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NFL Passer Rating Calculator
Calculate an NFL quarterback's official passer rating from completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions.
Calculator
Formula
Four components are computed: a = (completions/attempts - 0.3) / 0.2, b = (yards/attempts - 3) / 4, c = (touchdowns/attempts) / 0.05, d = 0.095 - (interceptions/attempts) / 0.04. Each component is clamped between 0 and 2.375. The sum is divided by 6 and multiplied by 100 to yield a rating on a 0–158.3 scale.
Source: NFL Official Rules; Don Smith, Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1973. Adopted by NFL in 1973 and unchanged since.
How it works
The formula uses four rate statistics — completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown percentage, and interception percentage — each normalized against historical benchmarks established in the early 1970s. Each component is independently clamped to a minimum of 0 and a maximum of 2.375, preventing any single category from dominating or distorting the result.
The four clamped components are summed, divided by 6, and multiplied by 100. This scaling produces a theoretical maximum of 158.3 (a perfect passer rating) and a minimum of 0. An average NFL starter typically posts a rating between 85 and 100 in modern football, while elite seasons frequently exceed 110.
The formula was designed by Don Smith of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and was adopted by the NFL in 1973. It remains unchanged, making it a useful tool for cross-era comparisons, even though newer metrics like ESPN's Total QBR attempt to address its limitations around rushing, situational context, and opponent quality.
Worked example
Consider a quarterback who goes 25-of-40 for 300 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 1 interception.
Component a (completion %): (25/40 − 0.3) / 0.2 = (0.625 − 0.3) / 0.2 = 1.625. Clamped: 1.625.
Component b (yards/attempt): (300/40 − 3) / 4 = (7.5 − 3) / 4 = 1.125. Clamped: 1.125.
Component c (TD %): (3/40) / 0.05 = 0.075 / 0.05 = 1.5. Clamped: 1.5.
Component d (INT %): 0.095 − (1/40) / 0.04 = 0.095 − 0.625 = −0.53. Clamped: 0.
Passer Rating: (1.625 + 1.125 + 1.5 + 0) / 6 × 100 = 4.25 / 6 × 100 ≈ 70.8.
Limitations & notes
The NFL passer rating does not account for rushing yards or touchdowns, sacks, intentional grounding, drops by receivers, or quality of opposition. A QB who avoids interceptions but takes many sacks will look better in this metric than reality warrants. The formula was calibrated to 1971 NFL statistics, so modern completion percentages routinely push component a toward the 2.375 ceiling, reducing its discriminating power. Additionally, a single interception in a small-sample game is penalized more severely than the same rate over a full season. For a more complete picture, consider supplementing this metric with yards per attempt, adjusted net yards per attempt (ANY/A), or ESPN's Total QBR.
Frequently asked questions
What is a perfect passer rating in the NFL?
A perfect passer rating is 158.3. It is achieved when all four components simultaneously hit their maximum clamped value of 2.375. This requires a completion percentage of at least 77.5%, at least 12.5 yards per attempt, a TD rate of at least 11.875%, and zero interceptions. Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and others have posted perfect single-game ratings.
Why does the formula have such unusual constants like 0.3, 0.2, and 0.04?
These constants were derived from the average NFL quarterback statistics of the 1971 season. The benchmarks were set so that a perfectly average QB would score 1.0 on each component, yielding a rating of 66.7. The constants normalize each rate statistic relative to what was typical at the time the formula was created.
How does NFL passer rating differ from ESPN's Total QBR?
NFL passer rating uses only five raw box-score inputs (completions, attempts, yards, TDs, INTs) with a fixed formula and no situational context. ESPN's Total QBR incorporates rushing, situational leverage (down and distance, score, time), opponent adjustments, and credit-sharing with receivers. QBR is on a 0–100 scale and is considered more predictive of future performance, but the official NFL passer rating remains the standard for record books and official statistics.
Can a quarterback have a passer rating of 0?
Yes, though it is extremely rare. A rating of 0 results when all four components clamp to their minimum of 0. This would require a completion percentage of 30% or less, a yards-per-attempt of 3 or less, zero touchdown passes, and an interception rate of 9.5% or higher — a combination that virtually never occurs with an NFL starter.
Is passer rating the same as QBR?
No. 'QBR' is sometimes used colloquially to mean the official NFL passer rating, but the acronym was formally adopted by ESPN for their proprietary Total QBR metric. The official NFL statistic is properly called 'passer rating' or 'quarterback rating.' The two metrics use entirely different formulas, scales, and inputs, so they should not be confused or used interchangeably.
How should I interpret different passer rating ranges?
Generally: below 70 is considered poor, 70–85 is below average for a starter, 85–100 is average to above average, 100–110 is very good, and above 110 is elite. Historical single-season records have reached as high as 122.5 (Aaron Rodgers, 2011). The league average in recent seasons has hovered around 90–95 as passing efficiency has improved across the board.
Last updated: 2025-01-30 · Formula verified against primary sources.