Who holds the NFL record for most career interceptions?

Who holds the NFL record for most career interceptions? Paul Krause holds the NFL record with 81 career interceptions.

Krause was a safety who played 16 NFL seasons, beginning with the Washington Redskins in 1964 before spending most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He made an immediate impact by leading the league with 12 interceptions as a rookie. His combination of anticipation, range, and awareness helped him remain one of the league’s most productive defensive backs for more than a decade.

Krause’s 81 interceptions remain the official NFL career record. The total covers regular-season games, and he also returned those interceptions for 1,185 yards and three touchdowns. His record is especially notable because modern passing offenses and improved quarterback protection have generally produced fewer interceptions than earlier eras.

Krause was selected to eight Pro Bowls and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. He is sometimes confused with defensive backs such as Emlen Tunnell, Dick LeBeau, or Rod Woodson, but none of those players surpassed Krause’s career total.