25.) When he retired he held several receiving records. (233 games – 764 rec., 14,004 yards, 75 TDs) (112 games – 595 rec., 8,134 yards, 65 TDs). 8) Mike Evans, Buccaneers In four NFL … He actually got better with age, amassing more receiving yards during his 30s than he did in his 20s. In fact, Moss claims he is the best wide receiver in NFL history, Terrell Owens is second, and then he puts Rice either 3rd or 4th. Jerry Rice is widely regarded as the greatest receiver of all time and holds pretty much every possible receiving record, including a total of 22,985 receiving yards (he’s the only player to have more than 17,000 yards). } 4. Carolina 2001-13; Baltimore 2014-16 San Francisco 49ers coaching great Bill Walsh reportedly described Joiner as “the most intelligent, the smartest, the most calculating receiver the game has ever known.”. Sports online. Arizona 2004-current But after him, … San Francisco 1985-2000; Oakland 200-04; Seattle 2004 Michael “The Playmaker” Irvin won three Super Bowls during his 11-year run with the Dallas Cowboys and tallied 11,904 receiving yards. Seattle 1976-89 Jerry Rice is the undisputed No. Share Share Tweet Email Comment. Is it a coincidence that star NFL wide receivers tend to come with the most locker room problems? He clocked up a total of 14,004 receiving yards over his career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003. So does everybody else. Randy Moss made a bold claim this week, stating that he is the best wide receiver ever to play in the NFL. 0 of 25. Former Minnesota Viking Randy Moss was the tallest, fastest, and most dangerous wide receiver in the history of the game. Cris Carter, Pro Bowl star of the ’90s, retired with 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. ​NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). Read “Randy Moss Proclaims Himself As The Best WR In NFL History, Puts Jerry Rice At 3rd or 4th (VIDEO) ” and other NFL articles from Total Pro Sports. Nicknamed “Mr. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2003. Mark Duper & Mark Clayton, Miami Dolphins (234 games – 1,378 rec., 17,083 yards, 120 TDs) After playing college football at Syracuse University, where he was a four-year Orangemen letter winner, James Arthur “Art” Monk played in the NFL for the Washington Redskins (1980-1993), New York Jets (1994) and the Philadelphia Eagles (1995), tallying a total of 12,721 receiving yards. (135 games – 731 rec., 11,619 yards, 83 TDs). Johnson is the only player to record 60 or more receptions in his first eight seasons. He's joined by seven-time Pro Bowler Randy Gradishar, who is one of the best players in NFL history outside of Canton. He was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and 2015 before being elected in 2016. Ward is the Pittsburgh Steelers’ all-time leading receiver. An eight-time Pro Bowler and one of the most private, hard-working, enigmatic NFL players, Marvin Harrison retired in 2009 with 14,580 receiving yards and 128 touchdowns, after 13 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts — most of them alongside quarterback Peyton Manning. In 2002, at the age of 40, he totaled 1,211 receiving yards to help the Oakland Raiders secure their place in Super Bowl XXXVII. In his six games with the Raiders, he … Houston Oilers 1969-72; Cincinnati 1972-75; San Diego Chargers 1976-86 Pittsburgh 1998-2011 At the time of his retirement, Reed was second all-time in career receptions and boasted 13,198 receiving yards. * @see https://support.google.com/dfp_premium/answer/7673898#personalized His career took a different direction in 1994 when he was elected into the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma, where he served until resigning in 2002 to run for governor (he lost the election). Commonly known as T.O., Terrell Owens finished his career with 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns. That’s saying something. Antics aside, Owens put together a Hall of Fame-worthy career and was rewarded with induction to Canton in 2018. No other wideout can touch the San Francisco 49ers legend's career numbers. (218 games – 982 rec., 15,292 yards, 156 TDs) Holt underwent surgery and was subsequently released by the team with an injury settlement. He also had the best target separation in the NFL. Largent was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995, his first year of eligibility. } Considered to be one of Seattle Seahawks’ all-time best players, Steve Largent tallied 13,089 yards and 100 touchdowns while earning seven Pro Bowl selections during his career. Like Harrison, he was part of the Colts’  Super Bowl XLI championship team that triumphed over the Chicago Bears. In their nine seasons together, Bruce and Holt combined for 1,435 catches for 21,310 yards and 126 touchdowns. He played 224 games and was the first player to record a touchdown reception in 15 consecutive seasons. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2015. He remains the Panthers’ all-time leader in total touchdowns (67), receptions (836) and receiving yards (12,197). Before coaching for the San Diego Chargers from 2002 to 2008, James Lofton was a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers (1978–1986), Los Angeles Raiders (1987–1988), Buffalo Bills (1989–1992), Los Angeles Rams (1993) and Philadelphia Eagles (1993). Sortable table with every WR stat and split available including receptions, yards, targets, and fantasy points. — Rankings by Aaron Tallent, who is part of the Athlon Contributor Network. Throughout the course of the NFL, there have been many great players whose off field issues cut their what could’ve been great careers short. Since retiring, Brown has carved out a successful media career and starred in the movie “Little Giants.”