The NFL is now a pass-first league, and the explosion of the passing game means that the league’s receiving records are seemingly in focus every single season. What are the NFL’s all-time, season-long, rookie, and single-game receiving records? Do all of the NFL receiving records belong to a WR, or have any RBs or TEs managed to get close?
NFL Receiving Season Records
Which WRs hold the record for receiving yards, receptions, and receiving touchdowns in a single NFL season? Which records have stood the test of time, and which have been broken recently?
NFL Season Receiving Yards Record
1. 1,964 — Calvin Johnson (2012)
2. 1,947 — Cooper Kupp (2021)
3. 1,871 — Julio Jones (2015)
4. 1,848 — Jerry Rice (1995)
5. 1,834 — Antonio Brown (2015)
It is no great surprise that the top five for the most receiving yards in a season have largely been posted in the last decade. The NFL has experienced a boom in the passing game over the last 20 years, making Rice’s 1,848 receiving yards in 1995 extremely impressive.
Amazingly, the top two on this list only scored a combined 13 touchdowns in their respective seasons. Johnson also set the record on just 122 receptions, averaging 16.1 yards per reception. In recent years, Justin Jefferson and Tyreek Hill have nearly cracked the top five, but they came up just short, finishing sixth and seventh, respectively.
NFL Season Receptions Record
1. 149 — Michael Thomas (2019)
2. 145 — Cooper Kupp (2021)
3. 143 — Marvin Harrison (2002)
T4. 136 — Antonio Brown (2015)
T4. 136 — Julio Jones (2015)
When Thomas set the record in 2019, he caught an incredible 80.5% of his targets. He saw 185 targets that season, compared to 205 for Harrison, who previously held the record. However, Thomas still averaged 11.58 yards per reception compared to Harrison’s 12.04. Those numbers are both significantly lower than Kupp (13.25), Brown (13.49), and Jones (13.76). CeeDee Lamb is sixth all-time, with 135 receptions last season.
NFL Season Receiving Touchdowns Record
1. 23 — Randy Moss (2007)
2. 22 — Jerry Rice (1987)
T3. 18 — Davante Adams (2020)
T3. 18 — Mark Clayton (1984)
T3. 18 — Sterling Sharpe (1994)
That 2007 season when Moss set the record for the most receiving touchdowns in a single season was incredible. At the same time, Tom Brady set the record for the most passing touchdowns in a season — a QB passing record that was later surpassed by Peyton Manning.
It was impressive that Rice had managed to hold the record since 1987, given the explosion of the passing game in the last 20 years. It’s also intriguing that three of the top five on this list were set before 2000.
NFL Receiving Single-Game Records
While we’ve focused on the season-long records and will get to the career records shortly, let’s examine the best single-game performances by receivers throughout NFL history.
NFL Single-Game Receiving Yards Record
1. 336 — Willie “Flipper” Anderson (1989)
2. 329 — Calvin Johnson (2013)
3. 309 — Stephone Paige (1985)
4. 303 — Jim Benton (1945)
5. 302 — Cloyce Box (1950)
6. 300 — Julio Jones (2016)
There have been just six 300-yard games by a receiver, and considering the recent passing-game explosion, it’s interesting that four of the six occurred in 1989 or earlier.
Ja’Marr Chase turned heads with his 264-yard performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season, which ranked 19th in NFL history. Interestingly, it wasn’t even Chase’s career-high, as he recorded 266 yards as a rookie on Jan. 2, 2022, against the Kansas City Chiefs.
NFL Single-Game Receptions Record
1. 21 — Brandon Marshall (2009)
2. 20 — Terrell Owens (2000)
3T. 18 — Keenan Allen (2023)
3T. 18 — Jason Witten (2012)
3T. 18 — Brandon Marshall (2008)
3T. 18 — Tom Fears (1950)
Marshall was clearly a target hog, as evidenced by his name appearing on this list twice. His 21-catch performance occurred on Dec. 13, 2009, against the Indianapolis Colts, and he finished that game with 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Believe it or not, Marshall was actually targeted 28 times that game by Broncos QB Kyle Orton!
Owens’ 20-catch day led to 283 receiving yards and a score. This list features a tight end, as Witten is tied for the third-most catches in a single game — a testament to the chemistry that he and Tony Romo had when they were teammates on the Dallas Cowboys.
NFL Single-Game Receiving Touchdowns Record
1T. 5 — Jerry Rice (1990)
1T. 5 — Kellen Winslow Sr. (1981)
1T. 5 — Bob Shaw (1950)
On Oct. 14, 1990, Rice dominated the Atlanta Falcons, turning 13 receptions into 225 receiving yards and five touchdowns — tying the record previously set by Winslow and Shaw. The reason this list only includes the players who are tied for first is that there are dozens of players who have recorded four touchdowns in a game, and this section would be way too long if we listed them all.
NFL Career Receiving Records
As we look back into NFL history, which WRs hold the career receiving records? Is anyone currently active on pace to take any of the records in the near future?
