions over average:

Rk	Quarterback	First Yr	Last Yr	Att	INT	INT RT	INTovAvg
1	Steve Grogan	1975	1990	3593	208	5.8%	41.4
2	Vinny Testaverde	1987	2007	6701	267	4%	39
3	Lynn Dickey	1971	1985	3125	179	5.7%	35.9
4	Ken Stabler	1970	1984	3793	222	5.9%	35.5
5	Zeke Bratkowski	1954	1971	1484	122	8.2%	31.8
6	Trent Dilfer	1994	2007	3172	129	4.1%	27.5
7	Richard Todd	1976	1985	2967	161	5.4%	25.1
8	Jon Kitna	1997	2011	4442	165	3.7%	23
9	Eli Manning	2004	2013	4942	169	3.4%	23
10	Eddie LeBaron	1952	1963	1796	141	7.9%	22.6
11	King Hill	1958	1969	881	71	8.1%	21.8
12	Mike Tomczak	1985	1999	2337	106	4.5%	21.7
13	Jake Plummer	1997	2006	4350	161	3.7%	21.3
14	Randy Johnson	1966	1976	1286	90	7%	21
15	Norm Snead	1961	1976	4353	257	5.9%	20.5
16	Vince Ferragamo	1977	1986	1615	91	5.6%	19.6
17	George Blanda	1950	1975	3986	272	6.8%	19.4
18	Ryan Fitzpatrick	2005	2013	2549	91	3.6%	18.4
19	Dennis Shaw	1970	1975	924	68	7.4%	17.9
20	Marc Wilson	1980	1990	2081	102	4.9%	17.6
21	Jim Plunkett	1971	1986	3701	198	5.3%	17.2
22	Vince Evans	1978	1995	1390	74	5.3%	17
23	Ed Brown	1954	1965	1987	138	6.9%	16.9
24	Mike Phipps	1970	1981	1799	108	6%	15.4
25	Joe Kapp	1967	1970	918	64	7%	15.3
26	Jay Cutler	2006	2013	3251	110	3.4%	15.3
27	Al Dorow	1954	1962	1207	93	7.7%	15.2
28	Kim McQuilken	1974	1979	272	29	10.7%	15.2
29	Tommy Maddox	1992	2005	1200	54	4.5%	15.1
30	Mark Sanchez	2009	2012	1867	69	3.7%	15.1
31	Heath Shuler	1994	1997	593	33	5.6%	14.6
32	Ryan Leaf	1998	2001	655	36	5.5%	14.5
33	George Izo	1960	1966	317	32	10.1%	14.3
34	Mark Malone	1981	1989	1648	81	4.9%	14.3
35	Joe Namath	1965	1977	3762	220	5.8%	13.9
36	Babe Parilli	1952	1969	3330	220	6.6%	13.8
37	Cliff Stoudt	1980	1988	684	43	6.3%	13.7
38	Lamar McHan	1954	1963	1442	108	7.5%	13.6
39	Rodney Peete	1989	2004	2346	92	3.9%	13.3
40	Terry Bradshaw	1970	1983	3901	210	5.4%	13
41	Mark Herrmann	1982	1992	561	36	6.4%	12.9
42	Kent Nix	1967	1972	652	49	7.5%	12.8
43	Terry Hanratty	1969	1976	431	35	8.1%	12.8
44	Rex Grossman	2003	2011	1562	60	3.8%	12.2
45	Randy Wright	1984	1988	1119	57	5.1%	12.2
46	Ralph Guglielmi	1955	1963	626	52	8.3%	12.2
47	John Roach	1959	1964	413	37	9%	12.1
48	Sage Rosenfels	2002	2008	562	29	5.2%	11.9
49	Dave Wilson	1981	1988	1039	55	5.3%	11.9
