History UsefulNotes / NFLOffensivePlayers

* '''Shaun Alexander''' played for the Seattle Seahawks through the '00s and is the franchise's all-time leading rusher and TD scorer. A first round pick in 2000 out of Alabama, he put up a series of 1,000 yard rushing seasons starting in his second year, tied the single-season TD record in 2004, and put up a truly spectacular 2005 season where he broke said touchdown record and won league MVP (the first Seahawk to do so). Unfortunately, his solid career has been largely overshadowed by his reputation as one of the most prominent examples of the "Madden {{Curse}}". In 2006, while he adorned the cover of ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' in recognition of his excellent prior season, he suffered a foot injury that nearly halved his playing time. That same year, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter [=LaDainian=] Tomlinson]] broke Alexander's TD record and won MVP for himself. Alexander continued to struggle with injuries--Seattle released him to Washington after the next season, and he was out of football entirely the year after that. Despite the relative brevity of his career likely keeping him out of Canton (though he has the second-most career [=TDs=] of any eligible player not in the Hall[[note]]He had the most until Antonio Gates (see "Tight Ends" was snubbed in 2024. Adrian Peterson ("Running Backs") and Larry Fitzgerald ("Wide Receivers") have more [=TDs=] than either, but aren't yet eligible for Canton.[[/note]] and is in the all-time top ten for rushing [=TDs=]), he is a member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor.

* '''Shaun Alexander''' played for the Seattle Seahawks through the '00s and is the franchise's all-time leading rusher and TD scorer. A first round pick in 2000 out of Alabama, he put up a series of 1,000 yard rushing seasons starting in his second year, tied the single-season TD record in 2004, and put up a truly spectacular 2005 season where he broke said touchdown record and won league MVP (the first Seahawk to do so). Unfortunately, his solid career has been largely overshadowed by his reputation as one of the most prominent examples of the "Madden {{Curse}}". In 2006, while he adorned the cover of ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' in recognition of his excellent prior season, he suffered a foot injury that nearly halved his playing time. That same year, [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter [=LaDainian=] Tomlinson]] broke Alexander's TD record and won MVP for himself. Alexander continued to struggle with injuries--Seattle released him to Washington after the next season, and he was out of football entirely the year after that. Despite the relative brevity of his career likely keeping him out of Canton (though he has the most career [=TDs=] of anyone not in the Hall and is in the all-time top ten for rushing [=TDs=]), he is a member of the Seahawks Ring of Honor.

* '''Antonio Gates''' spent his entire career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and was one of the most dominant [=TEs=] ever, owning the record for career TD catches at the position and setting almost every major franchise receiving record over his [[LongRunner 16 seasons]] with the Bolts. He is also notable as one of the few NFL players (let alone stars) who never played college football; he was an undersized power forward for a Kent State basketball team that made an NCAA regional final in 2002, was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003, and had the longest career of any NFL player who never played the sport in college.[[labelnote:*]]While the career of Garo Yepremian (in the "Kickers and Punters" folder of the "Defensive and Special Teams Players" page) spanned the same number of years, Gates played in more seasons. Gates initially enrolled at Michigan State planning to play both football and basketball. Upon finding out that Spartans head coach Nick Saban—yes, ''that'' Nick Saban—wanted him to play only football, he immediately transferred to Eastern Michigan, playing basketball there for part of a season before moving on to a junior college and finally to Kent State for two years.[[/labelnote]] The eight-time Pro Bowler was released by the Chargers in 2018, as they had drafted his presumptive successor, wasn't picked up by another team, and appeared ready to slip quietly into retirement to wait for his inevitable Hall of Fame nomination. Then said successor--''and'' said successor's backup--suffered season-ending injuries in training camp, prompting the Chargers to call the 38-year-old Gates back up for OneLastJob. He didn't catch on with another team in 2019 and after that season made his retirement official, signing a ceremonial contract to retire as a Charger.

