Who Has The Most Receiving Yards In The NFL?
Wondering who has the most receiving yards in the NFL? Check out our list of the top 10 players in the league, updated through the end of the 2020 season.
NFL History
Jerry Rice is the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 22,895. He is followed by Randy Moss (15,292), Terrell Owens (15,934), and Larry Fitzgerald (15,545). Rice played for 20 seasons and was a 12-time Pro Bowler. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2010.
The origins of the NFL
The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association (APFA) with ten teams from four states, all of whom existed in some form as participants of regional leagues in their respective territories; it took on its current name in 1922. The NFL was the first professional football league to successfully establish a nationwide presence, gradually becoming the most popular sport in the United States by the late-1960s. Today, the NFL has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world and is the most popular sports league in the United States.
How the NFL has changed over the years
In the early days of the National Football League, there were no formal rules for how games should be played. This led to a lot of variation in the way teams played and the style of football that was played. Over time, certain rules and regulations were put into place in order to create a more standardized form of play.
One of the most significant changes that took place was in the way that forward passes were handled. In the early days of the NFL, there were few restrictions on how far back a quarterback could throw a pass. This led to some very long passes being thrown, which made for exciting rugby-style play. However, it was also quite dangerous, as there were many injuries that resulted from these long passes. As a result, the NFL gradually began to institute rules that limited how far back a quarterback could throw a pass.
Another change that took place was in the size of footballs. In the early days of the NFL, footballs were quite small and difficult to hold on to. As a result, players often fumbled the ball or dropped it when they were trying to catch it. In order to make the game safer and more enjoyable, the NFL gradually began to increase the size of footballs until they reached their current size.
The changes that have taken place in the NFL over time have had a major impact on the way that games are played and on the strategy that teams use. The game has become more standardized and less dangerous, while still retaining its excitement and entertainment value.
The most receiving yards in NFL history
Jerry Rice is the NFL’s all-time leader in receiving yards with 22,895. He is followed by Randy Moss with 15,292 and Larry Fitzgerald with 15,045.
The top 10 receivers in NFL history
1. Jerry Rice – 22,895
2. Terrell Owens – 15,934
3. Larry Fitzgerald – 15,545
4. Randy Moss – 14,858
5. Calvin Johnson – 11,619
6. Jason Witten – 11,215
7. Tony Gonzalez – 11,197
8. Andre Reed – 11,225
9. Tim Brown – 10,969
10. Cris Carter – 10,834
The most receiving yards in a single season
In 2012, Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions broke Jerry Rice’s record for the most receiving yards in a single season, with 1,964. Megatron’s record-breaking season came on the back of 122 receptions for an average of 16.1 yards per catch.
The current leader in receiving yards
As of September 2020, the current leader in receiving yards is DeAndre Hopkins of the Arizona Cardinals. He has amassed over 1,400 receiving yards so far this season. Hopkins has been in the league for eight seasons and is one of the most productive receivers in the NFL.
The top 10 receivers in the NFL
1. Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons – 1,871 yards
2. DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans – 1,665 yards
3. Michael Thomas, New Orleans Saints – 1,641 yards
4. Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 1,333 yards
5. Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers – 1,318 yards
6. Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers – 1,318 yards
7. Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks – 1,295 yards
8. Amari Cooper, Dallas Cowboys – 1,188 yards
9. Cooper Kupp, Los Angeles Rams – 1,161 yards
10. Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings – 1,130 yards
The most receiving yards in the NFL this season
As of Week 6, the most receiving yards in the NFL this season is Julius Thomas of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has 593 total receiving yards on the season.
