List of NFL annual receiving yards leaders
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Hutson-Don-1940.jpg/150px-Hutson-Don-1940.jpg)
In American football, passing, along with running (also referred to as rushing), is one of the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field. Passes are typically attempted by the quarterback, but any offensive player can attempt a pass provided they are behind the line of scrimmage.[1] To qualify as a passing play, the ball must have initially moved forward after leaving the hands of the passer; if the ball initially moved laterally or backwards, the play would instead be considered a running play.[2] A player who catches a forward pass is a receiver, and the number of receiving yards each player has recorded in each season is a recorded stat in football games. In addition to the overall National Football League (NFL) receiving champion, league record books recognize statistics from the American Football League (AFL), which operated from 1960 to 1969 before being absorbed into the NFL in 1970, Although league record books do not recognize stats from the All-America Football Conference, another league that merged with the NFL, these statistics are recognized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[3] The average the yards the leader has gained has increased over time – since the adoption of the 14-game season in 1961,[4] all but one season saw the receiving leader record over 1,000 yards. No player has ever finished with over 2,000 receiving yards in a season; the current record is 1,964 yards, set by Calvin Johnson during the 2012 season. Wes Chandler, who led the league with 1,032 yards in the strike-shortened 1982 season, averaged 129 yards receiving per game, an NFL record.[5][6]
Don Hutson led the league in receiving yards seven times, the most of any player; Jerry Rice is second with six. Hutson also recorded the most consecutive seasons leading the league in receiving, doing so for five seasons from 1941 to 1945, while Jerry Rice ranks second with three consecutive league-leading seasons from 1993 to 1995. A Green Bay Packers player has led the league in receiving yards eleven times, the most in the NFL; the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams rank second with nine league-leading seasons. The most recent receiving yards leader was Antonio Brown of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who recorded 1,533 receiving yards over the 2017 season.[7]
NFL season receiving yards leaders
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/BobMann1948Bowman.jpg/150px-BobMann1948Bowman.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/Elroy_Hirsch.png/150px-Elroy_Hirsch.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Stevelargent.jpg/150px-Stevelargent.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Jerry_Rice.jpg/150px-Jerry_Rice.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Marvin_Harrison_in_2007_Training_Camp_2.jpg/150px-Marvin_Harrison_in_2007_Training_Camp_2.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/Calvin_Johnson_vs_Green_Bay.jpg/150px-Calvin_Johnson_vs_Green_Bay.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f6/AntonioBrown_closeup.jpg/150px-AntonioBrown_closeup.jpg)
Symbol | Meaning |
---|---|
Winner | The player who recorded the most receiving yards in the NFL |
Games | The number of games that the player participated in during that season |
Yds. | Total receiving yards |
^ | Pro Football Hall of Fame member |
* | The player is an active player |
† | Player won the AP Most Valuable Player award in the same year |
‡ | Player won the AP Offensive Player of the Year award in the same year |
Other receiving yards leaders
Season | League | Winner | Team | Yds. | Games | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1960 | American Football League | Bill Groman | Houston Oilers | 1,473 | 14 | [68] |
1961 | American Football League | Charley Hennigan | Houston Oilers | 1,746 | 14 | [69] |
1962 | American Football League | Art Powell | New York Titans | 1,130 | 14 | [70] |
1963 | American Football League | Art Powell | Oakland Raiders | 1,304 | 14 | [70] |
1964 | American Football League | Charley Hennigan | Houston Oilers | 1,546 | 14 | [69] |
1965 | American Football League | Lance Alworth^ | San Diego Chargers | 1,602 | 14 | [71] |
1966 | American Football League | Lance Alworth^ | San Diego Chargers | 1,383 | 13 | [71] |
1967 | American Football League | Don Maynard^ | New York Jets | 1,434 | 14 | [72] |
1968 | American Football League | Lance Alworth^ | San Diego Chargers | 1,312 | 14 | [71] |
1969 | American Football League | Warren Wells | Oakland Raiders | 1,260 | 14 | [73] |
See also
Notes
- ^ "Beginner's Guide to Football". National Football League. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ Brinson, Will (December 31, 2013). "NFL, Elias reviewing Peyton Manning passing record: lateral or pass?". CBS Sports. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "NFL's Passer Rating". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ^ "NFL Regular Season Games Played per Season". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ Cobbs, Chris (August 15, 1986). "Don't Mess With Wes : Chandler Uses Fear to His Own Advantage Against Pain, Pressure". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 13, 2011.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "NFL Single-Season Receiving Yards per Game Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
- ^ "NFL Year-by-Year Receiving Yards Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
- ^ "NFL Career Receiving Yards Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
- ^ "Ray Flaherty NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Paul Moss NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Harry Ebding NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Charley Malone NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Don Hutson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Don Looney NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Jim Benton NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Mal Kutner NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Bob Mann NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Tom Fears NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Elroy Hirsch NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Billy Howton NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Pete Pihos NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Raymond Berry NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Del Shofner NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Tommy McDonald NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Bobby Mitchell NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "John Morris NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Dave Parks NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Pat Studstill NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Ben Hawkins NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Roy Jefferson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Harold Jacks NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Gene Washington NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Otis Taylor NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Harold Carmichael NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Cliff Branch NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Ken Burrough NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Roger Carr NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Drew Pearson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Wesley Walker NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Steve Largent NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "John Jefferson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Alfred Jenkins NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Wes Chandler NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Mike Quick NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Roy Green NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "Jerry Rice NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "J. T. Smith NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Henry Ellard NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Michal Irvin NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Sterling Sharpe NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Isaac Bruce NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Rob Moore NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Antonio Freeman NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Marvin Harrison NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Torry Holt NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "David Boston NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Muhsin Muhammad NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Steve Smith NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Chad Johnson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Reggie Wayne NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Andre Johnson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Brandon Lloyd NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Calvin Johnson NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Josh Gordon NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Antonio Brown NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Julio Jones NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ "T.Y. Hilton NFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 1, 2018.
- ^ "Bill Groman NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Charley Hennigan NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b "Art Powell NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ a b c "Lance Alworth NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Don Maynard NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
- ^ "Warren Wells NFL & AFL Football Statistics". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 3, 2014.
References
- "AP MVP winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - "AP Offensive Player of the Year winners". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - "Hall of Famers – Alphabetically". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- "2012 NFL Record and Fact Book" (PDF). NFL.com. pp. 625–626. Retrieved June 19, 2013.