50	Derek Anderson	2006	2012	1440	55	3.8%	11.4
51	Adrian Burk	1950	1956	1079	89	8.2%	11.3
52	Bob Avellini	1975	1984	1110	69	6.2%	11.3
53	Craig Whelihan	1997	1998	557	29	5.2%	11.3
54	Matt Robinson	1977	1982	523	38	7.3%	11.3
55	Tim Couch	1999	2003	1714	67	3.9%	11.2
56	Wade Wilson	1981	1998	2428	102	4.2%	11.2
57	Don Horn	1967	1973	465	36	7.7%	11.2
58	Pete Beathard	1964	1973	1282	84	6.6%	11.1
59	Chris Chandler	1988	2004	4005	146	3.6%	11.1
60	Danny Wuerffel	1997	2002	350	22	6.3%	10.9
61	Vince Young	2006	2011	1304	51	3.9%	10.8
62	Geno Smith	2013	2013	380	21	5.5%	10.7
63	Brett Favre	1991	2010	10169	336	3.3%	10.7
64	Rick Mirer	1993	2003	2043	76	3.7%	10.3
65	Jay Fiedler	1998	2005	1717	66	3.8%	10.2
66	Jack Scarbath	1953	1956	279	30	10.8%	10.2
67	Jake Delhomme	1999	2011	2932	101	3.4%	9.9
68	Carson Palmer	2004	2013	4608	147	3.2%	9.8
69	Kelly Holcomb	1997	2007	893	38	4.3%	9.8
70	Brian Griese	1998	2008	2796	99	3.5%	9.6
71	George Shaw	1955	1962	802	63	7.9%	9.5
72	Steve Ramsey	1970	1976	921	58	6.3%	9.5
73	Tommy Wade	1964	1965	69	13	18.8%	9.5
74	Josh Freeman	2009	2012	1873	63	3.4%	9.4
75	Bobby Hebert	1985	1996	3121	124	4%	8.8
76	Bob Gagliano	1982	1992	486	27	5.6%	8.7
77	Chad Henne	2008	2013	1791	60	3.4%	8.6
78	Mike Taliaferro	1964	1972	966	63	6.5%	8.5
79	Bill Troup	1976	1980	328	26	7.9%	8.5
80	Alex Van Pelt	1995	2003	477	24	5%	8.4
81	Peter Tom Willis	1990	1993	183	15	8.2%	8.4
82	Tom Owen	1974	1981	349	26	7.4%	8.3
83	Rudy Bukich	1953	1968	1190	74	6.2%	8.3
84	Pat Ryan	1978	1991	657	35	5.3%	8.2
85	Donald Hollas	1991	1998	375	21	5.6%	8.2
86	George Herring	1960	1961	233	23	9.9%	8.2
87	Gus Frerotte	1994	2008	3106	106	3.4%	8.2
88	Rick Norton	1966	1970	382	30	7.9%	8.1
89	Jeff Komlo	1979	1983	437	28	6.4%	8.1
90	Scott Brunner	1980	1985	1046	54	5.2%	8.1
91	Billy Joe Hobert	1995	1999	527	25	4.7%	8
92	John Skelton	2010	2012	602	25	4.2%	8
93	Charlie Frye	2005	2009	676	29	4.3%	7.9
94	Gary Huff	1973	1978	788	50	6.3%	7.8
95	Wayne Clark	1970	1974	120	14	11.7%	7.6
96	Kordell Stewart	1995	2003	2358	84	3.6%	7.5
97	Stan Gelbaugh	1991	1996	391	22	5.6%	7.4
98	Jack Thompson	1979	1984	845	45	5.3%	7.4
99	Jeff Rutledge	1979	1991	526	29	5.5%	7.3
100	Bruce Mathison	1983	1987	309	20	6.5%	7.2