. Just about everybody thinks Jerry Rice is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history…..except for Randy Moss. Arizona 2004-current (234 games – 1,378 rec., 17,083 yards, 120 TDs) NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019) Fitzgerald is the youngest player in NFL history … Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2007. NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). (116 games – 488 rec., 7,991 yards, 99 TDs) To date, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has 1,303 receptions for 16,279 yards and 116 touchdowns. For some of those players though, their on field play was g Jerry Rice and Sterling Sharpe are the other two. The 10 Worst And 10 Best White NFL Wide Receivers Of All Time. Bruce was never a First-Team All-Pro and … Former college quarterback Hines Ward retired as the Pittsburgh Steelers all-time leader in receptions (1,000), yards (12,083) and touchdowns (85). * 'storage': 1, To date, he has 12,351 receiving runs under his belt. In 2012 Holt signed a ceremonial contract with the St. Louis Rams to retire with the team, with 13,382 receiving yards. While he wasn't a full-time starter, and mostly contributed on special teams, Davis wasn't cut out to be in the NFL. His retirement after only nine seasons will always leave us wondering what might have been. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1973 He played for the University of Pittsburgh football team, the Pittsburgh Panthers, under head coach Walt Harris and was widely considered one of the best wide receivers in college football from 2002 to 2003. Mason retired as a Baltimore Raven in 2012 with a total of 12,061 receiving yards. Throw in Matt Blair, who made … "I'll put myself first, I'll put (Terrell Owens) second. He played a total of 255 games in his career — the most ever for a New Jersey-born player — and made the Pro Bowl five times (1985, 1993, 1994, 1996 and 1997). After 13 seasons with that team, he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in March 2014. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1996. Whether they’re unbelievable physical specimens or simply phenomenal route runners, wideouts are visible, engaging, and capable of developing a unique chemistry with their quarterbacks, emerging as go-to-guys in the clutch. NOW PLAYING There have been a lot of great wide receivers in the NFL. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2016 By Ross Kelly Aug 02, 2017. */ 'GMFB': Best WR-DB matchups in playoff history The "Good Morning Football" crew breaks down the top wide receiver vs. defensive back matchups in NFL playoff history. The best receivers have played at the NFL’s highest level — setting and breaking records in the process. * 'measurement': 5 Four years later he was ranked number 46 on The Sporting News list of the 100 Greatest Football Players — the only Seahawk to be included. Randy Moss' list of the best wide receivers in NFL history features himself at the top, and Jerry Rice might not even make the first three. (284 games – 1,549 rec., 22,895 yards, 197 TDs) Fitzgerald, Tom Brady and Adam Vinatieri were the only active players named to the exclusive NFL 100 All-Time Team this year. In the five years prior to Torry Holt entering the NFL, Issac Bruce was already one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. Chris Gamble . He saw just 72 targets in 14 games and had the lowest amount of receiving yards since his rookie season. * @see sites/all/modules/athlon/amg_consent_management/assets/config/config.json Wes Chandler (1978-1988) }); > Contributor. If any receiver playing today wants to break one of his career records in receptions, touchdowns or yards, he will have to be awesome and he will have to play for at least 15 seasons. Monk was the only constant in the wide receiver corps as the Washington Redskins won three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. Green Bay 1978-86; Los Angeles Raiders 1987-88; Buffalo 1989-92; Philadelphia 1993; Los Angeles Rams 1993 attachDfpMoreSlotEvent(jQuery); Skip to main content. Philadelphia 1987-89; Minnesota 1990-2001; Miami 2002 (190 games – 1,102 rec., 14,580 yards, 128 TDs) “I … Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1995 From NFL history, you have one receiver to put on your football team. His ranking has Terrell Owens listed second. * 'ad_selection': 3, Irving Fryar clocked 12,785 receiving yards during a total of 17 NFL seasons, playing for the New England Patriots (1984-1992), Miami Dolphins (1993-1995), Philadelphia Eagles (1996-1998) and Washington Redskins (1999-2000). NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). He’s already shown what he can do in big games, as he was the man behind one of the most memorable plays in recent NFL playoff history as well. Did your personal favorite make the list? (217 games – 1,000 rec., 12,083 yards, 85 TDs). Bruce topped 1,000 eight times, putting up a ridiculous 1,781 in his second season, a total that would have set a league record had it not occurred the same season that Jerry Rice totaled 1,848. “I’ll put myself first, I’ll put T.O. Published: Jan 29, 2013 at 02:18 PM. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2014. ​NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). His professional football career ended in 2000 due to a spinal cord injury sustained during a 1999 game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, when he caught a pass from Troy Aikman. Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2008. It’s no secret that the wide receiver position in the NFL is dominated by African Americans. Brandon Marshall played college football at UCF and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Packers’ Davante Adams is making history and stating his case for NFL’s best WR By Matt Schneidman Dec 10, 2020 53 The Packers have a running joke that Davante Adams is one of the 12 best … Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2010 Ranking the thousands of wide receivers who pass through the NFL is daunti Here is a ranking of the 25 best factoring in the era in which they played. Smith and the Jags fell to Baltimore, 39-36, but the team still had a huge day through the air. Detroit 2007-15 function attachDfpMoreSlotEvent($) { }); If you looked at stats alone, every one of the greatest wide receivers would have played in the NFL after 1985, but pro football has had exceptional wideouts since the '30s. