White 1,000-Yard Receivers of the Past 20 Years

[Thrashen]

I updated the list to include the 2016 season. It's really too bad that Thielen missed out by a mere 33 yards or we could have had the most whites ever (5) eclipse 1,000 yards in the same season. Beasley, Rudolph, and Ertz all had over 800 yards. Gronkowski, Humphries, Fiedorowicz, Doyle, Barnidge, Witten, Hogan, Fleener, Brate, and Pitta all had between 500 yards and 800 yards. That's 18 different whites with over 500 yards. Not too bad...

1985 - Largent, Collinsworth

1986 - Christensen, Collinsworth, Largent, Bavaro

1987 - None

1988 - None

1989- None

1990- None

1991- None

1992- None

1993- None

1994- None

1995 – None

1996 – None

1997 – None

1998 – Chrebet, McCaffrey

1999 - Jeffers, Schroeder, McCaffrey

2000 – McCaffrey

2001 – None

2002 – None

2003 – None

2004 – Bennett, Stokley

2005 – None

2006 – Furrey

2007 – Welker, Witten, Curtis

2008 – Welker

2009 – Welker, Clark, Witten

2010 – Witten

2011 – Welker, Gronkowski, Nelson

2012 – Welker, Hartline, Decker, Witten

2013 – Nelson, Decker, Edelman, Hartline

2014 – Nelson, Gronkowski, Olsen

2015 – Gronkowski, Olsen, Decker, Barnidge

2016 - Olsen, Kelce, Edelman, Nelson

As discussed, the only "new" name on the list this season was TE Travis Kelce, who tied an NFL record for most consecutive 100-yard games in a row (4) for a TE. Amazingly, he had six 100-yard games in total, all coming in the second half of the season...

With big names such as Gronkowski and Decker returning, Hogan having a full 16 games with Brady, Humphries possibly having a "Thielen-like" breakout for the Bucs, and young TE's such as Ertz and Rudolph (and to a lesser extent, Brate) on the cusp of stardom, next season could be a banner year for white pass-catchers.

Add in the return of Woodhead, Zenner and Burkhead possibly getting a chance, and a white RB (Christian McCaffrey) presumably being drafted high in April and it could make for a very enjoyable and Caste-shattering season!

 

[backrow]

Such a bummer that Thielen just missed out.

 

[sprintstar]

Thielan was intentionally kept out of that 1,000 yd group....by the "powers" that be..couldn't have 5 whites excelling in one season...

 

[Thrashen]

Yesterday, WR Adam Thielen added his name to this list for 2017...and he still has 5 games remaining!

He was the first Vikings WR to eclipse 1,000 yards since Sidney Rice in 2009.

I have to say, the black players on the Vikings seem to really like Thielen. Diggs was extremely happy to see his achievement:

https://www.bemidjipioneer.com/spor...-thielen-shrugs-reaching-1000-receiving-yards

 

[Thrashen]

With 5 games remaining, it seems as though we have five (5) white players who could have a 1,000-yard season in 2017.

1) Theilen - Currently at 1,005 yards. He has 5 weeks to add to his amazing total.

2) Kelce - Currently at 777 yards. He'll need to average 45 yards per game.

3) Gronkowski - Currently at 702 yards. He'll need to average 59 yards per game.

4) Ertz - Currently at 639 yards. He'll need to average 72 yards per game.

5) Kupp - Currently at 597 yards. He'll need to average 80 yards per game.

The only other player with a chance at 1,000 is Jack Doyle, but he'd need to average 91 yards per game. I can't see that happening.

 

[Thrashen]

Considering what has happened this season, I'm thankful that we have this many of our athletes with a chance at 1,000 yards this season...

-Serious injuries to Olsen, Edelman and Hogan.

-Top players like Nelson and Decker being rendered useless by bad Quotablack play.

-Second tier players like Beasley, Taylor, Amendola, and Humphries having minimal usage.

-Backups like Janis, McEvoy, and Erickson barely playing offense whatsoever.

 

[MrPoon]

When does Hogan get back?

 

[Thrashen]

There are 4 games left and it seems like only 3 white players will have a chance at 1,000 yards this year. Gronk being suspended next week doesn't help, but I think he'll get there...

Thielen - 1,056 yards
Kelce - 871 yards
Gronkowski - 849 yards

Kupp and Ertz are both at about 665 yards and both will need to average about 80 yards per game in the remaining contests. Possible, but unlikely.

 

[Thrashen]

With 3 games to go, Travis Kelce is only 55 yards away from 1,000.

The only other white players with a chance are Gronkowski (he'll need to average 51 yards per game) and Kupp (he'll need to average 72 yards per game).

