Although Steve Largent wasn’t the most athletic wide receiver of his era, his route-running ability and sure hands enabled the former fourth-round pick to become the most productive wideout of the late 1970s and early 1980s. By the time Largent retired in 1989, he was the owner of the NFL’s career receiving triple crown, ranking first in receptions (819), receiving yards (13,089), and receiving touchdowns (100). Largent, a four-time first-team All-Pro and member of the 1980s All-Decade Team, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995.
While Antonio Brown’s legacy may ultimately be defined by his third-quarter departure in his final NFL game and his post-playing antics, the longtime Pittsburgh Steeler was one of the league’s most dominant wideouts at his peak. From 2013 to 2018, Brown was inarguably the top wide receiver in the NFL. He easily outpaced the rest of the league’s pass catchers, hauling in 121 more catches and 20 more touchdowns than any other WR during that span. Although Brown’s stints with the Las Vegas Raiders and New England Patriots were disasters, he was still productive with the Tampa Bay Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and 2021. He earned four first-team All-Pro nods, one second-team berth, and seven Pro Bowls during his career.
Jan 12, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill (10) against the Indianapolis Colts during the AFC Divisional playoff football game at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
If Tyreek Hill is kept out of the Hall of Fame, it won't have anything to do with his on-field performance. Inarguably the best WR in the NFL over the past decade, "Cheetah" is truly a one of one player. Hill not only has gamebreaking speed, but can also be a high volume receiver, leading the league in receiving yards in 2023.
While he may have let his career end in a whimper, let's not forget the utter dominance of Julio Jones from 2014-2019. Julio's career spanned the entire 2010s decade. He led the league in receiving yards twice and posted three seasons in which he averaged over 100 yards per game. Julio is a lock for the Hall of Fame.
Larry Fitzgerald was one of the NFL’s most reliable receivers during his 17-year run with the Arizona Cardinals. The youngest player in league history to catch 1,000 career passes, Fitzgerald’s league-record 906 receiving first downs are 143 more than second-place Reggie Wayne. The Cardinals didn’t always boast the best quarterback play during Fitzgerald’s tenure. Still, he was elite with Kurt Warner under center, then rebounded with three consecutive seasons of 100+ catches and 1,000+ yards while catching passes from Carson Palmer (2015-2017). Fitzgerald thrived in crunch time, finishing first among WRs with 104.7 yards per game in the playoffs (min. five appearances). With longevity on his side, he ranks second all-time in receptions (1,432) and receiving yards (17,492).
Discussing Marvin Harrison without highlighting his connection with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is virtually impossible. The two instantly meshed when Manning entered the NFL in 1998, ultimately posting the most completions (953), yards (12,766), and touchdowns (112) by a QB-WR tandem in league history. Harrison earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors every season from 1999 through 2006. His best campaign was probably in 2002 when he led the NFL with 143 receptions and 1,722 yards and finished second to Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes in Offensive Player of the Year voting.
Only three wide receivers in NFL history have put up 15,000 yards and 150 touchdowns, and Terrell Owens is a member of that impressive list. The mercurial “T.O.” spent time with more teams than most receivers on our list, playing for five franchises over 15 pro seasons — but he found success everywhere he went. Owens thrived with the San Francisco 49ers — earning three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods from 2000 to 2002 — before infamously joining the Philadelphia Eagles in 2004. After grabbing another All-Pro berth, Owens returned from a broken leg after just seven weeks to post nine catches for 122 yards in Super Bowl 39. Owens seemingly defied the rules of aging. He made his final All-Pro team in 2007 after managing an 81-1,355-15 line as a 34-year-old with the Dallas Cowboys. He somehow caught 72 passes for 983 yards and nine TDs in his last NFL campaign as a 37-year-old Cincinnati Bengal.
When Calvin Johnson retired after his age-30 campaign in 2015, he easily had at two more elite years left in him. He was so productive — and so physically gifted — over his nine-year NFL career that his lack of counting stats doesn’t hinder him in our rankings, though. “Megatron” set the NFL single-season receiving record by posting 1,964 yards in 2012, which still stands today. Johnson ranks second all-time in receiving yards per game (86.1) among WRs. A rare athlete at 6’5″, 240 pounds, Johnson hung up his cleats after injury issues and the Detroit Lions’ lack of competitiveness took their toll. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Arguably the most physically dominant receiver in NFL history, Randy Moss’ ability to embarrass opposing defensive backs with leaping contested catches inspired a generation of “You Got Mossed!” highlights. A 1998 first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, Moss was electric from the start. He led the league with 17 touchdown catches in his first NFL season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and finishing third in MVP voting. Moss ranked first in TD receptions twice more with the Vikings, earning five total Pro Bowl nods in Minnesota. After a brief stint with the Raiders, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots in 2007 and quickly became the cornerstone of one of the best offenses the NFL has ever seen. He holds the single-season touchdown reception record after scoring 23 times in 2007.
While every other receiver on our list posted productive careers, there’s only one Jerry Rice. Rice owns several of the most unbreakable records in sports. No NFL player will ever touch his 22,895 receiving yards or 197 receiving touchdowns. Rice is 5,000+ yards ahead of Fitzgerald and outpaced Moss by 41 touchdowns — both records are uber-safe. Essentially impossible to cover, Rice posted an absurd 14 1,000-yard seasons. He led the NFL in yards six times, touchdowns six times, and receptions twice. Rice developed connections with quarterbacks Joe Montana and Steve Young, helping the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl titles. An utterly dominant pass catcher, Rice was named an All-Pro in 12 of his 20 NFL campaigns. His 10 first-team All-Pros are tied for the most by any player. Rice is not only the best NFL wide receiver of all time — he’s arguably the best overall player in league history.