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as a free agent in November 2018 but got released a month later without appearing in a single game for the team. Tallent is a writer whose articles have appeared in The Sweet Science, FOX Sports’ Outkick the Coverage, Liberty Island and The Washington Post. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. His performances in big games have reached an almost legendary aura. Currently working as an analyst for NFL Network, Irvin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. (239 games – 750 rec., 12,146 yards, 65 TDs) He spent 16 years with the Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders before joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He retired abruptly in 2006 and 10 years later he was inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars (the franchise’s ring of honor). * [ Los Angeles Raiders 1988-94; Oakland Raiders 1995-2003; Tampa Bay 2004 attachDfpMoreSlotEvent(jQuery); Regarded as one of the greatest receivers in NFL postseason history (with 88 receptions for 1,181 yards and 10 touchdowns in playoff competition) and the greatest blocking receiver in NFL history, Ward now has a media career and acts as the Player Relations Executive for the Alliance of American Football. (116 games – 336 rec., 5,462 yards, 51 TDs) Overall Receiving statistical leaders for the 2020 season. Green Bay 1988-94 Is Calvin Johnson the second-best WR in NFL history? Johnson made headlines around the world in 2012 when his foundation, the Andre Johnson Charitable Foundation, spent over $19,000 for kids from a local Family Protective Services branch to have a shopping spree at Toys ‘R’ Us. Follow him on Twitter at @AaronTallent. He later played for the Miami Dolphins (2010-2011), Chicago Bears (2012-2014), New York Jets (2015-2016), New York Giants (2017) and Seattle Seahawks (2018). }); ​NFL 100 All-Time Team (2019). When he retired in 1986, he was the career leader in receptions and receiving yards. He finished his career with 15,208 receiving yards and will be remembered for one of the greatest plays in Super Bowl history: catching the game-winning, 73-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining in the Rams’ victory over the Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. Every NFL Team's Best WR Of All Time. (255 games – 1,094 rec., 14,934 yards, 100 TDs) He had 99 touchdown receptions… in the 1930s and '40s. Think your teams' first two options at wide receiver stack up anywhere close to the list of these duos? Dave Dameshek. Dallas 1988-99 When he was on (as in 2007 when he caught a single-season record 23 TDs), he was the best in the league. During his NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys and Jacksonville Jaguars, Jimmy Smith tallied 12,287 receiving yards. Copyright © The Delite, All Rights Reserved. Tim Brown played college football for Notre Dame, where he became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman Trophy. * 'purpose':'purpose id' His play showed offensive coordinators what could be accomplished with a wide-open passing attack. } * DFP requires multiple purposes listed below: The Top 25 Wide Receivers in the History of the NFL. Minnesota 1998-2004; Oakland 2005-06; New England 2007-10; Tennessee 2010; Minnesota 2010; San Francisco 2012 The greatest receiver in Packers history, Don Hutson was the first great receiver in NFL history. Washington 1980-93; New York Jets 1994; Philadelphia 1995 (190 games – 589 rec., 8,974 yards, 76 TDs) Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 2020, If the Rams had not drafted him in the second round in 1994, there may have been no “Greatest Show on Turf.”, Houston 2003-14; Indianapolis 2015; Tennessee 2016 * 'personalization': 2, Pro Football Hall of Fame, Class of 1988. He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2005, becoming their all-time leading receiver with 5,777 yards from 2005 to 2010. Here are the top wide receivers in NFL history, based on their number of receiving yards. (154 games – 631 rec., 9,275 yards, 68 TDs) The "Good Morning Football" crew breaks down the top wide receiver vs. defensive back matchups in NFL playoff history. window.addEventListener('load', function () { He was on enough to put himself in the Hall of Fame and to be named one of the 10 wide receivers on the prestigious ​NFL 100 All-Time Team. A relative of jazz pioneer Thelonious Monk, the record-breaking receiver was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008. Smith had 15 catches for 291 yards and three scores. Pittsburgh 1974-82 In 2007, Moss broke Jerry Rice’s single-season touchdown record with 23 touchdowns in 16 games. $.each(dfpMoreSlots, function (index, element) { He began his career with the Carolina Panthers, who drafted him in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft. /** Indianapolis 2001-14 Bruce played two seasons for the San Francisco 49ers before retiring in 2009. During his career he scored 84 touchdowns and gained 242 rushing yards, 2,055 yards returning punts and 505 yards on kickoff returns. Over the next few years, personal issues overshadowed his game and earned him a four-game suspension in 2003 for an undisclosed substance abuse violation. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015 and tallied receiving... 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