Who Has the Most Interceptions in NFL History?

Who has the most interceptions in NFL history? This is a question that many football fans have been asking for years. And now, thanks to the power of the internet, we finally have an answer!

Introduction

Since the NFL began tracking interceptions in 1932, many great players have made their mark on the record books. But only a handful of players have been able to intercept more than 50 passes in their career. Here are the top five interception leaders in NFL history.

The NFL’s All-Time Leading Interception Leaders

If you’re looking for the NFL’s all-time leading interception leaders, you’ve come to the right place. I’m going to list the top five players in NFL history with the most interceptions. These players have had great careers and have made a huge impact on the game of football.

Paul Krause

Paul Krause holds the NFL record for the most interceptions of all time. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, mostly with the Minnesota Vikings. He had 81 interceptions in his career, which is 20 more than the next closest player. He was a 8-time Pro Bowler and a 2-time First-team All-Pro.

Emlen Tunnell

Emlen Tunnell is the NFL’s all-time leader in interceptions, with 79 in his career. Tunnell played his entire career with the New York Giants, from 1948 to 1958. He was a 9-time Pro Bowler and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967.

Ken Riley

Ken Riley (born December 15, 1945) is a former American football defensive back who spent his entire fifteen-year career playing for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Florida A&M University, and was drafted in the sixth round of the 1969 NFL Draft. Riley retired from playing football in 1983, and held the Bengals’ franchise record for career interceptions (65) until 2012, when he was surpassed by Leon Hall. He also held the NFL record for interceptions by a rookie with 9 in 1969, until it was broken by Orientals Rulon Jones in 1980.

Dick Lane

Dick “Night Train” Lane is the NFL’s all-time leader in interceptions, with 14 interceptions in just 12 games during the 1952 season. A member of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade Team, Lane was one of the most feared defensive backs of his era, known for his hard-hitting style and penchant for big plays. He went on to play 14 seasons in the NFL, intercepting 52 passes overall.

Rod Woodson

Rod Woodson is a former American 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. After spending 10 years with the Steelers, he spent three with the San Francisco 49ers, winning a Super Bowl with each team. He then played for the Baltimore Ravens from 1998 to 2001, serving as their defensive leader and helping them to win a Super Bowl title in 2000. He returned to Oakland during the 2002 season. His play then declined verify rapidly, which led to his release after just four games. Woodson retired from football in 2003 after signing with the New England Patriots but was released before playing in a game for them.

Woodson holds the NFL record for most interception return yards in a career (1,483), and is tied with Darren Sharper for most total interceptions returned for touchdowns (11). He was an inductees of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame (2009) and the College Football Hall of Fame (2016).

The NFL’s Active Interception Leaders

Of the NFL’s current crop of players, who has the most interceptions? This list includes the top 10 active NFL players with the most interceptions, as well as the number of interceptions they have so far in their careers.

Devin McCourty

Devin McCourty is an American football safety for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Rutgers, and was drafted by the Patriots in the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He has been selected to six Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro in 2010. He has also won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.

Richard Sherman

Richard Sherman is an American football cornerback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Stanford, where he was a two-time All-American. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft. In his first four seasons with Sherman became one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, helping the Seahawks win Super Bowl XLVIII against the Denver Broncos.

Sherman has been selected to five Pro Bowls, led the NFL in interceptions in 2013, and was a member of the NFL’s All-Pro First Team in 2012 and 2013. He has also been named to four consecutive All-NFL teams from 2013 to 2016. In 2015, he helped lead the Seahawks to their second straight Super Bowl appearance.

Glover Quin

Glover Quin currently leads all active NFL players in interceptions, with 21. The 31-year-old safety has played for the Houston Texans and Detroit Lions during his 10-year career.

Quin’s 21 interceptions are the most by any player since he entered the NFL in 2009. He is tied for the 13th-most interceptions among all players since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger.

Some of the other active leaders in interceptions are:

Tramon Williams – 20
Malcolm Jenkins – 19
Chris Harris Jr. – 18
William Gay – 17
Reshad Jones – 16

Kevin Byard

Kevin Byard (born August 22, 1994) is an American football safety for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Middle Tennessee State University, and was drafted by the Titans in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

Byard set an NFL record for the most interceptions in a season by a rookie with eight in 2016. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and was selected as a second-team All-Pro.

Jamal Adams

Jamal Adams (born October 17, 1995) is an American football safety for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, where he was a consensus All-American. He was drafted by the New York Jets sixth overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. In his second season, Adams made the Pro Bowl after leading the team with a career-high 7.5 sacks.

The NFL’s Interception Leaders by Position

It’s no secret that quarterbacks tend to be the quarterbacks who throw the most interceptions. In fact, in the history of the NFL, the top five leaders in interceptions are all quarterbacks. That said, there are a few other positions that have a high interception rate.

Cornerbacks

Cornerbacks, who play on the defensive side of the ball, are typically responsible for covering the wide receivers of the opposing team. Because of this, they tend to rack up a lot of interceptions; in fact, the all-time leader in interceptions is a former cornerback.

1. Paul Krause – 81
2. Ronnie Lott – 63
3. Rod Woodson – 62
4. Ken Riley – 65
5. Dick LeBeau – 62
6. Emlen Tunnell – 79
7. Night Train Lane – 68
8. Deion Sanders – 53
9. Mel Blount – 57
10. Aeneas Williams – 55

Safeties

Safeties have always been tasked with playing a crucial role in an NFL defense – being the last line of defense, in addition to providing support in the run game. Over the years, there have been some truly great safeties that have made a huge impact on the game.

Here is a look at the NFL’s all-time interception leaders by position, sorted by interceptions per game:
1. Eddie Jackson – 2.22 INTs per game
2. Eric Weddle – 1.93 INTs per game
3. Glover Quin – 1.89 INTs per game
4. Rodney Harrison – 1.84 INTs per game
5. Charles Woodson – 1.77 INTs per game
6. Ronnie Lott – 1.71 INTs per game
7. Mel Renfro – 1.63 INTs per game
8. Paul Krause – 1.62 INTs per game
9. Dave Brown – 1.61 INTs per game
10. Dick Lane – 1.60 INTs per g

Linebackers

Linebackers have always been considered the quarterbacks of the defense. They are the players who make the defensive calls and adjustments, and they are often the most athletic players on the field.

Not surprisingly, linebackers have also been some of the best defenders when it comes to intercepting passes. In fact, linebackers have more interceptions than any other position in NFL history.

Here is a look at the NFL’s all-time interception leaders by position:

1. Linebackers – 1,445
2. Defensive backs – 1,390
3. Defensive ends – 1,015
4. Safeties – 959
5. Cornerbacks – 879

Conclusion

In conclusion, Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey has the most interceptions in NFL history with 52. He is followed by Hall of Fame safety Ken Houston with 49 and Pro Bowl safety Rod Woodson with 47.