What is Quarterback Rating (Passer Rating)
Quarterback rating (passer rating) is a formula-based statistic that measures a quarterback's performance by combining completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and interception percentage into a single number.
Quarterback rating (officially called passer rating in the NFL) is a composite statistic that attempts to measure a quarterback's overall passing performance in a single number. It combines four key statistical categories into one formula to compare quarterbacks across games, seasons, and eras. The maximum passer rating under the NFL formula is 158.3.
The NFL Passer Rating Formula
The NFL passer rating uses four components, each scaled to a value between 0 and 2.375:
- Completion percentage — Completions ÷ Attempts
- Yards per attempt — Passing yards ÷ Attempts
- Touchdown percentage — Touchdowns ÷ Attempts
- Interception percentage — Interceptions ÷ Attempts (lower = better)
Each component is adjusted and capped, then the four values are summed, divided by 6, and multiplied by 100.
Passer Rating Scale
| Rating | Assessment |
|---|---|
| 158.3 | Perfect (maximum possible) |
| 120–158.2 | Elite |
| 100–119 | Very good |
| 80–99 | Solid — above average |
| 60–79 | Average to below average |
| Below 60 | Poor |
Career and Single-Season Records
- Career passer rating (NFL): Aaron Rodgers — 103.1 (all-time record entering 2025)
- Single-season record: Aaron Rodgers — 122.5 (2011 season)
- Average NFL passer rating: ~95–100 in the modern era (improved from historical lows of ~60–70 in the 1970s–80s)
Limitations of Passer Rating
Passer rating has significant critics:
- Ignores rushing yards — A mobile QB's running contributions aren't counted
- Doesn't account for drops — A dropped pass hurts completion percentage despite good throw quality
- No context for game situation — A garbage-time touchdown inflates the rating
- Doesn't measure accuracy well — Yards after catch inflate yardage despite short throws
- Formula is non-intuitive — The complex math makes 158.3 an odd maximum
ESPN QBR (Total QBR)
ESPN's QBR (Quarterback Rating) was designed as a more comprehensive alternative to passer rating. It:
- Accounts for both passing and rushing
- Weights plays by their importance in the game's outcome
- Adjusts for opponent quality
- Gives credit to receivers for yards after catch
QBR is scaled from 0 to 100 with 50 as average.