If everything goes perfectly, we could have 4 white players go over 1,000 again this year. It would be nice considering the bevy of injuries and bad fortune to white pass-catchers.

 

[Riggins44]

With 3 games to go, Travis Kelce is only 55 yards away from 1,000.

The only other white players with a chance are Gronkowski (he'll need to average 51 yards per game) and Kupp (he'll need to average 72 yards per game).

If everything goes perfectly, we could have 4 white players go over 1,000 again this year. It would be nice considering the bevy of injuries and bad fortune to white pass-catchers.

Cooper had 118 yards yesterday, so he's gaining momentum. If he does it it will be a hell of an accomplishment for a white rookie receiver. Who was the last white rookie receiver to get 1,000 yards?

 

[Don Wassall]

Irony of ironies, I believe it was none other than Crissie Collinsworth, who went 67/1,009/8 in his rookie season in 1981 and made the Pro Bowl.

 

[Shadowlight]

Don you beat me to the punch. Are you related to Jessie James the fastest gun in the west? Oddly it isn't that common. Some black WR's who achieved it were Bob Hayes, John Jefferson, Randy Moss and Anquan Boldin.

When I see Cooper Kupp and his natural WR skills I think of two players. If you were to throw these two guys in a mixer I think you would come out with a Cooper Kupp. Kupp is a tad bigger and stronger than them though.

The first is Ricky Proehl who had a very long and solid career with various teams including the high flying Rams back when.
The second is John Jefferson ( who is black) who had three great seasons with the Chargers before being traded to the Packers which was a huge surprise back then.

Neither player was known for their straight line speed but they were smooth and naturally gifted with terrific body control and shiftiness.

Jefferson got out of the gate quickly with three straight 1,000 yard seasons and I remember at the time everybody was raving about him. He goes down in history as one of those curios who faded from view prematurely. After a few years with the Packers( his best season with them was 1983 with a 57-830-7 stat line) he was out of the NFL after an 8 year career.

Proehl's career was the opposite of Jefferson's flash and burn. Proehl was in the NFL playing at a high level for 15 plus years. He never gained 1,000 yards in a season but he accumulated three seasons with 60 catches and three more seasons with 50 grabs. A true steady Eddie the very reliable Proehl was the consummate WR who constantly made plays for a very long time. His son Austin is a WR at NC who might be good enough to get drafted.

So if I am correct in my assessment and comparisons expect Kupp to have a fruitful career. I think he will have the big years like Jefferson along with the solid longevity of Proehl. So let us hope he reaches the 1,000 yard milestone in his rookie year. That would be quite an achievement.

 

[Don Wassall]

I was always disappointed that Proehl never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. He had four seasons over 700 yards and two other seasons over 800 yards, with a career high of 877 in 1993. Just like I kept hoping Mike Alstott would go over 1,000 yards rushing, but he peaked at 949 yards in 1999. That was just such a terrible era for White players. Even on defense, while there were a few more White starters than now, fewer of them were stars. There was very little to cheer for beyond some White QBs.

 

[Carolina Speed]

I was always disappointed that Proehl never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. He had four seasons over 700 yards and two other seasons over 800 yards, with a career high of 877 in 1993. Just like I kept hoping Mike Alstott would go over 1,000 yards rushing, but he peaked at 949 yards in 1999. That was just such a terrible era for White players. Even on defense, while there were a few more White starters than now, fewer of them were stars. There was very little to cheer for beyond some White QBs.

I would like to mention three wide receivers from three different decades if I could? They never reached 1,ooo yards receiving. One was close while the other two would have, if they would have been used properly!
From the 1970's: Golden Richards, WR Dallas Cowboys. While he never even made it to 500 yards and peeked at 467, this exciting WR averaged over 21.0 yards/rec. three times in his career. More than fellow starter Drew Pearson 17.9. Richards attended BYU was the fastest player on the team and set numerous NCAA punt and kick return records.
From the 1980's: Mike Renfro, WR Dallas Cowboys. Renfro peeked at 955 yards and 8 touchdowns garnering the teams MVP in 1985.
From the 1990's: Don Beebe, WR Buffalo and Green Bay. Another great white WR who should have reached a 1,000 yards sometime in his career. Beebe had 699 yards/17.9 yds./rec. in 1996 for Green Bay and finally getting that Super Bowl Ring he missed out on in Buffalo 3-4 times. Beebe averaged 15.6 yds./rec. during his career only .5 yards behind Collinsworth. I can't help but think Beebe mentored the future 1,000 yard receiver Green Bay Packer WR Bill Schroeder.
...anyway, I hope no one minded this trip down memory lane. The caste system was alive and well during the 70's and 80's and as mentioned the 90's were horrible.

