With NFL training camps opening as early as this weekend, the 2026 NFL season is right around the corner. There are already several compelling storylines going into this season, with many more set to unfold as the games begin. One topic that takes center stage every year is the race among veteran superstars as they climb the NFL’s all-time statistical leaderboards.
Perhaps the most interesting milestone to track will be a battle between quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford. Rodgers, who is back for his second season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, is currently fifth on the NFL all-time passing yards list with 66,274. Stafford, the reigning league MVP, is sixth on the list with 64,516.
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Can Stafford overtake Rodgers for fifth? The Los Angeles Rams star led the league last season with 4,707 yards — nearly 1,400 more than Rodgers’ 3,322. Stafford would need to outgain Rodgers in 2026 by 1,759 yards to pass him.
Joe Flacco and Kirk Cousins are the only active quarterbacks currently in the top 20, though neither is particularly close to cracking the top 10.
Even if Stafford manages to approach Rodgers’ yardage total, he won’t catch Rodgers for touchdown passes. Rodgers sits fourth all-time with 527 — and if he gets 13 TD passes this season, he’ll pass Peyton Manning for third. Brett Favre is secure in fifth with 508. Philip Rivers is sixth with 425 — but Stafford will pass Rivers with just three more TD passes.
Cousins is the only other active QB in the top 15. He’s got 298, just two behind John Elway for 14th.
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Derrick Henry rolls on
Even at an advanced age for running backs, Baltimore Ravens bulldozer Derrick Henry continues to post big numbers. When the 32-year-old rushed for 1,595 yards last season, he vaulted seven Hall of Famers to reach 10th on the all-time rushing list. If Henry gains 1,084 yards in 2026, he’ll pass four more Gold Jackets to reach sixth. And considering he rushed for 1,921 yards just two years ago, it’s not inconceivable he could get the 1,901 yards he needs to pass Adrian Peterson for fifth on the all-time list.
As for rushing touchdowns, Henry is already fourth on the career list with 122. He won’t catch record-holder Emmitt Smith (164), and No. 2 LaDainian Tomlinson (145) is a stretch. But he needs just two rushing touchdowns to pass Marcus Allen for No. 3 on the career list.
Kelce climbs the charts
How will married life affect Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce? While he hasn’t announced his plans, this is likely the 36-year-old’s final season. Taylor Swift will surely be around often for the Kelce retirement tour, and she’ll see him reach a few milestones.
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Kelce is currently eighth all-time with 1,080 receptions. With 23 more receptions, Kelce will pass Hall of Famers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Marvin Harrison to become fifth on the all-time list. Amazingly, he’d still only be third among tight ends. Tony Gonzalez is third and Jason Witten is fourth. Kelce is 146 catches behind Witten.
Kelce has 13,002 career receiving yards, which is third among active players. DeAndre Hopkins is the active leader with 13,295; he’s currently a free agent, and won’t be expected to post big numbers no matter where he lands.
The player to watch is Mike Evans, currently sitting at No. 21 on the all-time list with 13,052. After 12 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Evans signed with the San Francisco 49ers this offseason and should be a key target for Brock Purdy. Evans only had 368 receiving yards in 2025, but he missed half the season with a broken clavicle. A healthy Evans has had 1,000-plus yards every other season of his career. Another 726 yards would bump him up to No. 15 on the career list. He’s got an outside shot at cracking the top 10 — 1,294 yards would do the trick.
Evans is already 10th on the career list for touchdown receptions with 108 — but he’s actually second on the active list. Davante Adams is seventh on the list with 117. Adams led the NFL last season when he had 14 TD catches for the Los Angeles Rams. If Adams gets another 14, he’d jump three Hall of Famers to reach fourth on the all-time list. Is that a stretch? Adams has averaged 12 TD receptions over the last six seasons. Another 12 would leave him at No. 5.
