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. The NFL also recognizes the statistics of the All-America Football Conference, which operated from 1946 to 1949 before three of its teams were merged into the NFL, since 2025.[3]

The NFL did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season.[4] The average yards the leader has gained has increased over time – since the adoption of the 14-game season in 1961,[5] 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.[6][7]

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; they are the only players to lead the league in yards in more than four seasons. 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 Jaxon Smith-Njigba of the Seattle Seahawks, who recorded 1,793 receiving yards during the 2025 season.

NFL annual receiving yards leaders

Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most receiving yards in the NFL
Yds Total receiving yards
GP The number of games that the player participated in during that season
^ Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* The player is an active player
# Player set the single-season receiving yards record
† 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
List of NFL annual receiving yards leaders
Leader Player Team Yds GP Ref(s)
1932 Ray Flaherty^ New York Giants 350# 12 [9]
1933 Paul Moss Pittsburgh Pirates 283 10 [10]
1934 Harry Ebding Detroit Lions 264 12 [11]
1935 Charley Malone Boston Redskins 433# 11 [12]
1936 Don Hutson^ Green Bay Packers 536# 12 [13]
1937 Gaynell Tinsley Chicago Cardinals 675# 11 [13]
1938 Don Hutson^ (2) Green Bay Packers 548 10 [13]
1939 Don Hutson^ (3) Green Bay Packers 846# 11 [13]
1940 Don Looney Philadelphia Eagles 707 11 [14]
1941 Don Hutson^ (4) Green Bay Packers 738 11 [13]
1942 Don Hutson^ (5) Green Bay Packers 1,211# 11 [13]
1943 Don Hutson^ (6) Green Bay Packers 776 10 [13]
1944 Don Hutson^ (7) Green Bay Packers 866 10 [13]
1945 Jim Benton Cleveland Rams 1,067 9 [15]
1946 Jim Benton (2) Los Angeles Rams 981 11 [15]
1947 Mal Kutner Chicago Cardinals 944 12 [16]
1948 Mal Kutner (2) Chicago Cardinals 943 12 [16]
1949 Bob Mann Detroit Lions 1,014 12 [17]
1950 Tom Fears^ Los Angeles Rams 1,116 12 [18]
1951 Elroy Hirsch^ Los Angeles Rams 1,495# 12 [19]
1952 Billy Howton Green Bay Packers 1,231 12 [20]
1953 Pete Pihos^ Philadelphia Eagles 1,049 12 [21]
1954 Bob Boyd Los Angeles Rams 1,212 12 [19]
1955 Pete Pihos^ (2) Philadelphia Eagles 864 12 [21]
1956 Billy Howton (2) Green Bay Packers 1,188 12 [20]
1957 Raymond Berry^ Baltimore Colts 800 12 [22]
1958 Del Shofner Los Angeles Rams 1,097 12 [23]
1959 Raymond Berry^ (2) Baltimore Colts 959 12 [22]
1960 Raymond Berry^ (3) Baltimore Colts 1,298 12 [22]
1961 Tommy McDonald^ Philadelphia Eagles 1,144 14 [24]
1962 Bobby Mitchell^ Washington Redskins 1,384 14 [25]
1963 Bobby Mitchell^ (2) Washington Redskins 1,436 14 [25]
1964 Johnny Morris Chicago Bears 1,200 14 [26]
1965 Dave Parks San Francisco 49ers 1,344 14 [27]
1966 Pat Studstill Detroit Lions 1,266 14 [28]
