In the NFL, an interception is referred to as a defensive play wherein a player from the defense catches a pass attempt made by the opposing team’s offensive player. Interceptions are a key aspect of the game as they result in a change of possession in the game. This gives the defending the opportunity to play offense.
When the defensive player intercepts a pass attempt made by the offensive team, the team that performed the interception becomes the offense and begins making their plays from the point at which the interception was made. The interception is a play that is given importance due to its ability to prevent the offense from making a pass. As a result, it could potentially lead to either a change of possession or a touchdown. Like all other statistics, the NFL maintains a record of interceptions made by each player throughout their careers as well as single-season records. An interception touchdown occurs when the defense makes an interception and successfully reaches the end zone to score a touchdown. An interception return takes place when the defense makes an interception and gains yardage to get closer to the opponent's end line.
Which Player Leads the NFL in Annual Interceptions?
The NFL started tracking interceptions in 1940 and the annual league leaders in interceptions since then as of January 2025 are as below:
| Year | Player | Interceptions |
| 1940 | Don Hutson, Ace Parker, Kent Ryan | 6 |
| 1941 | Marshall Goldberg, Art Jones | 7 |
| 1942 | Bulldog Turner | 8 |
| 1943 | Sammy Baugh | 11 |
| 1944 | Howie Livingston | 9 |
| 1945 | Roy Zimmerman | 7 |
| 1946 | Bill Dudley | 10 |
| 1947 | Frank Reagan, Frank Seno | 10 |
| 1948 | Dan Sandifer | 13 |
| 1949 | Bob Nussbaumer | 12 |
| 1950 | Spec Sanders | 13 |
| 1951 | Otto Schnellbacher | 11 |
| 1952 | Night Train Lane | 14 |
| 1953 | Jack Christiansen | 12 |
| 1954 | Night Train Lane | 10 |
| 1955 | Will Sherman | 11 |
| 1956 | Lindon Crow | 11 |
| 1957 | Jack Butler, Jack Christiansen, Milt Davis | 10 |
| 1958 | Jimmy Patton | 11 |
| 1959 | Milt Davis, Dean Derby, Don Shinnick | 7 |
| 1960 | Dave Baker, Jerry Norton | 10 |
| 1961 | Dick Lynch | 9 |
| 1962 | Willie Wood | 9 |
| 1963 | Dick Lynch, Rosey Taylor | 9 |
| 1964 | Paul Krause | 12 |
| 1965 | Bobby Boyd | 9 |
| 1966 | Larry Wilson | 10 |
| 1967 | Lem Barney, Dave Whitsell | 10 |
| 1968 | Willie Williams | 10 |
| 1969 | Mel Renfro | 10 |
| 1970 | Johnny Robinson | 10 |
| 1971 | Bill Bradley | 11 |
| 1972 | Bill Bradley | 9 |
| 1973 | Dick Anderson, Mike Wagner | 8 |
| 1974 | Emmitt Thomas | 12 |
| 1975 | Mel Blount | 11 |
| 1976 | Monte Jackson | 10 |
| 1977 | Lyle Blackwood | 10 |
| 1978 | Thom Darden | 10 |
| 1979 | Mike Reinfeldt | 12 |
| 1980 | Lester Hayes | 13 |
| 1981 | Everson Walls | 11 |
| 1982 | Everson Walls | 7 |
| 1983 | Mark Murphy | 9 |
| 1984 | Kenny Easley | 10 |
| 1985 | Everson Walls | 9 |
| 1986 | Ronnie Lott | 10 |
| 1987 | Barry Wilburn | 9 |
| 1988 | Scott Case | 10 |
| 1989 | Felix Wright | 9 |
| 1990 | Mark Carrier | 10 |
| 1991 | Ronnie Lott | 8 |
| 1992 | Henry Jones, Audray McMillian | 8 |
| 1993 | Nate Odomes, Eugene Robinson | 9 |
| 1994 | Eric Turner, Aeneas Williams | 9 |
| 1995 | Orlando Thomas | 9 |
| 1996 | Tyrone Braxton, Keith Lyle | 9 |
| 1997 | Ryan McNeil | 9 |
| 1998 | Ty Law | 9 |
| 1999 | Donnie Abraham, James Hasty, Sam Madison, Troy Vincent, Rod Woodson | 7 |
| 2000 | Darren Sharper | 9 |
| 2001 | Ronde Barber, Anthony Henry | 10 |
| 2002 | Brian Kelly, Rod Woodson | 8 |
| 2003 | Tony Parrish, Brian Russell | 9 |
| 2004 | Ed Reed | 9 |
| 2005 | Ty Law, Deltha O'Neal | 10 |
| 2006 | Champ Bailey, Asante Samuel | 10 |
| 2007 | Antonio Cromartie | 10 |
| 2008 | Ed Reed | 9 |
| 2009 | Jarius Byrd, Asante Samuel, Darren Sharper, Charles Woodson | 9 |
| 2010 | Ed Reed | 8 |
| 2011 | Kyle Arrington, Eric Weddle, Charles Woodson | 7 |
| 2012 | Tim Jennings | 9 |
| 2013 | Richard Sherman | 8 |
| 2014 | Glover Quin | 7 |
| 2015 | Reggie Nelson, Marcus Peters | 8 |
| 2016 | Casey Hayward | 7 |
| 2017 | Kevin Byard, Darius Slay | 8 |
| 2018 | Kyle Fuller, Xavien Howard, Damontae Kazee | 7 |
| 2019 | Stephon Gilmore, Anthony Harris, Tre'Davious White | 6 |
| 2020 | Xavien Howard | 10 |
| 2021 | Trevon Diggs | 11 |
| 2022 | Minkah Fitzpatrick, C. J. Gardner-Johnson, Justin Simmons, Tariq Woolen | 6 |
| 2023 | DaRon Bland | 9 |
| 2024 | Kerby Joseph | 9 |
FAQs on National Football League Annual Interceptions Leaders
A. Paul Krause has the most number of career interceptions in the NFL. He has recorded 81 intereceptions.
A. Baker Mayfield and Kirk Cousins threw most interceptions in 2024 season i.e. 16 (via Pro Football reference).
A. Kerby Joseph of the Detroit Lions lead the NFL with 9 interceptions in the 2024 NFL season.
A. With 366 interceptions, Brett Favre leads all quarterbacks for the most career interceptions thrown .
