NFL Single-Season Receiving Yards Record Progression

Every season that raised the bar, and the leader in every season between.

The NFL single-season receiving yards record is 1,964, set by Calvin Johnson in 2012. It has stood for 13 years. The mark has been raised 10 times since 1932.

YDS REC TD Y/R Y/G TGT CTH%1D YScm

Record Holders

11 marks since 1932

Year	Player	YDS	Stood for
2012	Calvin Johnson	1,964	still standing
1995	Jerry Rice	1,848	17 years
1986	Jerry Rice	1,570	9 years
1984	Roy Green	1,555	2 years
1951	Elroy Hirsch	1,495	33 years
1942	Don Hutson	1,211	9 years
1939	Don Hutson	846	3 years
1937	Gaynell Tinsley	675	2 years
1936	Don Hutson	536	1 year
1935	Charley Malone	433	1 year
1932	Ray Flaherty	350	3 years

The earliest marks here are records only in the sense that nobody had done better yet. Season length, schedule and the rules themselves have all changed, so a figure from the 1870s is not comparable with a modern one and is not offered as though it were.

Every Season

94 seasons

Year	Leader	YDS
2025	Jaxon Smith-Njigba	1,793
2024	Ja'Marr Chase	1,708
2023	Tyreek Hill	1,799
2022	Justin Jefferson	1,809
2021	Cooper Kupp	1,947
2020	Stefon Diggs	1,535
2019	Michael Thomas	1,725
2018	Julio Jones	1,677
2017	Antonio Brown	1,533
2016	T.Y. Hilton	1,448
2015	Julio Jones	1,871
2014	Antonio Brown	1,698
2013	Josh Gordon	1,646
2012	Calvin Johnson	1,964	new record
2011	Calvin Johnson	1,686
2010	Brandon Lloyd	1,448
2009	Andre Johnson	1,569
2008	Andre Johnson	1,575
2007	Reggie Wayne	1,510
2006	Chad Johnson	1,370
2005	Steve Smith	1,563
2004	Muhsin Muhammad	1,405
2003	Torry Holt	1,696
2002	Marvin Harrison	1,722
2001	David Boston	1,598
2000	Torry Holt	1,635
1999	Marvin Harrison	1,663
1998	Antonio Freeman	1,424
1997	Rob Moore	1,584
1996	Isaac Bruce	1,338
1995	Jerry Rice	1,848	new record
1994	Jerry Rice	1,499
1993	Jerry Rice	1,503
1992	Sterling Sharpe	1,461
1991	Michael Irvin	1,523
1990	Jerry Rice	1,502
1989	Jerry Rice	1,483
1988	Henry Ellard	1,414
1987	J.T. Smith	1,117
1986	Jerry Rice	1,570	new record
1985	Steve Largent	1,287
1984	Roy Green	1,555	new record
1983	Mike Quick	1,409
1982	Wes Chandler	1,032
1981	Alfred Jenkins	1,358
1980	John Jefferson	1,340
1979	Steve Largent	1,237
1978	Wesley Walker	1,169
1977	Drew Pearson	870
1976	Roger Carr	1,112
1975	Ken Burrough	1,063
1974	Cliff Branch	1,092
1973	Harold Carmichael	1,116
1972	Harold Jackson	1,048
1971	Otis Taylor	1,110
1970	Gene Washington	1,100
1969	Harold Jackson	1,116
1968	Roy Jefferson	1,074
1967	Ben Hawkins	1,265
1966	Pat Studstill	1,266
1965	Dave Parks	1,344
1964	Johnny Morris	1,200
1963	Bobby Mitchell	1,436
1962	Bobby Mitchell	1,384
1961	Tommy McDonald	1,144
1960	Raymond Berry	1,298
1959	Raymond Berry	959
1958	Del Shofner	1,097
1957	Raymond Berry	800
1956	Billy Howton	1,188
1955	Pete Pihos	864
1954	Bob Boyd	1,212
1953	Pete Pihos	1,049
1952	Billy Howton	1,231
1951	Elroy Hirsch	1,495	new record
1950	Tom Fears	1,116
1949	Bob Mann	1,014
1948	Mal Kutner	943
1947	Mal Kutner	944
1946	Jim Benton	981
1945	Jim Benton	1,067
1944	Don Hutson	866
1943	Don Hutson	776
1942	Don Hutson	1,211	new record
1941	Don Hutson	738
1940	Don Looney	707
1939	Don Hutson	846	new record
1938	Don Hutson	548
1937	Gaynell Tinsley	675	new record
1936	Don Hutson	536	new record
1935	Charley Malone	433	new record
1934	Harry Ebding	264
1933	Paul Moss	283
1932	Ray Flaherty	350	new record