Most interceptions by a team in one season is 49 by San Diego Chargers in 1961. NFL record for most interceptions thrown in a game is 8 by Jim Hardy in 1950.
The San Diego Chargers set a modern-era pro football record with 66 takeaways. It is the most in AFL or NFL history. The Chargers was 12-2 in 1961.
The season ended at Balboa Stadium in San Diego with a 10-3 loss to the Houston Oilers in the AFL championship game.
Other teams with the most interceptions in a season are Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, Baltimore Colts, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, and many more.
Most Interceptions Thrown In A Game
NFL record for most interceptions thrown in a game is 8 held by Jim Hardy. Jim set the record on September 24, 1950.
Jim played for the Chicago Cardinals team against Philadelphia Eagles. Throughout his career, the footballer was part of the Cardinals, Rams, and Lions for 7 seasons.
The player was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the first round (eighth overall) of the 1945 NFL Draft, as per Pro Football Reference.
Later in 1949, he played for the Cardinals for two years till 1951. In 1952, he played as a quarterback for Detroit Lions.
Hardy played from 1946 to 1952 in the NFL and made the Pro Bowl in 1950. He set an NFL record in a single game with 8 interceptions.
The total rushing yards gained by Jim was 193, and he made a touchdown in 39 attempts. He had an average of 4.9 per attempt.
Quarterbacks throwing seven interceptions in a game are listed below :
- Ty Detmer – Detroit Lions vs. Cleveland Browns, September 23, 2001
- Steve DeBerg – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. San Francisco 49ers, September 7, 1986
- Ken Stabler – Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos, October 16, 1977
- Tommy Wade – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Philadelphia Eagles, December 12, 1965
- Zeke Bratkowski – Chicago Bears vs. Baltimore Colts, October 2, 1960
- Glenn Dobbs – Los Angeles Dons vs. San Francisco 49ers, December 5, 1948
- Bob Waterfield – Los Angeles Rams vs. Green Bay Packers, October 17, 1948
Most Interceptions Caught In A Game By One Player
Most interceptions by a defensive player in one game is 4. It was a tie between DeAngelo Hall, Deltha O’Neal, Kwamie Lassiter, and 16 others.
It was first achieved by Sammy Baugh during the game between Washington Redskins and Detroit Lions on November 14, 1943. Five years later, Dan Sandifer achieved the feat on October 31, 1948, during a game between Washington Redskins and Boston Yanks.
Goose Gonsoulin
Goose Gonsoulin played for the Broncos against Buffalo Bills and scored 4 interceptions on September 18, 1960.
The footballer spent 8 seasons for the Denver Broncos and the San Francisco 49ers. He was chosen to play in 5 Pro Bowls.
Jerry Norton
Jerry Norton played 11 seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers. He was chosen to play 5 Pro Bowls.
Norton was selected in the 1954 NFL Draft in the seventh round (81st overall). He played safety and finished with 5 interceptions as a rookie.
The player made 4 interceptions on two occasions. He achieved the feat for the first time on November 20, 1960. Norton played for the Cardinals, and his opponent was Washington Redskins.
A year later, he achieved his record again on November 26, 1961, during a game with Pittsburgh Steelers.
DeAngelo Hall
DeAngelo Hall played for Washington Redskins against Chicago Bears on October 24, 2010. He had 4 interceptions and 7 tackles in a game.
Hall spent 14 seasons for the Redskins, Falcons, and Raiders in the National Football League. Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the 2004 NFL Draft.
The player had 638 tackles, 176 assists, 15 fumble recoveries, and 43 interceptions. DeAngelo was invited to play the three Pro Bowls: one with the Redskins and two with the Falcons.
