League Leaders Who Led?

NFL Single-Season Yards per Reception Record Progression

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

All-time career leaders →

The NFL single-season yards per reception record is 32.58, set by Don Currivan in 1947. It has stood for 78 years. The mark has been raised 5 times since 1933.

Record Holders

6 marks since 1933
Year Player Y/R Stood for
1947 Don Currivan 32.58 still standing
1945 Frank Liebel 26.96 2 years
1939 Don Hutson Don Hutson 24.88 6 years
1938 Jim Benton 19.91 1 year
1935 Charley Malone 19.68 3 years
1933 Shipwreck Kelly 11.18 2 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

92 seasons
Year Leader Y/R
2025 Alec Pierce 21.34
2024 Alec Pierce 22.27
2023 George Pickens 18.10
2022 Jaylen Waddle 18.08
2021 Deebo Samuel Sr. 18.25
2020 Marquez Valdes-Scantling 20.91
2019 Mike Williams 20.43
2018 DeSean Jackson 18.88
2017 Marvin Jones 18.05
2016 DeSean Jackson 17.95
2015 Torrey Smith 20.09
2014 DeSean Jackson 20.88
2013 Kenny Stills 20.03
2012 Vincent Jackson 19.22
2011 Malcom Floyd 19.91
2010 DeSean Jackson 22.47
2009 Mike Wallace 19.39
2008 Devery Henderson 24.78
2007 Santonio Holmes 18.12
2006 Devery Henderson 23.28
2005 Ashley Lelie 18.33
2004 Ashley Lelie 20.07
2003 Joey Galloway 19.77
2002 Quincy Morgan 17.21
2001 Chris Chambers 18.40
2000 Torry Holt 19.94
1999 Tim Dwight 20.91
1998 Shawn Jefferson 22.68
1997 James McKnight 18.74
1996 Henry Ellard 19.50
1995 Chris Sanders 23.51
1994 Alvin Harper 24.88
1993 James Jett 23.36
1992 Willie Davis 21.00
1991 Michael Haynes 22.44
1990 Flipper Anderson 21.51
1989 Flipper Anderson 26.05
1988 Mervyn Fernandez 25.97
1987 Anthony Carter 24.26
1986 Chris Burkett 22.88
1985 Stephone Paige 21.93
1984 James Lofton 21.95
1983 James Lofton 22.41
1982 Jim Smith 22.77
1981 Stanley Morgan 23.39
1980 Stanley Morgan 22.02
1979 Stanley Morgan 22.77
1978 Wesley Walker 24.35
1977 Wesley Walker 21.14
1976 Roger Carr 25.86
1975 Isaac Curtis 21.23
1974 Gene Washington 21.21
1973 Ron Shanklin 23.70
1972 John Gilliam 22.02
1971 Bob Hayes 24.00
1970 Bob Hayes 26.15
1969 Lance Rentzel 22.33
1968 Jimmy Orr 25.62
1967 Jack Snow 26.25
1966 Roy Jefferson 24.13
1965 Aaron Thomas 23.37
1964 Jimmy Orr 21.68
1963 Buddy Dial 21.58
1962 Frank Clarke 22.19
1961 Frank Clarke 22.42
1960 Buddy Dial 24.30
1959 Max McGee 23.17
1958 Jimmy Orr 27.58
1957 Jim Podoley 20.52
1956 Harlon Hill 24.00
1955 Ray Renfro 20.79
1954 Harlon Hill 24.98
1953 Bob Boyd 22.83
1952 Elroy Hirsch 23.60
1951 Elroy Hirsch 22.65
1950 Hugh Taylor 21.36
1949 Elbie Nickel 24.35
1948 John Greene 23.80
1947 Don Currivan 32.58 new record
1946 Billy Dewell 23.82
1945 Frank Liebel 26.96 new record
1944 Ray McLean 21.79
1943 Harry Clarke 23.26
1942 Andy Uram 20.00
1941 Perry Schwartz 14.48
1940 Perry Schwartz 17.62
1939 Don Hutson 24.88 new record
1938 Jim Benton 19.91 new record
1937 Gaynell Tinsley 18.75
1936 Don Hutson 15.77
1935 Charley Malone 19.68 new record
1933 Shipwreck Kelly 11.18 new record