Who Has The Most Interceptions In The NFL History?
Contents
Who has the most interceptions in NFL history? This is a question that many football fans have been asking lately. And the answer may surprise you.
Introduction
In American football, an interception occurs when a forward pass is caught by a player of the opposing defensive team. This can happen either before the receiver had a chance to touch the ball, or if the receiver dropped the ball and it was caught by an opposition player. If an interception happens in the end zone of the opposing team, it is called a touchback and the team who intercepted the ball will start their drive from their own end zone.
During the course of an NFL game, there are usually between 1 and 2 interceptions made by each team. However, there have been games where much more than this has occurred. In fact, in some very rare cases, there have been as many as 8 interceptions in a single game!
The record for the most interceptions in an NFL game is held by Hall of Fame defensive back Dick “Night Train” Lane, who had 7 interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams against the Detroit Lions in 1968. This is a truly remarkable feat, and it’s safe to say that it will probably never be beaten!
NFL Interception Leaders
The NFL interception leaders are a who’s who of the game’s greatest quarterbacks. With a mix of active and retired players, the list includes some of the most prolific passers in NFL history. Here’s a look at the players who have the most interceptions in NFL history.
Paul Krause
Paul Krause holds the record for the most interceptions in NFL history. The former safety had 81 interceptions over his 16-year career, including four seasons with at least 10 picks. Krause played for the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins, earning eight Pro Bowl selections and two first-team All-Pro nods.
Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Tunnell is a retired American football player. He played college football at the University of Iowa, and then professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers. He is one of the first African-American players to have been inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. As of 2019, he is fourth on the NFL’s all-time interceptions list, with 79 career interceptions.
Rod Woodson
Rod Woodson is a former professional football player who was a defensive back in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons. He played college football for Purdue University, and was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first round of the 1987 NFL Draft.
Woodson holds the NFL record for most interceptions returned for touchdown in a career with 12, and is tied for the second-most total interceptions with 71. He was an inductees of the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.
Ken Riley
Ken Riley is a former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals from 1969 to 1983. He played college football at Florida A&M, and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. He was selected to four Pro Bowls, and is one of only six players in NFL history to intercept three passes in a Super Bowl game. Riley ranks fourth all-time in career interceptions with 65.
Dick LeBeau
Dick LeBeau is a former professional football player and coach who currently serves as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is considered to be one of the greatest defensive minds in NFL history, and he is the all-time leader in interceptions with 62.
Conclusion
As of the end of the 2019 NFL season, the player with the most interceptions in NFL history is Paul Krause, with 81.