Here below is the list of the players with 4 interceptions based on Pro Football Reference data in a game:
- Deltha O’Neal – Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs, October 7, 2001
- Kwamie Lassiter – Arizona Cardinals vs. San Diego Chargers, December 27, 1998
- Deron Cherry – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Seattle Seahawks, September 29, 1985
- Willie Buchanon – Green Bay Packers vs. San Diego Chargers, September 24, 1978
- Dick Anderson – Miami Dolphins vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, December 3, 1973
- Willie Brown – Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets, November 15, 1964
- Bobby Hunt – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Houston Oilers, October 4, 1964
- Bobby Ply – Dallas Texans vs. San Diego Chargers, December 16, 1962
- Dave Baker – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams, December 4, 1960
- Jack Butler – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Washington Redskins, December 13, 1953
- Bobby Dillon – Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions, November 26, 1953
- Russ Craft – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Chicago Cardinals, September 24, 1950
- Bob Nussbaumer – Chicago Cardinals vs. New York Bulldogs, November 13, 1949
- Don Doll – Detroit Lions vs. Chicago Cardinals, October 23, 1949
NFL Record For Most Interceptions Thrown In A Season
Most NFL interceptions thrown in a season is 42 by George Blanda in 1962. George played for the Houston Oilers team.
Blanda played 14 games in 1962 with 2,810 yards and 27 touchdowns in 418 attempts. He had an average of 6.7 per game.
The football player spent 26 seasons for 4 teams, including the Raiders and Bears. In his career, he made 236 touchdowns and threw for 26,920 yards.
George received the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award, 1 MVP award, and 3 championships. In 1981, Blanda was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Following is the list that shows the highest interceptions by a player thrown in a season :
- George Blanda – 42 (1962)
- Vinny Testaverde – 35 (1988)
- Frank Tripucka – 34 (1960)
- John Hadl – 32 (1968)
- Fran Tarkenton – 32 (1978)
- Sid Luckman – 31 (1947)
- Jameis Winston – 30 (2019)
- Richard Todd – 30 (1980)
- Ken Stabler – 30 (1978)
- Jim Hart – 30 (1967)
Who Has The Most Career Interceptions
Most interceptions thrown in a career is 336 by Brett Favre. Brett played 302 games in his career and made 71,838 passing yards and 508 touchdowns.
An American football quarterback, Brett played 20 seasons from 1991-2010 in the National Football League, primarily with Green Bay Packers.
Brett was selected in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL Draft. He received three first-team All-Pro selections and 11 Pro Bowl. The year 2016 saw Favre inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The following is the list of other active players with the most interception in their careers:
- George Blanda – 277
- John Hadl – 268
- Vinny Testaverde – 267
- Fran Tarkenton – 266
- Norm Snead – 257
- Johnny Unitas – 253
- Dan Marino – 252
- Peyton Manning – 251
- Jim Hart – 247
- Eli Manning – 244
Most Interceptions In A College Game
Most interceptions in a college football game is 9 set by John Reaves, Pat Brennan and Henry Schafer. Schafer was the first one to set the record on 16 October 1965.
John Reaves
A former Florida quarterback, John made this record against Auburn in November of 1969. During the 1970s and 1980s, Reaves played 11 seasons in the NFL and 3 in the USFL.
Philadelphia Eagles drafted him in the first round of the 1972 NFL Draft. Reaves played for the Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Oilers, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL.
Pat Brennan
Pat Brennan played for the team Franklin College of Indiana against Saginaw Valley on September 24, 1983.
The Irish professional footballer threw the ball 50.2 times a game which is more than any other Division II quarterback in history.
The other most interception in a college football game is listed below:
- Jason Clark – 8 (Ohio Northern vs. John Carroll, Nov. 9, 1991)
- Jim Higgins – 8 (Brockport vs. Buffalo State, Sep. 29, 1990)
- Dennis Bogacz – 8 (Wisconsin–Oshkosh vs. Wisconsin–Stevens Point, Oct. 29, 1988)
- Kevin Karwath – 8 (Canisius vs. Liberty, Nov. 19, 1979)
- Dan Crowley – 7 (Towson vs. Maine, Nov. 16, 1991)
- Carlton Jenkins – 7 (Mississippi Valley vs. Prairie View, Oct. 31, 1987)
- Charles Hebert – 7 (Southeastern Louisiana vs. Northwestern State, Nov. 12, 1983)
- Mick Spoon – 7 (Idaho State vs. Montana, Oct. 21, 1978)