This card shows just how much the game has changed. Tark broke Unitas's all time passing yardage mark with 47,003 yards which was a huge deal at the time. Below is the list of the current top 20 career yardage leaders and only Tark and Fouts played in what I'd call the vintage card era. The game has made it much easier for QBS to accumulate massive passing stats due to favorable rules to offenses, pristine field conditions,, more games, better equipment etc., etc Hard to believe Tark accomplished this in the coldest, harshest enviornment in outdoor Metropolitan stadium in Minnesota.
While there are a lot of legendary names on this list there are a bunch who would hardly be considered HOFers but whose gaudy stats were a product of the modern game.
YARDS | | |
1 | Tom Brady | 89,214 |
2 | Drew Brees | 80,358 |
3 | Peyton Manning | 71,940 |
4 | Brett Favre | 71,838 |
5 | Ben Roethlisberger | 64,088 |
6 | Philip Rivers | 63,440 |
7 | Matt Ryan | 62,792 |
8 | Dan Marino | 61,361 |
9 | AARON RODGERS | 59,055 |
10 | Eli Manning | 57,023 |
11 | MATTHEW STAFFORD | 54,152 |
12 | John Elway | 51,475 |
13 | Warren Moon | 49,325 |
14 | Fran Tarkenton | 47,003 |
15 | Carson Palmer | 46,247 |
16 | Vinny Testaverde | 46,233 |
17 | Drew Bledsoe | 44,611 |
18 | Dan Fouts | 43,040 |
19 | RUSSELL WILSON | 42,389 |
20 | JOE FLACCO | 42,320 |
*Active players are in CAPS.