Top 5 Greatest Nfl Wide Receivers of All Time

Welcome to the top five countdown of the NFL's greatest wide receivers in history. Just know, I am a little more partial to players after the 80's because they played with the greatest talent in the world. I respect many of the old time greats in all sports but, unfortunately, they did not play against the greatest talent from other countries and including the United States. Scouting has come a long way in the world, Including, sports in general. Student athletes are the heart and soul of the world next to the military and government. Would Wilt Chamberlain have scored 100 points in game against players and rule book now a days? No. Could Babe Ruth hit home runs and pitch? Yes. However, he was really only a fastball hitter. Below average fielder and slow. Still, both made their legacy at different times in the world. Football has changed drastically throughout the generations. Beginning as a run game, it slowly transitioned itself to a pass game with the greatest show on turf in Kurt Warner, Tory Holt and Issac Bruce.

Many great wide receivers will be passed along because they played in a run first mentality style of football. I look for three things. Raw talent and athleticism. The game an playbooks can be taught with the right coaching. Production, as in pee wee, high school, college football. Did he play for a good program that played other good programs. Last,Natural Football awareness. Some people just have a nose for the football and where to be on the field at all times. All three can't be taught! So lets get to it shall we? Who are the the five greatest NFL wide receivers of all time?

Mega-tron! I believe Calvin Johnson is the most athletic specimen to have ever played the wide receiver position in the NFL. However, he was used heavily in a high powered Lions offense. Unlike most teams, options were far and few. In fact, he became so dominant it didn't matter what defenses did. A nightmare! The most relied upon player in the history of the NFL. He meant the world to the city of Detroit and its team. In a generation of football with the best players in the world, he made defenses look like Pop Warner. One of the greatest at creating separation. The greatest jumping wide receiver of all time. Double or even triple coverage will not do. Has the athleticism and awareness to find the ball at its peak! Speaking of peak his career was cut short. Just like Barry Sanders, he retired a bit early and unexpectedly. Both players were cited as having nothing to prove. Icons throughout their time. Matthew Stafford was Quarterback throughout his career. With a top notch NFL arm and great chemistry, they shredded defensive secondaries like paper.

Calvin Johnson's Player Card

No. 81

Position: Wide receiver

Personal information

Born:September 29, 1985

(age 33) Newnan, Georgia

Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)

Weight : 238 lb (108 kg)

Career information

High school:Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Georgia)

College: Georgia Tech

NFL Draft: 2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 2

Career history

• Detroit Lions (2007–2015)

Career highlights and awards

• 6× Pro Bowl (2010–2015)
• 3× First-team All-Pro (2011–2013)
• Second-team All-Pro (2010)
• 2× NFL receiving yards leader (2011, 2012)
• NFL receptions leader (2012)
• NFL receiving touchdowns leader (2008)
• NFL record 1,964 receiving yards in a season
• Fred Biletnikoff Award (2006)
• ACC Player of the Year (2006)
• 2× First-team All-American (2005, 2006)
• 3× First-team All-ACC (2004–2006)

Career

NFL statistics

Receptions:731

Receiving yards:11,619

Yards per reception:15.9

Receiving touchdowns:83

Do you see Chris answering the phone? That is because this Hall Of Fame wide receiver always answered the call. Especially, in needed first down situations. Known as the greatest possession wide receiver of all time, he had very deceptive speed. Phenomenal route running and great run blocker. His awareness always allowed him to find the open coverage in zone defenses. Fearless when crossing the middle and specialized in sideline catches. As Steve Berman said, " All he did was catch touchdowns." Throughout his career Chris had a nose for the end zone. He did get to play with Warren Moon, however, a lack luster team with John Randal anchoring the defense made things difficult. The greatest mentor of all time in my book. He taught Randy Moss everything until he retired. Chris, may be the greatest decoy of all time. In their first year together, Chris Carter helped Randy Moss obtain, possibly, the greatest Rookie season of all time in any position! With the right teaching from Chris and Randy's raw ability, they combined to make the greatest Duo at Wide receiver ever on one team.

