All-Time Wide Receivers

1. Jerry Rice (San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks 1985-2004)

Former
Dallas Cowboy wide receiver Michael Irvin referred to Jerry Rice as
“Jesus in cleats” for his athletic ability. Rice had the best hands with
the exception of me at pastry convention. If there is a record for
receiving in The National Football League, Rice either is tied for the
lead or he is the all-time leader in that category. Rice entered The NFL
in 1985 and it didn’t take him long to make a name for himself. The
knock on Rice coming out of Mississippi Valley State was that he did not
have breakaway speed. For his career, Rice had six receiving touchdowns
that went for at least 70 yards. The highlight of Rice’s Hall of Fame
career was in Super Bowl 23. Rice had 11 catches for 215 yards earning
him Super Bowl MVP Honors. The game of pro football may never see
another receiver that comes close to Rice or his accomplishments.

2. Randy Moss (Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans 1998-2010)

Randy
Moss was the steal of The 1998 NFL Draft. Controversy from off the
field incidents in high school and college dropped Moss’ stock as he was
taken 21st overall by The Minnesota Vikings. Moss’ motivation was to
take The NFL by storm and that is exactly what he did. In his rookie
season with The Vikings, Moss has 1,313 receiving yards to go along with
17 touchdowns. Moss appeared to be the man who would break every record
of Jerry Rice. That never came to fruition as Moss had moments of
lethargy during his career. Moss was able to revive his career in 2007
when he was traded to The New England Patriots. Moss was out to prove to
all of the naysayers that he had not lost a step. For 2007, Moss set a
NFL record with 23 receiving touchdowns. What makes Moss so unique is
that he primarily ran one route for his career. Moss was the best at
running the deep route. In the time that I have watched football, I have
never seen a receiver that could continuously beat triple coverage for a
touchdown.
 
3. Raymond Berry (Baltimore Colts 1955-1967)

Besides Raymond Berry’s great hands, he developed a reputation
for his attention to detail. Berry was one of the first wide receivers
to perfect the position. Berry constantly worked on his routes with
Baltimore Colt quarterback Johnny Unitas. Unitas and Berry would stay
after practice to perfect the timing on each route. During his career,
Berry was credited with fumbling once for his career and dropping two
passes. For most receivers in the modern era, those stats equate to one
quarter of a football game.
 
4. Don Hutson (Green Bay Packers 1933-1945)

Don
Hutson may have had 99 problems, but catching touchdowns wasn’t one of
them. The number 99 is significant because that is how many receiving
touchdowns that Hutson had in his career. Hutson’s mark stood until 1989
when it was broken by Steve Largent. Hutson’s best season for
touchdowns was in 1942 when he had 17 touchdowns in “the leather helmet”
era.

5. Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis Colts 1996-2008)

Would Indianapolis Colt quarterback Peyton Manning have become
Peyton Manning without Marvin Harrison by his side early in his career?
Harrison and Manning formed one the best quarterback/wide receiver
combos in NFL history. Harrison was known as a”quiet assassin” during
his career. Unlike most wide receivers during his era, Harrison rarely
spoke to the media and let his play do the talking for him. Harrison had
four seasons in which he went over 100 receptions. Harrison’s best
season was in 2002 when he set a NFL record with 143 receptions.

6. Lance Alworth (San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys 1962-1972)

Lance
Alworth was the symbol of receiving of in The American Football League.
Alworth teamed with quarterback John Hadl to form a duo that took the
AFL by storm. Hadl was given the nickname “Bambi” by his teammates, but
he gained the team’s respect by his play. Alworth had seven consecutive
seasons in which he went over the 1,000 yard mark for receiving. When
Alworth retired his 81 receiving touchdowns were a record for The San
Diego Charger franchise.

7. Steve Largent (Seattle Seahawks 1976-1989)

More
people would talk about Largent if he didn’t play his entire career in
The Pacific Northwest.  When Largent retired, he led The NFL in
receptions (819), receiving yards (13,089), and touchdowns (100).
Largent became the first Seattle Seahawk to be inducted into The Pro
Football Hall of Fame.

8. Art Monk (Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles 1980-1995)

For
some weird reason Art Monk gets lost in the shuffle of great receivers.
Monk was never a man that glamored for the camera, his play just did
the talking for him. Monk was a three-time Super Bowl Champion with The
Washington Redskins. Monk was a dependable receiver through his time in
the league, which was evident as he retired as The NFL’s all-time leader
in receptions with 940.


9. Charlie Joiner (Houston Oilers, Cincinnati Bengals, San Diego Chargers 1969-1986)

Charlie
Joiner was not only one the best route runners of his era, but in the
history of pro football. Joiner was a part of “The Air Coryell” passing
attack in San Diego that put fear in defenses around The NFL. When San
Diego Charger quarterback Dan Fouts couldn’t wing the ball down the
field, he knew that he could come underneath to Joiner and he would
always move the chains.

10. James Lofton (Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles 1978-1993)