A quarterback can throw for 300 yards and still have a poor game if interceptions and missed throws erase the value of those yards. That is why football uses several different ratings—and why a single number rarely tells the whole story. The best-known is the NFL passer rating, a formula that combines completions, passing yards, touchdowns and interceptions.
There isn’t one rating system for all of football
When someone asks about a player’s “rating,” they may mean the NFL passer rating, ESPN’s QBR, a college passing-efficiency rating, or even a team ranking. These measures answer different questions. The NFL passer rating is the standard formula most fans mean when discussing a quarterback’s rating, so it’s a useful place to start.
Passer rating measures a quarterback’s passing efficiency using four statistics: completion percentage, yards per attempt, touchdown rate and interception rate. It does not simply reward a high number of passing yards. A quarterback who gains yards efficiently and protects the ball will generally rate better than one who piles up yards while also throwing several interceptions.
How the NFL passer rating is calculated
The NFL formula turns each of the four statistics into a component. Each component is capped between 0 and 2.375, then the components are added, divided by six and multiplied by 100.
| Component | Formula | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Completion percentage | ((Completions ÷ Attempts) − 0.3) × 5 | How often the quarterback completes a pass |
| Yards per attempt | ((Passing yards ÷ Attempts) − 3) × 0.25 | How much passing yardage comes from each attempt |
| Touchdown rate | (Touchdowns ÷ Attempts) × 20 | How often an attempt produces a passing touchdown |
| Interception rate | 2.375 − ((Interceptions ÷ Attempts) × 25) | How well the quarterback avoids interceptions |
For each part, a result below zero is treated as zero, and a result above 2.375 is treated as 2.375. That cap is why the NFL passer rating has a maximum of 158.3 and a minimum of zero. It is not a percentage: a rating of 100 does not mean a quarterback completed 100% of his passes.
A quick example
Suppose a quarterback completes 25 of 35 attempts for 280 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. His completion rate is about 71.4%, and he averages eight yards per attempt. Applying the four parts of the formula gives component scores of about 2.07 for completions, 1.25 for yards, 1.14 for touchdowns and 1.66 for interceptions. The final passer rating is about 102.1.
The calculation rewards both accuracy and productive passing, while the interception component pulls the rating down when turnovers occur. It also makes attempts important: the formula looks at rates per attempt, not just raw totals.
What counts—and what doesn’t
The NFL passer rating is based on passing attempts, completions, passing yards, passing touchdowns and interceptions. It does not include rushing yards or rushing touchdowns, sacks, fumbles, first downs, or the difficulty of a throw. A sack is not counted as a pass attempt in this formula, even though it can be a major part of a quarterback’s performance.
That creates useful context for interpreting a box score. A mobile quarterback who makes several important runs may have a modest passer rating despite helping his offense move the ball. Likewise, a quarterback might post a strong rating by completing short, safe passes while contributing little on third-and-long or in the red zone. The number describes passing efficiency under this formula—not everything the player did.
How it differs from other football ratings
| Measure | What it is used for | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| NFL passer rating | Summarizing passing efficiency | Uses four passing statistics and a fixed formula |
| College passing-efficiency rating | Evaluating passing in NCAA football | Uses a different formula, so its numbers are not directly comparable to NFL passer ratings |
| ESPN QBR | Estimating a quarterback’s overall contribution | Uses a proprietary, context-based method and can account for more than passing statistics |
| Team power rating or ranking | Comparing teams or estimating strength | Methods vary by publication or model; there is no single official formula |
College football’s passing-efficiency rating is not just the NFL formula with different numbers. It uses its own calculation, including completions, yards, touchdowns, interceptions and attempts. As a result, a college rating of 150 cannot be read as better than an NFL rating of 100 simply by comparing the figures.
QBR is another separate measure. It aims to reflect a quarterback’s overall impact, including plays beyond conventional passing stats, and its calculation is proprietary. Meanwhile, a “power rating” usually refers to a model’s assessment of a team’s strength—not an individual quarterback’s efficiency.
How to use passer rating when watching a game
Passer rating is most useful as a quick summary or as one point of comparison across games. If a quarterback has a high rating, check the box score to see what drove it: efficient completions, strong yards per attempt, touchdowns, and few interceptions. If the rating is low, look for the specific weakness rather than assuming every part of the performance was poor.
It also helps to compare players in similar circumstances. A quarterback playing in heavy rain, facing a strong pass rush or throwing mostly in obvious passing situations may have a tougher assignment than someone working with a lead and a clean pocket. The formula does not adjust for those conditions. For a fuller picture, pair the rating with completion percentage, yards per attempt, sacks, rushing production, turnovers and what happened on key downs.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good NFL passer rating?
As a rough guide, a rating around 90 or higher is generally strong, while a mark above 100 is usually very good. The standard varies by season and situation, so compare the rating with other quarterbacks’ performances rather than treating any one cutoff as definitive.
Can a quarterback have a passer rating above 100?
Yes. The NFL rating is not a percentage. Its maximum is 158.3, so a rating above 100 simply reflects a strong result across the formula’s passing categories.
Does passer rating include rushing touchdowns or sacks?
No. The NFL passer rating formula covers passing statistics only. Rushing production and sacks can still matter greatly to a quarterback’s overall performance, but they are not included in that calculation.
Is passer rating the same as QBR?
No. Passer rating is a public formula based on four passing statistics. QBR is a separate, proprietary measure intended to capture more of a quarterback’s contribution and game context.
Final Thoughts
The NFL passer rating offers a quick way to summarize a quarterback’s passing efficiency, but it is not a complete grade of his game. Learn what goes into the number, check which rating system you’re looking at, and use the box score and game situation for context. That turns a bare statistic into a much more useful read on what happened.
Aiden Cross is a sports writer and editor at BeliveSports, covering a broad range of sports with a focus on clear, accurate, and practical information. His work covers rules, techniques, player roles, competitions, equipment, statistics, and the details that help readers better understand how different sports are played. Aiden takes a research-driven approach to sports writing, using reliable sources and established sporting information to provide context rather than simply repeating surface-level facts. His goal is to make complex topics accessible while maintaining the accuracy and depth expected by knowledgeable sports fans. At BeliveSports, Aiden contributes to the site’s editorial standards by focusing on accuracy, clarity, useful context, and reader-first explanations.
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