NFL Career Receiving Yards Record
1. 22,895 — Jerry Rice (1985-2004)
2. 17,492 — Larry Fitzgerald (2004-2020)
3. 15,934 — Terrell Owens (1996-2010)
4. 15,292 — Randy Moss (1998-2012)
5. 15,208 — Isaac Bruce (1994-2009)
Rice’s career numbers are incredibly impressive at 5,403 yards above the next highest in Fitzgerald. The gap between Rice and Fitzgerald is the same as the gap between Fitzgerald and 26th place on the all-time receiving yards list. Among active players, DeAndre Hopkins is highest at 23rd all-time (12,476 yards).
NFL Career Receptions Record
1. 1,549 — Jerry Rice (1985-2004)
2. 1,432 — Larry Fitzgerald (2004-2020)
3. 1,325 — Tony Gonzalez (1997-2013)
4. 1,228 — Jason Witten (2003-2020)
5. 1,102 — Marvin Harrison (1996-2008)
Rice’s reception numbers are even more impressive when you consider that he averaged 14.78 yards per catch. The next highest in the top five is Harrison at 13.23. It is also interesting to see two of the top tight ends of all time in the top five in Gonzalez and Witten crack this list. The highest active player on the list is Hopkins, who ranks 21st all-time (938 receptions).
NFL Career Receiving Touchdowns Record
1. 197 — Jerry Rice (1985-2004)
2. 156 — Randy Moss (1998-2012)
3. 153 — Terrell Owens (1996-2010)
4. 130 — Cris Carter (1987-2002)
5. 128 — Marvin Harrison (1996-2008)
Again, Rice’s number of 197 receiving touchdowns looks set to stand the test of time. He is 41 touchdowns ahead of second place. That is the same gap that exists between the second and seventh. Mike Evans leads all active players with 100 receiving touchdowns, which is 10th all-time.
NFL Rookie Receiving Records
What are the current NFL rookie receiving records, and do the records all belong to WRs, or have some RBs and TEs managed to get their name on the board?
Rookie WR Receiving Yards Record
1. 1,486 — Puka Nacua (2023)
2. 1,473 — Bill Groman (1960)
3. 1,455 — Ja’Marr Chase (2021)
4. 1,400 — Justin Jefferson (2020)
5. 1,377 — Anquan Boldin (2003)
Puka Nacua was sensational as a rookie with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023, breaking the NFL’s rookie receiving yard record as a fifth-round pick. Incredibly, before Nacua broke the record, the rookie receiving yards record stood since 1960 when Groman set it. Groman’s yardage is impressive because he racked up 1,473 yards in a 14-game season on 72 receptions at an average of 20.46 yards per reception.
Rookie Receptions Record
1. 105 — Puka Nacua (2023)
2. 104 — Jaylen Waddle (2021)
3. 101 — Anquan Boldin (2003)
4. 92 — Michael Thomas (2016)
T5. 91 — Saquon Barkley (2018)
T5. 91 — Julio Jones (2014)
T5. 91 — Eddie Royal (2008)
Once again, Nacua came out of nowhere to break another rookie receiving record, this time racking up 105 catches. He beat out Jaylen Waddle’s previous mark by one catch. In 2024, New York Giants rookie Malik Nabers might challenge this record if he can stay healthy.
Rookie Receiving Touchdowns Record
1. 17 — Randy Moss (1998)
T2. 13 — Ja’Marr Chase (2021)
T2. 13 — Billy Howton (1952)
T2. 13 — John Jefferson (1978)
T5. 12 — Odell Beckham Jr. (2014), Mike Ditka (1961), Mike Evans (2014), Bill Groman (1960), Bob Hayes (1965), and Harlon Hill (1954)
It was clear from the beginning of his career that Moss would be special. He did not just break a 46-year-old record in 1998 — he obliterated it. In the more than 20 years since then, no one has really come close to breaking his record.
NFL Rookie Single-Game Receiving Records
Rookie Single-Game Receiving Yards Record
1. 266 — Ja’Marr Chase (2022)
2. 255 — Jerry Butler (1979)
3. 241 — Jerry Rice (1985)
4. 236 — Justin Blackmon (2012)
5. 226 — Eddie Kennison (1996)
6. 217 — Anquan Boldin (2003)
On Jan. 2, 2022, Chase exploded for 11 receptions, 266 yards, and three touchdowns against the Chiefs. Butler had a similarly huge performance on Sept. 23, 1979, finishing with 10 receptions for 255 yards and four touchdowns against the New York Jets.
Rookie Single-Game Receptions Record
1. 15 — Puka Nacua (2023)
2T. 14 — Najee Harris (2021)
2T. 14 — Saquon Barkley (2018)
2T. 14 — Roy Helu (2011)
2T. 14 — Don Looney (1940)
We’ve covered Nacua’s dominant rookie campaign that ended with a record-setting 105 receptions and 1,486 receiving yards. But what stands out here is the three running backs — Harris, Barkley, and Helu — making an appearance thanks to a ton of dump-offs from their respective quarterbacks.
Rookie Single-Game Receiving Touchdown Record
1T. 4 — Jerry Butler (1979)
1T. 4 — Harlon Hill (1954)
Again, it’s interesting that both rookie record-holders here played before the NFL’s passing era, making their four-touchdown performances even more impressive. Similar to the single-game receiving touchdown record, we only listed the record-holders here because there are way too many rookies who have scored three touchdowns in a game, including recent first-year players like Sam LaPorta, Christian Watson, Chase, and others.