 

[Shadowlight]

Great post Carolina and it opens up a lot of "memory" discussions.

I remember Golden Richards but he never seemed to be a full time starter if memory serves. Lance Rentzel's career was winding down at that point according to the stat books but both of these WR's were talented and gifted players. Rentzel' best years were 1967-58-996-8, 1968-54-1009-6 and 1969- 43-960-12 with a league leading 22.3 yards per catch. He was a genuine deep threat to go along with Bob Hayes. Speaking of deep threat perhaps the greatest WR of all time Charger Lance Alworth played alongside Rentzel in 1971 and 1972 which marked his final two years in the NFL. Imagine that. Two guys named Lance on the same team. Both Richards and Rentzel however were tainted with off the field problems. Richards succumbed to drugs and I won't go into detail about Rentzel's more squeamish problems with the law.

I was engaged in the NFL in the 80's yet I can't believe it but I barely remember Mike Renfro. Another black hole in my memory bank.

Don Beebe I remember vividly. With blazing speed he was on my radar at all times. It always upset me that Deion Sanders caught him from behind on a return which I remember and there were other frustrating parts about Beebe's career.

Beebe never got his feet set as a steady WR until the 1991 season and again I cant remember if he started. But he was also part of those great Bills teams which I rooted for at the time. In 91 he caught 32 passes ,92-33,93-31 and 94 his best year with a 40-527 stat line. I was happy to see him playing because of his notorious speed.

Like Carolina said Beebe finally got a Super Bowl ring with the Pack in 1997 which was his best season as a WR(1996 regular season) see above. He also returned kicks with a stellar 26.9 yards per return average that season. But sadly I don't recall him doing much of anything in that Super Bowl. He might have been injured but I remember being upset he didn't get a chance to shine.

But with all that said and done Beebe is most remembered for the 1993 Super Bowl against the arrogant ******* Cowboys on a play where he ran down a showboating Leon Lett and stripped him of the ball just before he crossed the goal line. They were beaten to a pulp by then but Beebe wasn't about to start pussy footing around. I remember at the time the media seized on it and it just reinforced the idea that the Bills, who I was rooting for in every Super Bowl back then, were the loveable losers that had pride and guts. Beebe's play made me so proud. The hustling white player chasing down the circus act black player. That stuck in peoples minds that play. Relive the iconic play below and stick to the end where the announcer mentions Beebe's wonderful speed.

Plus highlights from his best game with the Packers as he went over 200 yards with Brett Farve throwing him the ball.

 

[Carolina Speed]

Great post Carolina and it opens up a lot of "memory" discussions.

I remember Golden Richards but he never seemed to be a full time starter if memory serves. Lance Rentzel's career was winding down at that point according to the stat books but both of these WR's were talented and gifted players. Rentzel' best years were 1967-58-996-8, 1968-54-1009-6 and 1969- 43-960-12 with a league leading 22.3 yards per catch. He was a genuine deep threat to go along with Bob Hayes. Speaking of deep threat perhaps the greatest WR of all time Charger Lance Alworth played alongside Rentzel in 1971 and 1972 which marked his final two years in the NFL. Imagine that. Two guys named Lance on the same team. Both Richards and Rentzel however were tainted with off the field problems. Richards succumbed to drugs and I won't go into detail about Rentzel's more squeamish problems with the law.

I was engaged in the NFL in the 80's yet I can't believe it but I barely remember Mike Renfro. Another black hole in my memory bank.

Don Beebe I remember vividly. With blazing speed he was on my radar at all times. It always upset me that Deion Sanders caught him from behind on a return which I remember and there were other frustrating parts about Beebe's career.

Beebe never got his feet set as a steady WR until the 1991 season and again I cant remember if he started. But he was also part of those great Bills teams which I rooted for at the time. In 91 he caught 32 passes ,92-33,93-31 and 94 his best year with a 40-527 stat line. I was happy to see him playing because of his notorious speed.

Like Carolina said Beebe finally got a Super Bowl ring with the Pack in 1997 which was his best season as a WR(1996 regular season) see above. He also returned kicks with a stellar 26.9 yards per return average that season. But sadly I don't recall him doing much of anything in that Super Bowl. He might have been injured but I remember being upset he didn't get a chance to shine.

But with all that said and done Beebe is most remembered for the 1993 Super Bowl against the arrogant ******* Cowboys on a play where he ran down a showboating Leon Lett and stripped him of the ball just before he crossed the goal line. They were beaten to a pulp by then but Beebe wasn't about to start pussy footing around. I remember at the time the media seized on it and it just reinforced the idea that the Bills, who I was rooting for in every Super Bowl back then, were the loveable losers that had pride and guts. Beebe's play made me so proud. The hustling white player chasing down the circus act black player. That stuck in peoples minds that play. Relive the iconic play below and stick to the end where the announcer mentions Beebe's wonderful speed.