Chris Carter's Player Card

No. 80, 88

Position: Wide Receiver

Personal information

Born:November 25, 1965

(age 52) Troy, Ohio

Height : 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)

Weight:208 lb (94 kg)

Career Information

High school: Middletown (OH)

College: Ohio State

Supplemental draft: 1987 / Round: 4

Career History

• Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989)
• Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001)
• Miami Dolphins (2002)

Career Highlights and Awards

• 8× Pro Bowl (1993–2000)
• 2× First-team All-Pro (1994, 1999)
• Second-team All-Pro (1995)
• Bart Starr Award (1995)
• Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (1999)
• 3× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1995, 1997, 1999)
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
• Minnesota Vikings No. 80 retired
• Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
• Consensus All-American (1986)

Career NFL Statistics

Receptions:1,101

Receiving yards:13,899

Yards per reception:12.6

Receiving touchdowns:130

Michael Irving was one of the most dominant wide receivers of all time. He was the complete package with phenomenal blocking skills. Great leaping ability second to none. Lives for the big games. A serious red zone threat, with a rare ability to break tackles and create yards after the catch. A nightmare in the open field. Even under pressure, he is able to stay focused and dominate. A bit of off the field issues and can be cocky, but far from a Terrell Owens. One of the greatest teammates to have on your side. An asset. Motivation and leadership skills on the gridiron. Inside the 90's Cowboy dynasty era along side Emmitt Smith, Troy Aikman, Darryl "The Moose" Johnson, and possibly the greatest offensive line ever anchored by Larry Allen. Not to mention, the best corner back, Deion Sanders was, bought, I mean brought to the Dallas Cowboys by Jerry Jones. No harm intended. This was one of the worst deals in San Francisco history, but hey. All teams miss some things here and there. This gave them a lock down corner to guard Jerry Rice. Michael falls on my list at a respectable number three.

Michael Irving's Player Card

No. 88

Position: Wide receiver

Personal information

Born : March 5, 1966

(age 52) Fort Lauder-dale, Florida

Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight:217 lb (98 kg)

Career information

High school : St. Thomas Aquinas ( Fort Lauder-dale, Florida )

College: Miami (FL) NFL Draft: 1988 / Round: 1 / Pick: 11

Career history

• Dallas Cowboys (1988–1999)

Career highlights and awards

• 3× Super Bowl champion (XXVII, XXVIII, XXX)
• 5× Pro Bowl (1991–1995)
• First-team All-Pro (1991)
• 2× Second-team All-Pro (1992, 1993)
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
• Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor
• National champion (1987)
• First-team All-American (1986)
• Second-team All-American (1987)

Career NFL Statistics

Receptions: 750

Receiving yards : 11,904

Receiving touchdowns: 65

The pride of Marshall University. It is not everyday a player comes from a lower tier college and has great success in the NFL. When Randy has the ball in his hands, you can hear the herd of Buffalo making their way to the end zone. Make way! The greatest deep threat to play the game. Scary Olympic track speed. If he gets behind the defense it could be six. If he is single covered it could go to the house. Phenomenal leaping ability and possibly the best red zone threat ever. Okay blocker. Known for having the greatest Rookie season at any position playing next too, Chris Carter, his mentor. Unlike most wide receivers in the game, Randy got the privilege to play with possibly the greatest quarterback/player ever in Tom Brady. The most lethal combination ever known. When together, they carved their names in the record books. Greatness makes others around you even better. This was a great example. A few character issues but nothing to be alarmed about. I put this combination just ahead of Joe Montana and Steve Young with Jerry Rice. Brett Farve and Antonio Freeman from the Green Bay Packers were also great. At the time, Bill Walsh's offensive system could steamroll any defense. In this case, it was utter dominance. Randy Moss could be the greatest ever playing against some of the greatest corner backs in the NFL. Not even Jerry Rice could say that. A student of the game. Can figure out any defensive coverage and find the weak spot over the middle or over the top. Will do serious damage with yards after the catch. When it comes to finding and fighting for the jump ball, Randy was on a different plateau, literally! Astounding awareness on the field. Can strike fear just by stepping on the gridiron. He will always be known for changing the passing game with the deep throw from Dante Cullpepper and Tom Brady. One play and the game can change that quick when Randy Moss was on the field.