1967 Ben Hawkins Philadelphia Eagles 1,265 14 [29]
1968 Roy Jefferson Pittsburgh Steelers 1,074 14 [30]
1969 Harold Jackson Philadelphia Eagles 1,116 14 [31]
1970 Gene Washington San Francisco 49ers 1,100 13 [32]
1971 Otis Taylor Kansas City Chiefs 1,110 14 [33]
1972 Harold Jackson (2) Philadelphia Eagles 1,048 14 [31]
1973 Harold Carmichael^ Philadelphia Eagles 1,116 14 [34]
1974 Cliff Branch^ Oakland Raiders 1,092 14 [35]
1975 Ken Burrough Houston Oilers 1,063 14 [36]
1976 Roger Carr Baltimore Colts 1,112 14 [37]
1977 Drew Pearson^ Dallas Cowboys 870 14 [38]
1978 Wesley Walker New York Jets 1,169 16 [39]
1979 Steve Largent^ Seattle Seahawks 1,237 15 [40]
1980 John Jefferson San Diego Chargers 1,340 16 [41]
1981 Alfred Jenkins Atlanta Falcons 1,358 16 [42]
1982 Wes Chandler San Diego Chargers 1,032 8 [43]
1983 Mike Quick Philadelphia Eagles 1,409 16 [44]
1984 Roy Green St. Louis Cardinals 1,555# 16 [45]
1985 Steve Largent^ (2) Seattle Seahawks 1,287 16 [40]
1986 Jerry Rice^ San Francisco 49ers 1,570# 15 [46]
1987 J. T. Smith St. Louis Cardinals 1,117 15 [47]
1988 Henry Ellard Los Angeles Rams 1,414 16 [48]
1989 Jerry Rice^ (2) San Francisco 49ers 1,483 16 [46]
1990 Jerry Rice^ (3) San Francisco 49ers 1,502 16 [46]
1991 Michael Irvin^ Dallas Cowboys 1,523 16 [49]
1992 Sterling Sharpe^ Green Bay Packers 1,461 16 [50]
1993 Jerry Rice^‡ (4) San Francisco 49ers 1,503 16 [46]
1994 Jerry Rice^ (5) San Francisco 49ers 1,499 16 [46]
1995 Jerry Rice^ (6) San Francisco 49ers 1,848# 16 [46]
1996 Isaac Bruce^ St. Louis Rams 1,338 16 [51]
1997 Rob Moore Arizona Cardinals 1,584 16 [52]
1998 Antonio Freeman Green Bay Packers 1,424 15 [53]
1999 Marvin Harrison^ Indianapolis Colts 1,663 16 [54]
2000 Torry Holt St. Louis Rams 1,635 16 [55]
2001 David Boston Arizona Cardinals 1,598 16 [56]
2002 Marvin Harrison^ (2) Indianapolis Colts 1,722 16 [54]
2003 Torry Holt (2) St. Louis Rams 1,696 16 [55]
2004 Muhsin Muhammad Carolina Panthers 1,405 16 [57]
2005 Steve Smith Carolina Panthers 1,563 16 [58]
2006 Chad Johnson Cincinnati Bengals 1,369 16 [59]
2007 Reggie Wayne Indianapolis Colts 1,510 16 [60]
2008 Andre Johnson^ Houston Texans 1,575 16 [61]
2009 Andre Johnson^ (2) Houston Texans 1,569 16 [61]
2010 Brandon Lloyd Denver Broncos 1,448 16 [62]
2011 Calvin Johnson^ Detroit Lions 1,681 16 [63]
2012 Calvin Johnson^ (2) Detroit Lions 1,964# 16 [63]
2013 Josh Gordon Cleveland Browns 1,646 14 [64]
2014 Antonio Brown Pittsburgh Steelers 1,698 16 [65]
2015 Julio Jones Atlanta Falcons 1,871 16 [66]
2016 T. Y. Hilton Indianapolis Colts 1,448 16 [67]
2017 Antonio Brown (2) Pittsburgh Steelers 1,533 14 [65]
2018 Julio Jones (2) Atlanta Falcons 1,677 16 [66]
2019 Michael Thomas‡ New Orleans Saints 1,725 16 [68]
2020 Stefon Diggs* Buffalo Bills 1,535 16 [69]
2021 Cooper Kupp* ‡ Los Angeles Rams 1,947 17 [70]
2022 Justin Jefferson* Minnesota Vikings 1,809 17 [71]
2023 Tyreek Hill* Miami Dolphins 1,799 16 [72]
2024 Ja'Marr Chase* Cincinnati Bengals 1,708 17 [73]
2025 Jaxon Smith-Njigba* ‡ Seattle Seahawks 1,793 17 [74]

