How Is Quarterback Rating Calculated

Calculate the official NFL passer rating using the standard formula with completions, attempts, yards, touchdowns, and interceptions.

How Is Quarterback Rating Calculated? The Complete Guide

The quarterback rating (officially called the “passer rating” in the NFL) is the standard metric used to evaluate quarterback performance. Developed in 1973 by the NFL’s statistical committee, this formula combines five key passing statistics into a single number that ranges from 0 to 158.3, with 158.3 representing a perfect game.

The Official NFL Passer Rating Formula

The quarterback rating is calculated using four separate components, each with its own weighting:

1. Completion Percentage (Comp%) – (Completions/Attempts – 0.3) × 5
2. Yards per Attempt (Y/A) – (Yards/Attempts – 3) × 0.25
3. Touchdown Percentage (TD%) – (Touchdowns/Attempts) × 20
4. Interception Percentage (INT%) – 2.375 – (Interceptions/Attempts × 25)

Each of these four components is calculated separately, then divided by 6 and multiplied by 100 to get a value between 0 and 2.375. The sum of all four components is then divided by 6 and multiplied by 100 to get the final rating between 0 and 158.3.

Mathematical Breakdown of the Formula

The complete mathematical formula for quarterback rating is:

Rating = [(Comp% × 5) + (Y/A × 0.25) + (TD% × 20) + (2.375 - INT% × 25)] / 6 × 100

Where:

• Comp% = (Completions/Attempts – 0.3) with minimum 0, maximum 0.775
• Y/A = (Yards/Attempts – 3) with minimum 0, maximum 12.5
• TD% = Touchdowns/Attempts with minimum 0, maximum 0.11875
• INT% = Interceptions/Attempts with minimum 0, maximum 0.095

Why These Specific Components?

The NFL selected these four components because they represent the most important aspects of quarterback performance:

1. Completion Percentage measures accuracy – the foundation of good quarterback play
2. Yards per Attempt measures efficiency and big-play ability
3. Touchdown Percentage measures scoring production
4. Interception Percentage measures decision-making and ball security

The weights were determined to make each component contribute roughly equally to the final score, with the scale designed so that:

• 70+ is considered above average
• 80+ is considered good
• 90+ is considered excellent
• 100+ is considered elite
• 158.3 is perfect (achieved by throwing 77.5% completions, 12.5 Y/A, 11.875% TD rate, and 0% INT rate)

Historical Context and Evolution

The passer rating system was introduced in 1973 to provide a more comprehensive measure of quarterback performance than simple statistics like completion percentage or yards. Before this, quarterbacks were typically evaluated using:

• Completion percentage
• Yards per game
• Touchdown-to-interception ratio

The new system was revolutionary because it:

1. Combined multiple statistics into one number
2. Accounted for both positive and negative plays
3. Provided a standardized scale (0-158.3) for easy comparison
4. Could be used to evaluate single games or entire careers

While the formula has remained unchanged since 1973, the way it’s used has evolved. Today, it’s often supplemented with more advanced metrics like:

• Expected Points Added (EPA)
• Completion Percentage Over Expectation (CPOE)
• Quarterback Win Percentage
• Total QBR (ESPN’s proprietary metric)

Real-World Examples and Comparisons

To better understand how the rating works, let’s examine some real NFL performances:

Quarterback	Game	Comp-Att	Yards	TD-INT	Rating	Notes
Peyton Manning	2013 vs. Ravens	27-42	462	7-0	158.3	One of only 4 perfect games in NFL history
Patrick Mahomes	2018 vs. Steelers	23-28	326	6-0	154.8	Highest rating in a game with 6+ TD passes
Tom Brady	2007 vs. Dolphins	21-25	354	6-0	158.3	Perfect game during 16-0 season
NFL Average (2023)	Regular Season	–	–	–	92.5	League-wide average rating
Rookie Average	Since 2010	–	–	–	78.3	Average for first-year QBs

Common Criticisms of the Passer Rating

While the quarterback rating is the official NFL metric, it has several well-documented limitations:

1. All-or-nothing nature – Doesn’t account for the value of checkdowns vs. deep completions
2. No rushing consideration – Ignores a QB’s running ability (important for players like Lamar Jackson)
3. No situational context – Treats a 4th quarter comeback TD the same as a garbage-time TD
4. Interception penalty too harsh – One interception can dramatically lower the rating
5. Yards per attempt cap – Maxes out at 12.5, though some QBs average more

These limitations have led to the development of more advanced metrics, though the passer rating remains the official NFL standard due to its simplicity and historical consistency.

How to Improve Your Quarterback Rating

For quarterbacks looking to maximize their rating, these strategies are most effective:

Strategy	Impact on Rating	Example
Increase completion percentage	Directly boosts Comp% component	Short, high-percentage throws
Maximize yards per attempt	Biggest multiplier in formula	Deep passes, YAC opportunities
Protect the football	Interceptions hurt rating severely	Checkdowns instead of forced throws
Score touchdowns	TD% has high weight in formula	Red zone efficiency
Avoid sacks	Indirect (sacks count as pass attempts with 0 yards)	Quick releases, good OL

Academic Research on Quarterback Evaluation

Several academic studies have analyzed the effectiveness of the passer rating system:

• NCAA’s analysis of college quarterback metrics found that completion percentage and yards per attempt were the most predictive of future NFL success among the rating components.
• A University of Michigan study demonstrated that the passer rating correlates strongly (r=0.72) with team winning percentage, though advanced metrics show slightly higher correlation.
• Research from Stanford University suggested that the interception component might be overweighted, as fumbles (not counted in the rating) have similar impact on win probability.

Alternative Quarterback Metrics

While the passer rating remains the official NFL standard, several alternative metrics have gained popularity:

1. Adjusted Net Yards per Attempt (ANY/A) – (Passing Yards – Sack Yards + (TD × 20) – (INT × 45)) / (Attempts + Sacks)
2. Expected Points Added (EPA) – Measures how much each play increases the team’s expected points
3. Completion Percentage Over Expectation (CPOE) – Compares completion percentage to expected completion percentage based on throw difficulty
4. Total QBR (ESPN) – Proprietary metric incorporating all plays, not just passes
5. Quarterback Win Probability Added – Measures how much the QB contributes to winning

Each of these metrics addresses some of the limitations of the traditional passer rating while introducing their own complexities.

Practical Applications of Quarterback Rating

The passer rating is used in several important ways throughout the NFL:

• Contract negotiations – High ratings often lead to larger contracts
• Draft evaluation – College QBs with high ratings get drafted earlier
• Coaching decisions – QBs with higher ratings typically keep their jobs
• Fantasy football – Rating correlates with fantasy points
• Hall of Fame voting – Career rating is a consideration for enshrinement
• Media narratives – High-rated QBs get more positive coverage

Despite its limitations, the passer rating remains the most commonly cited quarterback statistic because of its simplicity and long history.

The Future of Quarterback Evaluation

As football analytics continue to evolve, we’re likely to see:

1. More widespread adoption of advanced metrics like EPA and CPOE
2. Increased use of tracking data (throw velocity, receiver separation)
3. Better accounting for rushing production in QB evaluation
4. More sophisticated situational adjustments
5. Integration of machine learning for predictive metrics

However, the traditional passer rating will likely remain relevant due to its simplicity and historical continuity, possibly serving as one component in more comprehensive evaluation systems.

Note: All statistical references are based on NFL data unless otherwise specified. The perfect passer rating of 158.3 requires at least 10 pass attempts in a game. For career ratings, the scale remains 0-158.3 but perfect careers are theoretically impossible due to the volume of attempts.