What about the best 100 passers at avoiding interceptions, after adjusting for era? The leader is Roman Gabriel, who also ranked 2nd on the list of avoiding interceptions on incomplete passes.

Rk	Quarterback	First Yr	Last Yr	Att	INT	INT Rt	INTovAvg
1	Roman Gabriel	1962	1977	4498	149	3.3%	-90.8
2	Fran Tarkenton	1961	1978	6467	266	4.1%	-82.1
3	Joe Montana	1979	1994	5391	139	2.6%	-75
4	Tom Brady	2000	2013	6536	133	2%	-64.9
5	Ken Anderson	1971	1986	4475	160	3.6%	-59.4
6	Dan Marino	1983	1999	8358	252	3%	-53.6
7	Donovan McNabb	1999	2011	5374	117	2.2%	-51
8	Johnny Unitas	1956	1973	5186	253	4.9%	-47.4
9	Roger Staubach	1969	1979	2958	109	3.7%	-45.5
10	Sonny Jurgensen	1957	1974	4262	189	4.4%	-43.6
11	Bart Starr	1956	1971	3149	138	4.4%	-42
12	Mark Brunell	1994	2011	4640	108	2.3%	-41.2
13	Ken O'Brien	1984	1993	3602	98	2.7%	-40.9
14	Bernie Kosar	1985	1996	3365	87	2.6%	-40
15	Neil Lomax	1981	1988	3153	90	2.9%	-40
16	Peyton Manning	1998	2013	8373	219	2.6%	-39.2
17	Neil O'Donnell	1991	2003	3229	68	2.1%	-38.2
18	John Elway	1983	1998	7250	226	3.1%	-37.2
19	Rich Gannon	1987	2004	4206	104	2.5%	-36.4
20	Steve Young	1985	1999	4149	107	2.6%	-35.8
21	Jeff Garcia	1999	2008	3676	83	2.3%	-33.9
22	Aaron Rodgers	2005	2013	2916	50	1.7%	-33.5
23	Len Dawson	1957	1975	3741	183	4.9%	-33.2
24	Y.A. Tittle	1950	1964	3817	221	5.8%	-29.3
25	Phil Simms	1979	1993	4647	157	3.4%	-29
26	Joe Theismann	1974	1985	3602	138	3.8%	-26.8
27	Steve McNair	1995	2007	4544	119	2.6%	-26.5
28	Bert Jones	1973	1982	2551	101	4%	-25.4
29	Drew Brees	2001	2013	6724	175	2.6%	-25.2
30	Ron Jaworski	1974	1989	4117	164	4%	-24
31	John Brodie	1957	1973	4491	224	5%	-23.4
32	Bill Munson	1964	1979	1982	80	4%	-23.1
33	Randall Cunningham	1985	2001	4289	134	3.1%	-21.3
34	Otto Graham	1950	1955	1565	94	6%	-20.3
35	Charlie Conerly	1950	1961	2229	134	6%	-20.2
36	Norm Van Brocklin	1950	1960	2837	176	6.2%	-18.6
37	Troy Aikman	1989	2000	4715	141	3%	-18.2
38	Jeff George	1990	2001	3967	113	2.8%	-18
39	Billy Wade	1954	1966	2523	134	5.3%	-17.7
40	Doug Williams	1978	1989	2507	93	3.7%	-17.6
41	Brad Johnson	1994	2008	4326	122	2.8%	-17.2
42	Matt Ryan	2008	2013	3200	74	2.3%	-16.8
43	Jim Harbaugh	1987	2000	3918	117	3%	-16.3
44	Bill Kenney	1980	1988	2430	86	3.5%	-16.3
45	Philip Rivers	2004	2013	4046	102	2.5%	-16.2
46	Steve Bartkowski	1975	1986	3456	144	4.2%	-16
47	Don Meredith	1960	1968	2308	111	4.8%	-15.5
48	Greg Landry	1968	1984	2300	103	4.5%	-15.2
49	David Garrard	2002	2010	2281	54	2.4%	-14.9
50	Jim Hart	1966	1984	5076	247	4.9%	-14.9
51	Jason Campbell	2006	2013	2418	57	2.4%	-14.7
52	Steve Bono	1985	1999	1701	42	2.5%	-14.7
53	Edd Hargett	1969	1971	437	10	2.3%	-13.8
54	Billy Kilmer	1961	1978	2984	146	4.9%	-13.6
55	Brian Sipe	1974	1983	3439	149	4.3%	-13.5
56	Milt Plum	1957	1969	2419	127	5.3%	-13.4
57	Dan Fouts	1973	1987	5604	242	4.3%	-12.8
58	Joe Flacco	2008	2013	3015	73	2.4%	-12.8
59	Jim Finks	1950	1955	1311	80	6.1%	-12.7