Randy Moss's player card

No. 84, 18, 81

Position: Wide receiver

Personal information

Born :February 13, 1977

(age 41) Rand, West Virginia

Height: : 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Weight :210 lb (95 kg)

Career information

High School: DuPont ( Belle, West Virginia )

College: Marshall

NFL Draft: 1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21

Career history

• Minnesota Vikings (1998–2004)
• Oakland Raiders (2005–2006)
• New England Patriots (2007–2010)
• Minnesota Vikings (2010)
• Tennessee Titans (2010)
• San Francisco 49ers (2012)

Career highlights and awards

• 6× Pro Bowl (1998–2000, 2002, 2003, 2007)
• 4× First-team All-Pro (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1998)
• 5× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009)
• Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor
• NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
• NCAA I-AA national champion (1996)
• MAC Offensive Player of the Year (1997)
• Fred Biletnikoff Award (1997)
• Consensus All-American (1997)

NFL records

• 23 receiving touchdowns in a season
• 17 receiving touchdowns in a rookie season

Career NFL statistics

Receptions : 982

Receiving yards :15,292

Yards per reception :15.6

Receiving touchdowns :156

All rise for the greatest of all time, the goat, Jerry Rice. His father was a bricklayer. They would toss bricks back and forth softening Jerry's hands. It paid off, as those hands are possibly the greatest ever to catch a football. The greatest low tier school find ever, hailing from Mississippi Valley State. It was said his principal caught him skipping school and gave Jerry two options. Punishment or try out for the high school football team. He never looked back. The greatest route runner to play the game. Deceptive speed with the ability to break away at any moment. Hands, as soft as a pillow always able to catch the ball away from his chest. A zone defense menace. Will always find the weak spot. Played against lower caliber defensive backs in his time. Having two Hall of Fame quarterbacks throwing you the ball didn't hurt, Steve Young and Joe Montana. The work ethic and teamwork skill of a beaver. A prime time performer when the big game is on the line. Can carry a team in any circumstances. Never hurt. A mule! Seems to be made of steel. A consonant professional. A leader on and off the field by only one way, example. Scary football IQ. An ATM, automatic touchdown machine. Many defensive coordinators will have nightmares about this man for years to come!

Jerry Rice's Player Card

No. 80

Position: Wide receiver

Personal information

Born : October 13, 1962

(age 56) Starkville, Mississippi

Height : 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Weight : 200 lb (91 kg)

Career information

High school: Moor ( Oktoc, Mississippi )

College: Mississippi Valley State

NFL Draft: 1985 / Round: 1 / Pick: 16Career history

• San Francisco 49ers (1985–2000)
• Oakland Raiders (2001–2004)
• Seattle Seahawks (2004)
• Denver Broncos (2005)* Off-season and/or practice squad member only*

Career highlights and awards

• 3× Super Bowl champion (XXIII, XXIV, XXIX)
• Super Bowl MVP (XXIII)
• 13× Pro Bowl (1986–1996, 1998, 2002)
• 10× First-team All-Pro (1986–1990, 1992–1996)
• 2× Second-team All-Pro (1991, 2002)
• Bert Bell Award (1987)
• 2× NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1987, 1993)
• 6× NFL receiving yards leader (1986, 1989, 1990, 1993–1995)
• 2× NFL receptions leader (1990, 1996)
• 6× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1986, 1987, 1989–1991, 1993)
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
• San Francisco 49ers No. 80 retired
• 2× First-team I-AA All-American (1983, 1984)

NFL records

• 1,549 career receptions
• 22,895 career receiving yards
• 197 career receiving touchdowns
• 208 total touchdowns
• 23,546 career all-purpose yards

Career NFL statistics

Receptions : 1,549

Receiving yards : 22,895

Yards per reception : 14.8

Receiving touchdowns : 197