Hey there, football fans! If you’ve ever tuned into an NFL game and seen a quarterback with fiery red hair slinging passes like it’s no big deal, that’s probably Andy Dalton Career Stats. Nicknamed the “Red Rifle” for his arm strength and that iconic ginger mane, Andy has been a reliable presence in the league for over a decade. He’s not the flashiest guy—no Super Bowl rings or MVP trophies on the shelf—but what he lacks in headlines, he makes up for in grit, consistency, and those clutch moments that keep coaches smiling.
In this article, we’re diving deep into Andy Dalton’s career stats. Whether you’re a die-hard Bengals fan reminiscing about his glory days in Cincinnati or a Panthers supporter cheering him on in 2025, I’ll break it all down in a way that’s easy to follow. No jargon overload here—just straightforward stories, numbers that tell a tale, and a big ol’ table to make sense of it all. Think of this as chatting with a buddy over wings at a sports bar. By the end, you’ll see why Andy’s more than just a backup; he’s a football lifer who’s thrown for over 40,000 yards and counting. Let’s kick off with how it all started.
From Texas Fields to College Stardom
Picture this: It’s the mid-2000s in Katy, Texas—a suburb of Houston where football isn’t just a sport; it’s religion. Andy Dalton, born on October 29, 1987, grew up in this high school hotbed. At Katy High School, he was the gunslinger leading the Tigers to the 2005 state finals. They fell short against Southlake Carroll, but Andy walked away with the Greater Houston Area Offensive Player of the Year award. Humble beginnings? You bet. But that loss lit a fire in him.
Fast-forward to Texas Christian University (TCU), where Andy spent four seasons from 2007 to 2010. The Horned Frogs were in the Mountain West Conference back then, and Andy turned them into a passing machine. He was a two-time MWC Offensive Player of the Year (2009 and 2010) and snagged first-team All-MWC honors those same years. Over 50 games, he racked up 10,314 passing yards, 71 touchdowns, and just 30 picks. Oh, and don’t sleep on his legs—he added 22 rushing scores!
What made Andy special in college? Consistency. He set school records for wins (42), yards, attempts (1,317), completions (812), and completion percentage (61.6%). Sure, some got broken later by guys like Trevone Boykin, but Andy’s total offense mark of 11,925 yards stood tall in the MWC history books. He wasn’t a one-trick pony; he could scramble, read defenses, and lead comebacks. By draft day in 2011, scouts saw a smart, tough kid ready for the pros. The Cincinnati Bengals grabbed him in the second round, 35th overall. Little did they know, they’d hit the jackpot.
Rookie Magic: Stepping In and Shaking Up Cincinnati
2011 was supposed to be Carson Palmer’s year for the Bengals, but he held out and got traded. Enter Andy Dalton, the 23-year-old rookie thrust into the starting role. Talk about trial by fire! Most rookies sit and learn, but Andy? He started all 16 games and went 8-8, sneaking the Bengals into the playoffs.
His stats that year? Solid: 3,398 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions on a 62.6% completion rate. Passer rating: 80.0. Not elite, but for a guy learning the ropes against pros like the Steelers and Ravens? Impressive. He became just the seventh rookie QB to lead his team to the postseason since 1967. In the wild-card loss to Houston, he threw for 329 yards and a score—poise under pressure.
Off the field, Andy was the ultimate good guy. Married to his college sweetheart, Jordan, with kids on the way, he volunteered with charities and kept his head down. Fans loved it. “Red Rifle” chants started echoing through Paul Brown Stadium. That rookie year set the tone: Andy wasn’t here to dazzle; he was here to win football games.
The Prime Years: Playoff Runs and Record-Breaking in Cincy
From 2012 to 2015, Andy Dalton was the heartbeat of the Bengals. He led them to the playoffs four straight years—a feat only a handful of QBs have pulled off in their first four seasons. We’re talking 11-5 records, division titles, and battles with AFC North beasts like Big Ben and the Flacco-led Ravens.
Let’s hit the highlights. In 2013, Andy exploded: 4,293 yards (a career high and Bengals record at the time), 33 touchdowns (third in the NFL), and a 88.8 rating. He went 11-5, but playoffs? Oof. A wild-card heartbreaker against San Diego where he threw a pick-six in OT. Still, Pro Bowl nod number one.
2014? More magic. 3,827 yards, 24 TDs, and another playoff berth. But Vontaze Burfict’s antics aside, the Bengals couldn’t get past the divisional round. Andy’s 2015 was his peak rating-wise: 106.2 on 3,250 yards and 25 scores. He earned his second Pro Bowl trip. Fans still talk about that December dominance—games with 136+ ratings against the Vikings and others.
Through it all, Andy’s style was blue-collar. He thrived in the pocket, spread the ball to A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert, and minimized mistakes. Sure, the Bengals had that infamous 0-7 playoff skid under him, but blame the D more than the QB. By 2019, after eight seasons and 31,594 yards in Cincy, it was time for a change. The Bengals drafted Joe Burrow. Andy? He was ready to sling it elsewhere.
The Journeyman Phase: Dallas, Chicago, New Orleans, and Beyond
Traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2020 as Dak Prescott’s backup, Andy stepped in after Dak’s injury. He went 4-3 in relief, throwing for 2,037 yards and 14 TDs. Clutch? Absolutely—beat the Eagles twice. But Dallas moved on.
2021 with the Bears: Started strong at 3-2, but injuries and inconsistency hit. 2,129 yards, 14 TDs, 8 picks. A fun comeback win over the Raiders, but Chicago cut bait.