60	Tony Eason	1983	1990	1564	51	3.3%	-12.6
61	Chad Pennington	2000	2010	2471	64	2.6%	-12.4
62	Bob Griese	1967	1980	3429	172	5%	-12.3
63	Butch Songin	1960	1962	694	31	4.5%	-12.1
64	Sam Bradford	2010	2013	1760	38	2.2%	-11.4
65	Virgil Carter	1968	1976	785	31	3.9%	-11.3
66	Kent Graham	1992	2001	1339	33	2.5%	-11.3
67	Warren Moon	1984	2000	6823	233	3.4%	-10.6
68	Jim McMahon	1982	1996	2573	90	3.5%	-10.6
69	Gary Danielson	1977	1988	1932	78	4%	-10.4
70	Matt Schaub	2004	2013	3110	80	2.6%	-10.3
71	Archie Manning	1971	1984	3642	173	4.8%	-10.2
72	Mike Livingston	1969	1979	1751	83	4.7%	-10
73	Tom Flores	1960	1969	1715	92	5.4%	-9.9
74	Steve Dils	1980	1988	972	32	3.3%	-9.4
75	Alex Smith	2005	2013	2657	69	2.6%	-9.3
76	Kyle Orton	2005	2012	2214	57	2.6%	-8.9
77	Tony Romo	2006	2013	3748	100	2.7%	-8.8
78	Daryle Lamonica	1963	1974	2601	138	5.3%	-8.7
79	Drew Bledsoe	1993	2006	6717	206	3.1%	-8.7
80	Byron Leftwich	2003	2012	1605	42	2.6%	-8.6
81	Tobin Rote	1950	1966	2907	191	6.6%	-8.6
82	Gary Cuozzo	1963	1972	1182	55	4.7%	-8.5
83	Don Trull	1964	1969	637	28	4.4%	-8.4
84	Jim Zorn	1976	1987	3149	141	4.5%	-8.3
85	Pat Haden	1976	1981	1363	60	4.4%	-8.2
86	Bobby Layne	1950	1962	3349	223	6.7%	-7.9
87	Matt Hasselbeck	1999	2012	5018	147	2.9%	-7.6
88	Ben Roethlisberger	2004	2013	4287	119	2.8%	-7.4
89	Nick Foles	2012	2013	531	7	1.3%	-7.2
90	Jeff Hostetler	1988	1997	2338	71	3%	-6.9
91	Frank Ryan	1958	1970	2133	111	5.2%	-6.8
92	Bobby Thomason	1951	1957	1334	89	6.7%	-6.6
93	John Stofa	1966	1970	312	11	3.5%	-6.3
94	Steve Fuller	1979	1986	1066	41	3.8%	-6.1
95	Johnny Green	1960	1963	618	34	5.5%	-6
96	Mark Rypien	1988	2001	2613	88	3.4%	-5.8
97	Robert Griffin III	2012	2013	849	17	2%	-5.7
98	Trent Green	1997	2008	3740	114	3%	-5.7
99	Marc Bulger	2002	2009	3171	93	2.9%	-5.7
100	Earl Morrall	1956	1976	2689	148	5.5%	-5.5

Fran Tarkenton is fifth on the career list of interceptions, but that’s extremely misleading. He had an above-average interception rate most of his career, and twice led the league in interception rate. He happened to throw a lot of passes — he retired as the career leader in pass attempts, and currently ranks 10th — and played in an environment where interceptions were much more common. He had five top-100 seasons in interceptions below average, including two top ten years. While he may be fifth on the career interceptions list, his second-place ranking in interceptions below average is a much better representation of Tarkenton the passer.

References[+]

References
↑1	Note that for the 1960s, I calculated the AFL and NFL as two separate leagues with two separate interception rates. I did not remove each quarterback when calculating the league average, which would arguably be more appropriate but would also take more work!
↑2	Only quarterback seasons beginning in 1950 were included.

Tagged as: Interceptions

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