Top 10 NFL Wide Receivers of all time
Let's take a look at the top 10 NFL wide receivers of all time.
Jerry Rice (Image via Harvard Business Review )
The NFL is a team sport and every position is important and holds equal value on a larger scale. However, the sport of football is a spectator sport and there are some positions that are more widely popular than others.
After the iconic QB role, many believe that the WR position is one of the most popular positions out there. This can be due to the players that play the position. WRs are supposed to be fast, swift, and agile while being extremely strong. They also need to have great catching skills. They should also have the courage to throw themselves in a tackle while cruising with great speed.
These factors make the WRs’ job extremely dangerous while being extremely intriguing. The WR position has been reinvented a lot in the NFL. However, there are some players who are regarded as the best of the best regardless of the inventions and the advancements that the current WRs have.
The NFL has seen many talented wide receivers throughout its history, and ranking the best of all time is no easy task. However, there are certain players whose accomplishments, statistics, and impact on the game set them apart as some of the greatest to ever play the position. Let’s take a look at the top 10 NFL Wide Receivers of all time.
10. Calvin Johnson
Despite playing for a team that struggled during his tenure, Calvin Johnson is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers in NFL history. Johnson, also known as “Megatron,” was selected by the Detroit Lions as the second overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, where he spent his entire nine-year career.
Johnson established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, known for his size, speed, and athleticism. He set numerous NFL records, including the single-season record for receiving yards with 1,964 in 2012. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro selection.
In 2016, the former Lions WR announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 30. He finished his career with 731 receptions, 11,619 receiving yards, and 83 touchdowns.
9. Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin finished his career with 750 receptions, 11,904 receiving yards, and 65 touchdowns. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
Off the field, Irvin has also become a successful television personality, appearing as an analyst and commentator on various NFL shows. He was selected by the Dallas Cowboys as the 11th overall pick in the 1988 NFL Draft, where he spent his entire 12-year career.
During his tenure, Irvin established himself as one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, known for his toughness, route-running ability, and clutch performances. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection, and he helped lead the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories in the 1990s. Irvin was also part of the infamous trio of Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and himself that were part of the Cowboys dynasty in the 90s
8. Marvin Harrison
Marvin Harrison was widely known for his route-running ability and reliable hands. Harrison played college football at Syracuse University before being selected by the Indianapolis Colts as the 19th overall pick in the 1996 NFL Draft. He spent his entire 13-year career with the Colts and is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a three-time first-team All-Pro selection, and he helped lead the Colts to a victory in Super Bowl XLI. Harrison finished his career with 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards, and 128 touchdowns, which ranks fifth all-time in NFL history for receiving yards and sixth all-time for receptions. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.
7. Larry Fitzgerald
Larry Fitzgerald is a professional American football player who plays as a wide receiver in the NFL. Fitzgerald played college football at the University of Pittsburgh before being selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the third overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.
Fitzgerald ranks second in NFL history in career receptions with 1,432 and sixth in career receiving yards with 17,492. He is also the Cardinals’ all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. He is also known for his philanthropy and charitable work, including the Larry Fitzgerald First Down Fund.
6. Chris Carter
Chris Carter was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL but found his fame with teams like the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins. Carter was known for his exceptional hands, route-running ability, and ability to make tough catches in traffic.
He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro selection. He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns three times and finished his career with 1,101 receptions, 13,899 receiving yards, and 130 touchdowns.
Carter was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history.
5. Steve Largent
Steve Largent was known for his precise route running, toughness, and ability to make tough catches in traffic. He was selected to the Pro Bowl seven times and was a first-team All-Pro selection once.
He also led the NFL in receiving yards in 1979 and finished his career with 819 receptions, 13,089 receiving yards, and 100 touchdowns. Largent was selected by the Houston Oilers in the fourth round of the 1976 NFL Draft. He played for the Oilers for four seasons before being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, where he spent the remainder of his 14-year NFL career.
4. Don Hutson
Don Hutson played college football at the University of Alabama before joining the Green Bay Packers in 1935, where he spent his entire NFL career. He was known for his precise route-running, excellent hands, and speed, and was one of the first players to specialize in the position of wide receiver.
This is one of the reasons he finds himself in the 4th spot on this list. Hutson revolutionized the wide receiver position during his career and was the first player to have 50 receptions in a single season. He was a three-time NFL MVP and an eight-time All-Pro selection.
He also helped lead the Packers to three NFL championships and finished his career with 488 receptions, 7,991 receiving yards, and 99 touchdowns.
3. Terrell Owens
Terrell Owens, also known as T.O., is a retired professional American football player who played as a wide receiver in the NFL. Owens went on to play for the 49ers, the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals during his 15-year NFL career.
He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns three times and finished his career with 1,078 receptions, 15,934 receiving yards, and 153 touchdowns. Despite his on-field success, Owens was also known for his controversial behavior, including public conflicts with teammates, coaches, and management. Nevertheless, his talent and production on the field cannot be denied.
2. Randy Moss
If the list was about popularity and fame, then Randy Moss would have found himself in the top spot. The Charismatic receiver bought revolution to the position and completely dominated the NFL throughout the entirety of his career.
Moss went on to play for the Vikings, the Oakland Raiders, the New England Patriots, the Tennessee Titans, and the San Francisco 49ers during his 14-year NFL career.
Moss was known for his exceptional speed, leaping ability, and ability to make acrobatic catches. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a four-time first-team All-Pro selection. He also led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times and finished his career with 982 receptions, 15,292 receiving yards, and 156 touchdowns.
1. Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice is undoubtedly the greatest WR of all time and that’s going to be the case for a long time. Rice played college football at Mississippi Valley State University before being selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the first round of the 1985 NFL Draft. He went on to play for the 49ers, the Oakland Raiders, and the Seattle Seahawks during his 20-year NFL career.
Rice was known for his exceptional work ethic, precise route running, and ability to make spectacular catches. Rice played a key role in helping the 49ers win three Super Bowl championships, and he was named the Super Bowl MVP in 1989. He finished his career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, and 197 touchdowns.
Rice’s achievements and records are a testament to his dedication and talent, and his legacy as one of the greatest football players of all time is secure. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2010, cementing his status as one of the all-time greats.
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Aamir Jethwa
(1485 Articles Published)