Historical records for most receiving yards in one season

Records held for most receiving yards in a single season
Season Player Team Receiving Yards Games played Reign
1932 Ray Flaherty^ New York Giants 350 12 3 years
1935 Charley Malone Boston Redskins 433 11 1 year
1936 Don Hutson^ Green Bay Packers 536 12 1 year
1937 Gaynell Tinsley Chicago Cardinals 675 11 2 years
1939 Don Hutson^ Green Bay Packers 846 11 3 years
1942 Don Hutson^ Green Bay Packers 1,211 11 9 years
1951 Elroy Hirsch^ Los Angeles Rams 1,495 12 33 years
1984 Roy Green St. Louis Cardinals 1,555 16 2 years
1986 Jerry Rice^ San Francisco 49ers 1,570 15 9 years
1995 Jerry Rice^ San Francisco 49ers 1,848 16 17 years
2012 Calvin Johnson^ Detroit Lions 1,964 16 Since 2012

AAFC receiving yards leaders

Key
Symbol Meaning
Leader The player who recorded the most receiving yards in the AAFC
Yds The total number of receiving yards the player had
GP The number of games played by a player during the season
† Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* Player set the single-season receiving yards record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
AAFC annual receiving yards leaders by season
Season Player Yds GP Team Ref.
1946 Dante Lavelli 843* 14 Cleveland Browns [75]
1947 Mac Speedie 1,146* 14 Cleveland Browns [76]
1948 Billy Hillenbrand 970 14 Baltimore Colts [77]
1949 Mac Speedie (2) 1,028 12 Cleveland Browns [78]

AFL receiving yards leaders

Key
Symbol Meaning
Player The player who recorded the most receiving yards in the AFL
Yds Total receiving yards
GP The number of games that the player participated in during that season
† Pro Football Hall of Fame member
* Player set the single-season receiving yards record
(#) Denotes the number of times a player appears in this list
List of AFL receiving yards leaders by season
Season Player Team Yds GP Ref(s)
1960 Bill Groman Houston Oilers 1,473 14 [79]
1961 Charley Hennigan Houston Oilers 1,746 14 [80]
1962 Art Powell New York Titans 1,130 14 [81]
1963 Art Powell (2) Oakland Raiders 1,304 14 [81]
1964 Charley Hennigan (2) Houston Oilers 1,546 14 [80]
1965 Lance Alworth† San Diego Chargers 1,602 14 [82]
1966 Lance Alworth (2)† San Diego Chargers 1,383 13 [82]
1967 Don Maynard† New York Jets 1,434 14 [83]
1968 Lance Alworth (3)† San Diego Chargers 1,312 14 [82]
1969 Warren Wells Oakland Raiders 1,260 14 [84]

Most seasons leading the league

Count Player Seasons Team Refs
7 Don Hutson 1936, 1938, 1939, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944 Green Bay Packers [13]
6 Jerry Rice 1986, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995 San Francisco 49ers [46]
3 Lance Alworth 1965, 1966, 1968 San Diego Chargers [82]
Raymond Berry 1957, 1959, 1960 Baltimore Colts [22]
2 Jim Benton 1945, 1946 Cleveland Rams (1) / Los Angeles Rams (1) [15]
Antonio Brown 2014, 2017 Pittsburgh Steelers [65]
Marvin Harrison 1999, 2002 Indianapolis Colts [54]
Charley Hennigan 1961, 1964 Houston Oilers [80]
Torry Holt 2000, 2003 St. Louis Rams [55]
Billy Howton 1952, 1956 Green Bay Packers [85]
Harold Jackson 1967, 1972 Philadelphia Eagles [31]
Andre Johnson 2008, 2009 Houston Texans [86]
Calvin Johnson 2011, 2012 Detroit Lions [63]
Julio Jones 2015, 2018 Atlanta Falcons [66]
Mal Kutner 1947, 1948 Chicago Cardinals [16]
Steve Largent 1979, 1985 Seattle Seahawks [40]
Bobby Mitchell 1962, 1963 Washington Redskins [25]
Pete Pihos 1953, 1955 Philadelphia Eagles [21]
Art Powell 1962, 1963 New York Titans (1) / Oakland Raiders (1) [81]
Mac Speedie 1947, 1949 Cleveland Browns [87]

See also

Notes

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  3. "NFL incorporates old AAFC stats, shifting career leaderboards". ESPN. April 1, 2025.
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  6. 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 June 12, 2022.
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  85. Cite error: The named reference HowtonPFR was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  86. Cite error: The named reference Johnson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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References