Analysis of Quarterback Contact in the NFL: 2006-2025

The NFL has seen significant quarterback contact over the past 20 seasons, with data revealing the extent of punishment these players endure. Matt Ryan leads with 1,588 contact events across 244 games, followed by Russell Wilson and Tom Brady, who also feature prominently in the statistics.

Contact events include sacks, hits, and disruptions during throws, with a total of 63,229 instances recorded across 433,893 dropbacks. The overall contact rate has increased, peaking at 15.42% in 2025, indicating that quarterbacks continue to face substantial pressure despite advancements in protection strategies.

Notably, Andrew Luck averaged the highest contact events per game, while Peyton Manning recorded the lowest contact rate among qualifying quarterbacks. The data underscores the ongoing challenges quarterbacks face in maintaining performance amidst frequent contact.