Plus highlights from his best game with the Packers as he went over 200 yards with Brett Farve throwing him the ball.

Thanks for sharing the Beebe highlights Shadowlight! Lots of things going on. A nice run by Touchdown Tommy Vardell. Not sure how that got in there, but I'm glad it did. Everyone remembers him. The late Frank Gifford complimenting Beebe on his speed by pointing out his 90 yard kickoff return earlier in the year! Thank you Frank!

 

[sport historian]

Great post Carolina and it opens up a lot of "memory" discussions.

I remember Golden Richards but he never seemed to be a full time starter if memory serves. Lance Rentzel's career was winding down at that point according to the stat books but both of these WR's were talented and gifted players. Rentzel' best years were 1967-58-996-8, 1968-54-1009-6 and 1969- 43-960-12 with a league leading 22.3 yards per catch. He was a genuine deep threat to go along with Bob Hayes. Speaking of deep threat perhaps the greatest WR of all time Charger Lance Alworth played alongside Rentzel in 1971 and 1972 which marked his final two years in the NFL. Imagine that. Two guys named Lance on the same team. Both Richards and Rentzel however were tainted with off the field problems. Richards succumbed to drugs and I won't go into detail about Rentzel's more squeamish problems with the law.

I was engaged in the NFL in the 80's yet I can't believe it but I barely remember Mike Renfro. Another black hole in my memory bank.

Don Beebe I remember vividly. With blazing speed he was on my radar at all times. It always upset me that Deion Sanders caught him from behind on a return which I remember and there were other frustrating parts about Beebe's career.

Beebe never got his feet set as a steady WR until the 1991 season and again I cant remember if he started. But he was also part of those great Bills teams which I rooted for at the time. In 91 he caught 32 passes ,92-33,93-31 and 94 his best year with a 40-527 stat line. I was happy to see him playing because of his notorious speed.

Like Carolina said Beebe finally got a Super Bowl ring with the Pack in 1997 which was his best season as a WR(1996 regular season) see above. He also returned kicks with a stellar 26.9 yards per return average that season. But sadly I don't recall him doing much of anything in that Super Bowl. He might have been injured but I remember being upset he didn't get a chance to shine.

But with all that said and done Beebe is most remembered for the 1993 Super Bowl against the arrogant ******* Cowboys on a play where he ran down a showboating Leon Lett and stripped him of the ball just before he crossed the goal line. They were beaten to a pulp by then but Beebe wasn't about to start pussy footing around. I remember at the time the media seized on it and it just reinforced the idea that the Bills, who I was rooting for in every Super Bowl back then, were the loveable losers that had pride and guts. Beebe's play made me so proud. The hustling white player chasing down the circus act black player. That stuck in peoples minds that play. Relive the iconic play below and stick to the end where the announcer mentions Beebe's wonderful speed.

Plus highlights from his best game with the Packers as he went over 200 yards with Brett Farve throwing him the ball.

Lance Alworth didn't "play alongside Rentzel in 1971 and 72," they were involved in a three team trade in which Alworth went from San Diego to Dallas and Rentzel from Dallas To Los Angeles. The "two guys named Lance" were NOT on the same team.

Golden Richards was a "full time starter" during 1974-77. The last year he alternated with Butch Johnson bringing in plays from Tom Landry.

 

[CrazyFinn]

I was always disappointed that Proehl never eclipsed 1,000 yards in a season. He had four seasons over 700 yards and two other seasons over 800 yards, with a career high of 877 in 1993. Just like I kept hoping Mike Alstott would go over 1,000 yards rushing, but he peaked at 949 yards in 1999. That was just such a terrible era for White players. Even on defense, while there were a few more White starters than now, fewer of them were stars. There was very little to cheer for beyond some White QBs.

This is an important point for proper perspective for any younger posters or those who perhaps have forgotten. I'm 36 myself, so I was a teen in the 90s when I started following the NFL and remember very clearly what Don is talking about here. It sort of started with the Jimmy Johnson Cowboys and went on from there, but the cupboard was very bare so to speak in terms of white athletes to cheer for. Sure, there were less black quarterbacks and the offensive lines were whiter, but that's about it. Plus I wasn't caste aware at the time, so this is all in retrospect now.

