Throughout the history of the NFL, we’ve seen many great wide receivers. Wide receivers are some of the most athletic specimens in sports today. Whether it be their athleticism, size, speed, or route-running ability, they’re insanely fun to watch. It’s tough putting together a list of the top five NFL wide receivers of all time due to the different eras they’ve played in but I’ll do my best. This list was based on production, talent, and my honest opinions on who I truly believe are the best receivers to ever lace them up.
The Top 5 NFL Wide Receivers of All Time
1: Jerry Rice
Rice showing up first on this list won’t surprise anyone and for good reason. He’s undoubtedly the greatest wide receiver of all time and it’s not up for debate. He holds records for the most receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns in NFL history. 22,895 receiving yards, 1,549 receptions, and 197 touchdowns most likely will never be broken. Rice won three Super Bowls, two Offensive Player of the Year awards, appeared in 13 Pro Bowls and made 10 first-team All-Pro teams. The resume speaks for itself.
2: Randy Moss
“YOU GOT MOSSED!!!” When there’s a term created about your style of play, you’ve obviously cemented your legacy. Moss was a rare athletic specimen with size and speed. At the NFL Combine in 1998, he clocked 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Moss won in multiple ways. His leaping ability, great hands, and speed/burst are the greatest I have ever seen in my life. Only two wide receivers in NFL history have totaled 1,000 receiving yards in 10 seasons, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice. Moss was a six-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro during his career. He ranks second in receiving touchdowns with 156. And fourth in receiving yards with 15,292.
3: Terrell Owens
Owens deserved to be inducted into the Hall of Fame well before 2018. Owens was physically gifted and just as talented as anyone on the field every week. He totaled 15,934 receiving yards, 1,078 receptions, and 153 touchdowns. T.O. was able to put together nine 1,000 yard seasons in his career. He ranks top three in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns. Owens appeared in six Pro Bowls and made five All-Pro teams.
4: Larry Fitzgerald
Fitzgerald has caught a touchdown pass from 16 different quarterbacks in his storied career. Did you know he has more tackles than dropped passes in his career? The former number three overall pick in 2004 ranks second in NFL history with 17,083 receiving yards, second in receptions with 1,378, and sixth with 120 receiving touchdowns. He’s a sure-fire first-ballot Hall of Famer whenever he decides to hang it up.
5: Calvin Johnson
Longevity is important when debating the greatness of players in sports today but there are a few athletes that are allowed an exception. Megatron is one of those athletes. Johnson was simply built differently. Listed at 6’5 237 pounds, he was clocked at 4.35 seconds in the 40 yards at the combine. A man that size shouldn’t be able to move that fast. His incredible catch radius allowed him to make so many outstanding catches at any given moment. In only nine seasons he racked up 11,619 receiving yards, 731 receptions, and 83 receiving touchdowns. Despite is body taking a beating over time and growing frustration of not winning he still had a fantastic career.
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