Paul Krause Holds the NFL Interception Record With 81

Paul Krause holds the NFL career record for interceptions made by a defensive player, with 81 regular-season interceptions for Washington and the Minnesota Vikings from 1964 through 1979. He took the record from Emlen Tunnell in his final season. Pro Football Hall of Fame

If you mean interceptions thrown, the answer is Brett Favre, with 336. Those are two sides of the same play—but two different career leaderboards. The totals here exclude the playoffs. Pro-Football-Reference passing leaderboard

NFL career interception leaders

Krause remains two interceptions ahead of Tunnell and ten ahead of third-place Rod Woodson. These are the players occupying the top ten ranks, including ties, as of October 27, 2026.

Rank	Player	Interceptions	Career seasons
1	Paul Krause	81	1964–1979
2	Emlen Tunnell	79	1948–1961
3	Rod Woodson	71	1987–2003
4	Dick “Night Train” Lane	68	1952–1965
T-5	Ken Riley	65	1969–1983
T-5	Charles Woodson	65	1998–2015
7	Ed Reed	64	2002–2013
T-8	Ronnie Lott	63	1981–1994
T-8	Darren Sharper	63	1997–2010
T-10	Dave Brown	62	1975–1989
T-10	Dick LeBeau	62	1959–1972

Source: Pro-Football-Reference’s regular-season career interception leaderboard, which identifies its defensive interception coverage as beginning in 1940.

How Krause reached 81

Krause’s record began with an extraordinary rookie season. Washington selected the Iowa free safety in the second round of the 1964 draft, and he immediately led the NFL with 12 interceptions. He intercepted passes in seven consecutive games and earned the first of his eight Pro Bowl selections. Hall of Fame biography

By the end of four seasons, he had intercepted 28 passes. Washington traded him to Minnesota in 1968 for linebacker Marlin McKeever and a seventh-round draft choice. Krause then spent another 12 seasons with the Vikings, adding 53 interceptions to his career total. His three interceptions in 1979 carried him past Tunnell’s 79. Hall of Fame career account

Longevity mattered alongside that fast start: the Hall of Fame says Krause missed only two games because of injuries across 16 seasons. He also started at free safety in four Super Bowls. His interception in Super Bowl IV belongs to his postseason record, however—not to the regular-season total of 81. Pro Football Hall of Fame

Most interceptions thrown: Brett Favre’s 336

Favre leads the regular-season passing list with 336 interceptions, followed by George Blanda with 277 and John Hadl with 268. Favre’s total covers his 1991–2010 career. Career passes-intercepted leaderboard

Blanda and Hadl’s totals include their years in the American Football League: the NFL incorporated AFL statistics into its official records after the leagues merged in 1970. Associated Press report via ESPN

That total needs an opportunity measure beside it. Favre attempted 10,169 passes and threw 508 touchdowns during his career; his interceptions therefore amounted to about 3.3% of his attempts. A raw interception total measures accumulated turnovers, not simply how often a quarterback was intercepted. Hall of Fame career totals

For another record where the category changes the answer, see our guide to NFL touchdown records: scored versus thrown.

The single-season record belongs to Night Train Lane

Krause owns the career mark, but Dick “Night Train” Lane holds the single-season defensive record: 14 interceptions for the Los Angeles Rams in 1952. He achieved it as a rookie in a 12-game season. Hall of Fame biography

Lane had arrived at the Rams’ offices asking for a tryout, carrying a scrapbook of his football experience. Initially tried at offensive end, he moved to defense and produced a season that still tops the record list. Lester Hayes, Dan Sandifer and Spec Sanders share second place with 13 interceptions apiece. Hall of Fame account; single-season leaderboard

The schedule gives Lane’s achievement additional context. The NFL expanded to 16 regular-season games in 1978 and to 17 in 2021. Lane’s 14 came with substantially fewer games available—an important distinction when comparing season totals across football history. NFL season-structure announcement