Today the TE position has a very healthy percentage of white players and they are truly dominating. We have a number of white RBs and WRs to cheer for, and plenty of star, well-known players on defense. On the downside, the offensive lines have darkened and we have far too many black quarterbacks (whites still dominate the position handily), but I'll take today's NFL over the 90s-mid 2000s version any day.

 

[white is right]

This is an important point for proper perspective for any younger posters or those who perhaps have forgotten. I'm 36 myself, so I was a teen in the 90s when I started following the NFL and remember very clearly what Don is talking about here. It sort of started with the Jimmy Johnson Cowboys and went on from there, but the cupboard was very bare so to speak in terms of white athletes to cheer for. Sure, there were less black quarterbacks and the offensive lines were whiter, but that's about it. Plus I wasn't caste aware at the time, so this is all in retrospect now.

Today the TE position has a very healthy percentage of white players and they are truly dominating. We have a number of white RBs and WRs to cheer for, and plenty of star, well-known players on defense. On the downside, the offensive lines have darkened and we have far too many black quarterbacks (whites still dominate the position handily), but I'll take today's NFL over the 90s-mid 2000s version any day.

Back say 25 years ago, the percentage of White players were higher but like you alluded to the NFL had much less receivers and the extremely rare tailback(similar to corner backs now), but fullbacks were still in vogue for most teams and teams that ran the ball a lot ie Marty Ball used the fullback position to run the ball with similar touches to a third string tailback now or in a few rare cases second string tailbacks now. They also had more defensive tackles and middle linebackers were stout run defenders who didn't drift in to pass coverage as much. Safeties seemed to be marginally higher and corner backs were still very marginal but year to year there were 1 or 2 in the league. In the quarterback position new age running quarterbacks were few and the amount of Black quarterbacks might have been 4 or 5, with only Moon and Cunningham being established stars.

PS I forgot to mention that every team kept 3 quarterbacks back then so that was about 20 extra jobs that White players held. It wasn't until the Patriots started the trend of keeping just 2 quarterbacks that many teams have followed this trend. Back then the third quarterback was either a practice squad type or a guy who was well traveled journeyman who would be a veteran minimum rental for a few weeks.

 

[Shadowlight]

Lance Alworth didn't "play alongside Rentzel in 1971 and 72," they were involved in a three team trade in which Alworth went from San Diego to Dallas and Rentzel from Dallas To Los Angeles. The "two guys named Lance" were NOT on the same team.

Golden Richards was a "full time starter" during 1974-77. The last year he alternated with Butch Johnson bringing in plays from Tom Landry.

Sorry chief I botched that up. I was a young kid when Rentzel played and in my hurry didn't notice he played for the Rams later on when I looked up his stats and thought he played with Alworth a couple of years. I vaguely remember seeing Alworth in a Cowboys uniform. I remember Rentzel and Bob Hayes a little bit more but I was very young. I started watching the NFL when I was around 6 years old. I'll have to be more careful. As for Golden Richards I must be remembering the Butch Johnson year which made me think he wasn't a starter. Funny I remember their RB Walt Garrison more.

 

[Thrashen]

Despite missing 2 games this season (1 with an injury and 1 from suspension), the greatest TE in NFL history, Rob Gronkowski, achieved his 4th 1,000 yard season yesterday.

Gronk played with an “edge” yesterday and looked angry after costing his team a game due to suspension. 9 catches for 168 yards and a 2-pt conversion. It was a “prime time” game and millions of DWFs watched in horror as an unstoppable white beast emasculated the all-chocolate Steeler secondary...

 

[Thrashen]

In other news, Travis Kelce is 9 yards away from his 2nd 1,000-yard season. Cooper Kupp is still about 200 yards away and will likely fall short. What happens, Kupp had a great rookie season!

 

[link]

Don't live in the US but I find it interesting you guys don't include post season stats why is that ? Football in Australia generally does. Chris Hogan goes over a 1000 yards including post season for last season do we have any other players in a similar position if playoffs are included ? Kupp could be another this year just a thought........

 

[MrPoon]

Don't live in the US but I find it interesting you guys don't include post season stats why is that ? Football in Australia generally does. Chris Hogan goes over a 1000 yards including post season for last season do we have any other players in a similar position if playoffs are included ? Kupp could be another this year just a thought........

I think Riley Cooper did a few years back including his playoff stats.

 

[chris371]

Don't live in the US but I find it interesting you guys don't include post season stats why is that ? Football in Australia generally does. Chris Hogan goes over a 1000 yards including post season for last season do we have any other players in a similar position if playoffs are included ? Kupp could be another this year just a thought........

To allow a better comparison of player Stats. If your Team plays 3 Games more, you will naturally accumulate higher stats than a WR on a team without playoff participation.