The 52 defensive backs with the most interceptions, 1999–2026

Every defensive back on this list is ranked on one number: interceptions in the regular season between 1999 and 2026. Nothing else is weighed, and the figures each ranking rests on are in the table.

Interceptions — the leading 15. Every one of the 52 is in the table below.

#	Player	Pos	Seasons	Interceptions	Passes def	Solo	TD
1	Ed Reed	FS	2002–2013	64	139	448	7
2	Darren Sharper	FS	1999–2010	61	123	574	9
3	Charles Woodson	FS	1999–2015	60	183	813	10
4	Champ Bailey	CB	1999–2013	52	203	759	4
5	Asante Samuel	CB	2003–2013	51	162	354	6
6	Ronde Barber	FS	1999–2012	45	197	783	8
7	Dre' Bly	CB	1999–2009	43	149	405	5
7	DeAngelo Hall	DB	2004–2017	43	141	557	5
9	Terence Newman	DB	2003–2017	42	183	709	3
10	Harrison Smith	DB	2012–2026	39	108	801	4
11	Charles Tillman	DB	2003–2015	38	141	709	8
11	Reggie Nelson	DB	2007–2018	38	101	575	1
13	Tory James	CB	1999–2006	37	114	296	0
13	Richard Sherman	DB	2011–2021	37	116	372	3
15	Nate Clements	CB	2001–2012	36	144	597	5
15	Patrick Peterson	DB	2011–2023	36	122	547	2
15	Tyrann Mathieu	DB	2013–2024	36	100	651	4
15	Kevin Byard	DB	2016–2026	36	82	581	1
19	Ty Law	CB	1999–2009	35	108	397	5
19	Patrick Surtain	CB	1999–2008	35	104	361	2
19	Aqib Talib	DB	2008–2019	35	124	367	10
19	Devin McCourty	DB	2010–2022	35	111	687	2
23	Deltha O'Neal	CB	2000–2008	34	101	311	3
23	Tramon Williams	DB	2007–2020	34	152	553	1
25	Brent Grimes	DB	2007–2018	33	140	464	3
25	Tashaun Gipson	DB	2012–2024	33	69	472	3
25	Marcus Peters	DB	2015–2023	33	97	300	7
28	Rashean Mathis	CB	2003–2015	32	132	536	4
28	Troy Polamalu	SS	2003–2014	32	108	481	3
28	Johnathan Joseph	DB	2006–2020	32	200	627	7
28	Stephon Gilmore	DB	2012–2024	32	149	476	2
28	Justin Simmons	DB	2016–2024	32	71	438	1
33	Sammy Knight	SS	1999–2008	31	74	530	2
33	Samari Rolle	CB	1999–2008	31	113	329	1
33	Anthony Henry	CB	2001–2009	31	109	395	3
33	Antonio Cromartie	DB	2006–2016	31	117	351	3
37	Deon Grant	FS	2001–2011	30	110	544	0
37	Mike Adams	DB	2004–2019	30	89	638	2
37	Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie	DB	2008–2019	30	146	365	6
37	Earl Thomas	DB	2010–2019	30	71	471	2
41	Aaron Glenn	CB	1999–2008	29	102	266	4
41	Brian Dawkins	SS	1999–2011	29	154	677	1
41	Sam Madison	CB	1999–2008	29	102	295	2
41	Tony Parrish	SS	1999–2006	29	70	371	2
41	Greg Wesley	SS	2000–2007	29	59	436	0
41	Darrelle Revis	DB	2007–2017	29	139	361	3
41	Eric Weddle	DB	2007–2019	29	99	773	4
41	Joe Haden	DB	2010–2021	29	155	474	2
41	Xavien Howard	DB	2016–2025	29	95	243	2
50	Dexter McCleon	CB	1999–2006	28	87	264	0
50	Mike McKenzie	CB	1999–2009	28	122	366	4
50	Darius Slay	DB	2013–2025	28	164	513	3

How this list is made

Ranked on interceptions in the regular season, 1999–2026, for players listed at CB, DB, FS, S, SS. Players are ranked on that number alone and on nothing else: there is no judgement here about who was better. Where two players are level they share a rank, and the list runs past fifty when fiftieth place is shared, because splitting a tie would mean choosing between them on no stated basis.

Why it does not say “of all time”. Every NFL statistic this site holds begins in 1999. A list claiming to cover all time would leave out Lawrence Taylor, who retired in 1993, along with everyone else who played before the figures start. That is why the years are in the title.

These figures are derived, and can differ from the NFL’s official records. They are computed from play-by-play data rather than copied from the league. Checked against published career sack totals, Cameron Jordan, Von Miller and J.J. Watt match exactly, while Julius Peppers came out 0.5 short and Terrell Suggs 1.0 — both careers that began before 2011. Expect small differences on long careers that start early in the window.

Regular-season games only; the play-offs are not counted. Source: nflverse-data, CC BY 4.0.

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