Most Receptions in NFL History
A reception happens when a player grabs a forward pass from the quarterback, maintains control of the ball and remains in bounds. In the NFL, receptions indicate how frequently a player contributes to advancing the chains and influencing the passing game. Jerry Rice holds the record for the most receptions in NFL history, finishing his legendary career with 1,549 receptions.
Photo Credit: Photo taken by Flickr user gamerscoreblog, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Top 5 Most Receptions in NFL History
Here are the top 5 players with the most receptions in NFL history, showcasing the pinnacle of offensive consistency.
| Rank | Player | Receptions |
| 1 | Jerry Rice | 1,549 |
| 2 | Larry Fitzgerald | 1,432 |
| 3 | Tony Gonzalez | 1,325 |
| 4 | Jason Witten | 1,228 |
| 5 | Marvin Harrison | 1,102 |
Jerry Rice (1,549 Receptions)
Career: 1985-2004
Teams: San Francisco 49ers, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks
Jerry Rice holds the record for the most receptions in NFL history with a total of 1,549. He managed to catch a pass in 274 consecutive games throughout his 18-year career. Rice became the first player to achieve 1,000 career receptions during a game against the New Orleans Saints. By the time he retired, he had set 38 NFL records which included 14 seasons with more than 1,000 receiving yards and 17 seasons with at least 50 catches.
Larry Fitzgerald (1,432 Receptions)
Career: 2004-2020
Teams: Arizona Cardinals
Larry Fitzgerald played 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals and ended up with 1,432 catches. At just 32 years old, he became the youngest player to hit 1,000 receptions. Fitzgerald also had a streak of catching a pass in 200 consecutive games joining legends like Rice and Tony Gonzalez in that exclusive group. He led the league in receptions two times and set the record for the most seasons with over 90 catches.
Tony Gonzalez (1,325 Receptions)
Career: 1997-2013
Teams: Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons
Tony Gonzalez transformed the tight end role forever. He ended his career with 1,325 receptions ranking just behind Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald. Throughout his 17 seasons with the Chiefs and Falcons, he proved that tight ends could be top-tier pass-catchers. He was the first player at his position to record four 1,000-yard seasons. In 2004, he led the NFL with 102 receptions and became the first tight end to accomplish that feat.
Jason Witten (1,228 Receptions)
Career: 2003-2020
Teams: Dallas Cowboys, Las Vegas Raiders
Jason Witten was the backbone of the Dallas Cowboys for 17 seasons and wrapped up his career with 1,228 receptions. He played in 271 games and he even had a streak of 229 consecutive starts. Witten’s reliability was extraordinary as he achieved 13 consecutive seasons with over 60 receptions, a record matched only by Jerry Rice and Larry Fitzgerald. In 2012, he set the record for the most catches in a single game by a tight end with 18 catches against the Giants.
Marvin Harrison (1,102 Receptions)
Career: 1996-2008
Teams: Indianapolis Colts
Marvin Harrison dedicated his entire career to the Colts and finished with 1,102 receptions. His 2002 season was remarkable as he broke the single-season record with 143 catches, a record that remained unbroken until 2019. From 1999 to 2002, he achieved four consecutive seasons with over 100 receptions. He also reached 1,000 career receptions quicker than anyone else at that time, achieving it in just 146 games.