Then, 2022 in New Orleans. Under Jameis Winston’s shadow, Andy started 14 games: 2,871 yards, 18 TDs, just 9 INTs, and a career-best 95.2 rating post-2015. The Saints went 7-10, but Andy was steady, hitting Chris Olave for big plays.
2023 brought him to Carolina as Bryce Young’s mentor. He started 9 games, going 1-8 with 2,224 yards, 9 TDs, and 8 picks. Tough sledding—the O-line was Swiss cheese—but he showed flashes.
Heading into 2025, at 37 years old, Andy re-signed with the Panthers on a two-year, $8 million deal. Bryce’s high-ankle sprain in Week 7 opened the door, and Andy’s started three games so far: 118 yards and a TD vs. the Bills in Week 8, plus some scrambles. As of October 25, 2025, he’s at 1 TD on the season, but his experience is gold for a young squad. Will he chase 40,000 yards? He’s at 40,628 passing yards lifetime. Close enough to taste it.
What ties these stops together? Adaptability. Andy’s not chasing starter glory anymore; he’s the ultimate pro—prepping the starter, winning when called, and mentoring kids. Off-field, he’s all about family, faith, and the Andy & Jordan Dalton Foundation, helping pediatric cancer patients. Real hero stuff.
The Numbers Game: Andy Dalton Career Stats Table
Alright, let’s get to the meat— the stats! I’ve pulled together Andy’s year-by-year passing numbers in a simple table. It’s all regular season, focusing on the key stuff: games started (GS), completions (Comp), attempts (Att), completion %, yards, TDs, interceptions (INT), and passer rating (Rate). Rushing is light for him, but I’ll touch on that later.
This table shows his evolution from rookie promise to veteran savvy. Notice the peaks in 2013 and his bounce-back in 2022. Easy to scan, right? No PhD required.
| Year | Team | GS | Comp | Att | Comp% | Yards | TD | INT | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | CIN | 16 | 279 | 446 | 62.6 | 3,398 | 20 | 13 | 80.0 |
| 2012 | CIN | 16 | 279 | 478 | 58.4 | 3,669 | 27 | 16 | 87.4 |
| 2013 | CIN | 16 | 363 | 541 | 67.1 | 4,293 | 33 | 20 | 88.8 |
| 2014 | CIN | 15 | 325 | 487 | 66.7 | 3,827 | 24 | 12 | 93.2 |
| 2015 | CIN | 14 | 282 | 432 | 65.3 | 3,250 | 25 | 11 | 106.2 |
| 2016 | CIN | 16 | 364 | 563 | 64.7 | 4,206 | 29 | 11 | 96.7 |
| 2017 | CIN | 15 | 259 | 404 | 64.1 | 3,320 | 25 | 11 | 95.1 |
| 2018 | CIN | 12 | 235 | 376 | 62.5 | 2,925 | 22 | 12 | 88.4 |
| 2019 | CIN | 13 | 278 | 449 | 61.9 | 3,827 | 16 | 11 | 84.6 |
| 2020 | DAL | 7 | 150 | 255 | 58.8 | 2,037 | 14 | 5 | 94.4 |
| 2021 | CHI | 10 | 177 | 273 | 64.8 | 2,129 | 14 | 8 | 90.3 |
| 2022 | NO | 14 | 288 | 416 | 69.2 | 2,871 | 18 | 9 | 95.2 |
| 2023 | CAR | 9 | 199 | 302 | 65.9 | 2,224 | 9 | 8 | 84.8 |
| 2024 | CAR | 5 | 65 | 102 | 63.7 | 682 | 4 | 3 | 85.2 |
| 2025 | CAR | 3 | 28 | 45 | 62.2 | 118 | 1 | 1 | 78.5 |
| Career | – | 166 | 3,173 | 5,119 | 62.0 | 40,628 | 251 | 151 | 90.1 |
(Data compiled from NFL.com, Pro-Football-Reference, and ESPN as of October 25, 2025. Note: 2024 and 2025 are partial seasons; yards and TDs reflect games played.)
See how his completion percentage climbed over time? From 58% early on to 69% in 2022. And those TDs—251 for his career! He’s top-30 all-time in passing yards among active QBs. Rushing-wise, Andy’s no Lamar Jackson, but he’s got 1,047 yards and 20 scores lifetime, including some sneaky sneaks.
What the Stats Say: Peaks, Valleys, and Legacy
Zooming out, Andy’s career is a masterclass in reliability. Career 90.1 rating? That’s better than a bunch of Hall of Famers like Dan Fouts. His best stretch? 2013-2016, when he threw 111 TDs to 53 picks. Worst? 2019’s injury-plagued year, but even then, he gutted it out.
Playoffs add flavor: 5 appearances, 1,421 yards, 7 TDs, 7 INTs. No wins, but remember—Bengals defenses let in hail marys like it was their job. Fun fact: Andy’s the only QB with four straight playoff berths as a rookie starter.
In 2025, with Bryce sidelined, Andy’s proving his worth again. That Week 8 TD pass? Vintage Red Rifle. At 37, he’s not chasing records—he’s mentoring, winning ugly, and enjoying the ride. Career earnings? Over $110 million. But ask Andy, and he’ll say it’s about the team.
Wrapping It Up: Why Andy Dalton Career Stats Matters
So, there you have it—Andy Dalton Career Stats, from TCU triumphs to Panthers plot twists. He’s not the GOAT, but in a league of egos and drama, Andy’s the steady hand. The guy who shows up, throws dimes, and shakes hands after. If you’re just getting into football, start with his 2013 highlights on YouTube. For vets, raise a glass to the Red Rifle.
