It’s no surprise that the NFL is full of talented, powerful athletes and if you ask any football fan who can chuck the ball the farthest, they’d likely just smile and share some of their favorite plays. But who can really throw the ball farthest in the NFL? Well, after doing some research, here’s what I’ve found.
It’s no surprise that there is plenty of arm talent in the NFL, but who can really throw the ball farthest downfield? The obvious answers that come to mind include Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers, and perhaps even Russell Wilson. But who can really sling it the farthest? Well, I recently heard a debate about this topic in the NFL and figured I’d give it a look.
After some research, I discovered that Deshaun Watson from the Houston Texans holds the record for the longest completed pass of 84 yards. But, that’s not the farthest any quarterback has thrown the ball – the stars of deep throws belong to Mahomes, Rodgers, and Wilson.
Patrick Mahomes has the record for the farthest throw in a single season and also holds the record for the most passes of at least 50 yards in a single season. He’s also thrown the second-longest throw ever, a 79-yard bomb to Mecole Hardman.
Aaron Rodgers is known for having some of the strongest, most accurate throws and he reigned over the league in Deep Balls in 2018 and is a compulsively accurate thrower when he heaves the ball beyond 20 yards.
Russell Wilson has also been known to fling the ball quite far and despite his smaller stature, he has an impressive arm strength.
So, it looks like these three quarterbacks can really throw the ball farthest in the NFL. But, Deshaun Watson has the record for the longest pass ever, so it looks like any one of these quarterbacks could top that record given the right circumstances.
Having said that, the guys mentioned aren’t the only ones that can give the ball a good heave. Other quarterbacks such as Derek Carr, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, and the ever elusive Lamar Jackson have all made impressive long passes.
But, what sets the stars apart is their ability to make consistent long passes and turn them into plays with touchdowns, first downs, and exciting highlights.
For example, Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers have a longstanding rivalry when it comes to long-ball passes with Mahomes finalizing the season with a very impressive 79-yard pass and Rodgers finishing the season with an impressive 65-yard pass to his trusty left tackle David Bakhtiari.
In the end, it’s clear that the great quarterbacks of the NFL can all make some impressive throws, but the stars of long-ball passes belong to Mahomes, Rodgers, and Wilson.
Then there is the question of who can throw a spiral. Some quarterbacks have a natural touch on the ball to get it to spiraling and fly with just the right touch. Patrick Mahomes is known for having a great spiral, with his passes rarely being challenged in the air. Aaron Rodgers is also known for having an accurate spiral throw, which he used to complete a game-winning pass on the final drive of the 2018 season. I believe Russell Wilson, can also throw a crisp spiral, too.
Another factor that suggests who can throw the ball farthest in the NFL is arm strength. Patrick Mahomes is regularly said to have one of the most powerful arms in the league with a natural ability to make big plays when needed. Aaron Rodgers has also proved that he has a very strong arm over the years while throwing Xbox-like passes across the middle.
Speaking about strength, Russell Wilson is a pretty big player for a quarterback and has been able to make impressive throws across a large field. This is no surprise considering he was a starting pitcher in baseball back in high school.
When it comes to who can really throw the ball farthest in the NFL, this seems to be a question that will always remain a mystery as there will always be – for lack of a better phrase – a ‘great debate’ over who can throw the football the farthest. For years, this distinction belonged to the late Dan Marino, who could throw the ball 70 yards in his younger days.
However, looking ahead, all the quarterbacks mentioned – along with several others like Tom Brady, Matt Ryan, and Sam Darnold – have the potential to throw the ball the farthest and complete long passes down the field each play.
Ultimately, it’s up to the coach and quarterback to decide who can really throw the ball farthest in the NFL. Ultimately, it’s about working together with the receivers and having the right strategy to make the tough passes.
Of course, if anyone is up for the challenge, it would be the quarterbacks mentioned earlier. It could be as simple as picking the right moments when the defense’s coverage is weak and completing that bomb to set up a touchdown.
That being said, the long pass game in the NFL is a skill that usually requires years of practice, and I doubt that even one of these quarterbacks can replicate the skill of the great Dan Marino. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t come close! They’ll keep aiming high and continue pushing the envelope as to who can throw the farthest in the NFL.
Now let’s take a look at what other players can do when it comes to throwing the football. There are those who may not be considered part of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks, but they still have great arm strength. For example, Ryan Tannehill and Mitchell Trubisky have shown that they can make big throws in the NFL.
These players have the potential to reach the stars with their throws, but it’s not easy. They have to be precise and accurate, and they have to make use of their target’s skillset. With that, Tannehill was given the nickname ‘Mr. Perfect’ since most of his long-balls have been completed even in tight windows.
On the other side of the field, guys like Josh Allen and Joe Burrow are rookies who have shown some impressive skills so far. They can throw the ball far and accurately, with their passes usually having great trajectory and accuracy.
But, it’s not only the quarterbacks who can throw far and accurately. Wide receivers also have the ability to chuck the ball far. They use the technique of sidearm throwing when they try to squeeze the ball between two defenders. Guys like Allen Robinson, Odell Beckham Jr, and Sammy Watkins are not afraid to heave the ball to their receivers.
Overall, deep throws have become a norm in the NFL and there are plenty of players who can make them. Of course, some players stand out more than others, but that doesn’t take away from those who can make the big plays. It’s an exciting event every time someone makes a long throw, and it’s sure to be even more exciting when one of the stars mentioned above can show how they can make an astonishingly far throw in the NFL.