Player
Ryan Tannehill
QB
Y/A is the single most predictive per-play efficiency stat for QBs; cracking 9.0 puts Tannehill in historically elite territory despite playing only 10 regular-season games as a starter that year. The 2019 spike wasn't a narrative — it was measurable efficiency dominance.
Tannehill's 9.59 Y/A in 2019 is one of only 6 QB seasons with 9.0+ yards per attempt in the entire 2010–2023 era (among QBs with 200+ attempts).
AnomalyEvery 9.0+ Y/A season, 2010–2023 (200+ att)
| QB | Season | Y/A | TDs | INTs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brock Purdy | 2023 | 9.64 | 31 | 11 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | 2018 | 9.62 | 17 | 12 |
| Ryan Tannehill | 2019 | 9.59 | 22 | 6 |
| Matt Ryan | 2016 | 9.26 | 38 | 7 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 2011 | 9.25 | 45 | 6 |
| Nick Foles | 2013 | 9.12 | 27 | 2 |
Why it matters. Y/A is the single most predictive per-play efficiency stat for QBs; cracking 9.0 puts Tannehill in historically elite territory despite playing only 10 regular-season games as a starter that year. The 2019 spike wasn't a narrative — it was measurable efficiency dominance.
7 years in MIA averaged ~21 TDs / 12 INTs. Then 2019 happened — and Tannehill became one of the most efficient QBs in football.
SplitTannehill MIA vs TEN era (regular season)
| Era | Games | Total Yds | TDs | INTs | TD/INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIA 2012–18 | 88 | 20,434 | 123 | 75 | 1.64 |
| TEN 2019–23 | 65 | 14,447 | 93 | 40 | 2.33 |
Passing yards by year
| Season | Yards |
|---|---|
| 2014 MIA | 4045 |
| 2015 MIA | 4208 |
| 2016 MIA | 2995 |
| 2019 TEN | 2742 |
| 2020 TEN | 3819 |
| 2021 TEN | 3734 |
| 2022 TEN | 2536 |
Why it matters. Same QB, entirely different efficiency profile — the jump in TD/INT ratio after Tennessee's Vrabel/LaFleur scheme upgrade isolates scheme and fit as the primary variable. Tannehill's MIA struggles were context, not ceiling.
2019 mid-season takeover: Weeks 7–17 he led the entire NFL in Y/A (9.59), threw 22 TDs / 6 INTs, and won 2 playoff road games.
AnomalyTannehill's 2019 regular season (Weeks 7–17 as starter)
| Stat | Value | NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Cmp% | 70.3% | — |
| Y/A | 9.59 | #1 in NFL |
| Passer rating | 117.5 | #1 in NFL |
| TD/INT | 22/6 | — |
| Games | 10 | — |
| Playoff wins | 2 | — |
Why it matters. Mid-season replacements almost never post league-leading efficiency over 10+ games — the pressure of a starter role typically regresses replacement QBs. Tannehill's 2019 splits prove the Tennessee change was structural, not a small-sample fluke.
In 2020, Tannehill posted a 4.71 TD/INT ratio (33 TDs, 7 INTs) — 3rd in the NFL among QBs with 400+ attempts, behind only Rodgers and Mahomes.
Comparison2020 TD/INT ratio — QBs with 400+ attempts
| QB | TDs | INTs | TD/INT Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron Rodgers | 48 | 5 | 9.60 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 38 | 6 | 6.33 |
| Ryan Tannehill | 33 | 7 | 4.71 |
| Deshaun Watson | 33 | 7 | 4.71 |
| Tom Brady | 40 | 12 | 3.33 |
| Russell Wilson | 40 | 13 | 3.08 |
Why it matters. A 4.71 TD/INT ratio on limited attempts in a run-first system is a quality-over-volume story — Tannehill was being protected and used surgically, and the efficiency numbers show it translating to elite output when he did throw.
Tannehill is one of only 8 QBs in the database era to combine 200+ passing TDs with 2,000+ rushing yards — alongside Wilson, Allen, Rodgers, McNabb, Mahomes, Fitzpatrick, and Prescott.
RareQBs with 200+ pass TDs AND 2,000+ rush yards (all-time in DB)
| QB | Pass TDs | Rush Yds |
|---|---|---|
| Russell Wilson | 353 | 5,568 |
| Josh Allen | 220 | 4,721 |
| Aaron Rodgers | 527 | 3,622 |
| Donovan McNabb | 233 | 3,479 |
| Patrick Mahomes | 267 | 2,665 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | 223 | 2,625 |
| Dak Prescott | 243 | 2,115 |
| Ryan Tannehill | 216 | 2,103 |
Why it matters. Dual-threat efficiency at this volume requires a QB to contribute meaningfully with both arms and legs over a long career — the combination filters out pure scramblers and pure pocket passers alike, placing Tannehill in genuinely elite historical company for durability and versatility.
Tannehill vs his 2012 draft class: he has more career TDs than #1 pick Andrew Luck (216 vs 171), who retired at 29.
Comparison2012 QB draft class — verified career passing TDs
| QB | Draft Pick | Career Pass TDs | Career Pass Yds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Luck | #1 | 171 | 23,671 |
| Robert Griffin III | #2 | 43 | 9,271 |
| Ryan Tannehill | #8 | 216 | 34,881 |
| Russell Wilson | #75 | 353 | 46,966 |
Why it matters. Draft capital is supposed to predict career production, but the 2012 class inverted the logic — the #8 pick outplayed both top-2 selections by a significant margin over full careers, exposing how much scheme, fit, and durability matter vs. pre-draft evaluation.
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