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NFL: Most interceptions in a game, season and career

We look at the players with the most interceptions in NFL history, from the most interceptions in a game, to the most interceptions in a season, to the most interceptions in a career.

What is an interception?

While the most common way to regain possession in American football is by preventing the opposing team from picking up a first down, there are a couple of shortcuts to getting the ball.

An interception is when a pass is thrown and caught by a player on the defending team, who then take possession of the football.

If an interception is followed by a run into the endzone, a touchdown is awarded, and is commonly known as a 'pick six', pick being slang for an interception, and six being the number of points awarded for a touchdown.

Most interceptions in NFL history

Rank

Player

Interceptions

1

 Paul Krause 

81

2

 Emlen Tunnell 

79

3

 Rod Woodson 

71

4

 Dick Lane 

68

5

 Ken Riley 

65

5

 Charles Woodson 

65

Some sporting records will simply never be broken, and Paul Krause's NFL interceptions record is likely one of them.

Although there are more pass attempts these days than there were 50 years ago, the number of interceptions is steadily declining, largely due to more detailed offensive plays and rule changes that made it harder for interceptions to be completed. As such, only one of the top six in terms of career interceptions played in the NFL beyond 2003 and only two since 1983.

Most interceptions in a season

Rank

Player

Interceptions

Year

1

 Night Train Lane

14

1952

2

 Dan Sandifer

13

1948

2

 Spec Sanders

13

1950

2

 Lester Hayes

13

1980

5

 Bob Nussbaumer

12

1949

5

 Jack Christiansen

12

1953

5

 Paul Krause

12

1964

5

 Emmitt Thomas

12

1974

5

 Mike Reinfeldt

12

1979

As with Paul Krause, it's unthinkable that anybody will ever top Dick Lane - better known as Night Train Lane - and his 14 interceptions, all in his rookie season, no less, set back in 1952.

Indeed, since 1981, only Trevon Diggs has led the league with more than 10 interceptions.

Most interceptions in a game

No player has ever recorded five interceptions in a single game, but 19 players have all managed four, with Jerry Norton the only player to achieve the feat twice.

Sammy Baugh was first for the Washington Redskins in 1943, with DeAngelo Hall the last player to record four interceptions - also for Washington - in 2010.

Interestingly, the current streak of 14 years is the longest the NFL has gone without someone making four picks in a game.

From oldest to most recent, the players with four interceptions in a game are:

  • Sammy Baugh
  • Dan Sandifer
  • Don Doll
  • Bob Nussbaumer
  • Russ Craft
  • Bobby Dillon
  • Jack Butler
  • Goose Gonsoulin
  • Jerry Norton
  • Dave Baker
  • Jerry Norton
  • Bobby Ply
  • Bobby Hunt
  • Willie Brown
  • Dick Anderson
  • Willie Buchanon
  • Deron Cherry
  • Kwamie Lassiter
  • Deltha O'Neal
  • DeAngelo Hall

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