* '''Jim Brown''' is one of [[TheAce the greatest football players of all time]]. Considered the prototypical power back, he broke school records at Syracuse before being drafted #6 overall in 1957 by the Cleveland Browns.[[note]]The team is not named after him, but after founding coach Paul Brown, who Jim famously clashed with.[[/note]] During his nine-year career, Brown broke nearly every rushing record at that time, led the league in rushing yards eight times (still more than any other RB) and rushing [=TDs=] five times, and won one championship and three MVP awards (including one in both his rookie and final season, the only player to accomplish this).[[note]]Technically, his first two MVP awards in '57 and '58 were for "Most Outstanding Player"; only his '65 title is recognized as an official MVP by the Associated Press.[[/note]] His massive size and strength often matched (and sometime exceeded) that of the would-be defenders on the opposing team, making attempted blocks a regular NoSell. He was the first RB to amass over 10,000 career yards and remains the ''only'' one to average more than 100 yards per game. He held the rushing title for two decades before being passed by Walter Payton, is still eleventh overall for rushing yards, and remains the Browns' all-time leading rusher. If he hadn't retired before the age of 30 at the top of his game to pursue a film career, he would almost certainly still be a top five rushing yards leader, likely #1. During the height of his movie fame, Brown starred in action films like ''Film/TheDirtyDozen'', ''Film/IceStationZebra'', ''Film/OneHundredRifles'', and {{Blaxploitation}} films like ''Film/ThreeTheHardWay''; later works like ''Film/TheRunningMan'', ''Film/OriginalGangstas'', ''Film/AnyGivenSunday'', and ''Film/MarsAttacks'' call back to either his football career or his blaxploitation roles. Brown was himself portrayed by Creator/AldisHodge in ''Film/OneNightInMiami'', a film that highlights his involvement in the UsefulNotes/CivilRightsMovement, where he used his status as one of the most famous black men in America in the 1960s to call attention to issues of racial inequality. Brown had [[BrokenAce several legal issues]] during and after his playing career involving assault and battery charges, culminating in three months of jail time in 2002. He was still a first ballot inductee to the Hall of Fame, had his #32 retired by the Browns, and, since his time in prison, mostly rehabilitated his image as one of the game's elder statesmen before passing away in 2023.

* '''Christian [=McCaffrey=]''' was drafted #8 overall in 2017 by the Carolina Panthers out of Stanford. A dual threat as both a runner and receiver, [=McCaffrey=] set the record for receptions by a RB in his second season with 107 . The following year, he became only the third player in league history with a 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving yard season (while breaking his own receptions record) and led the league in [=TDs=]. Despite an overall stagnation in RB salaries around the league, [=McCaffrey=] agreed to a new deal with the Panthers during the 2020 offseason that made him the highest paid RB in league history. However, he struggled with injuries in the following years and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the 2022 season as the Panthers continued to struggle on the field. Since returning to the Bay Area, "CMC" has reemerged as a potent scoring threat, breaking the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown (17 when including playoffs) and leading the NFL in rushing and scrimmage yards and total [=TDs=] in 2023 on the way to a Super Bowl appearance. Christian is the son of former Denver Broncos WR '''Ed [=McCaffrey=]''', a fellow Stanford product who won two Super Bowls with the team in the late '90s.

* '''Andre Johnson''' played 14 seasons with the Houston Texans, who drafted him #3 overall in 2003 out of Miami. Johnson set almost all of the new franchise's standing receiving records, was selected to seven Pro Bowls, and twice led the league in receptions ('06, '08) and receiving yards ('08-'09). Johnson was traded away to the Colts in 2015, played for the Titans the following year, and retired after signing a ceremonial contract with the Texans.

* '''Antonio Gates''' spent his entire career with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers and was one of the most dominant [=TEs=] ever, owning the record for career TD catches and setting almost every major franchise receiving record over his [[LongRunner 16 seasons]] with the Bolts. He is also notable as one of the few NFL players (let alone stars) who never played college football; he was an undersized power forward for a Kent State basketball team that made an NCAA regional final in 2002, was signed by the Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2003, and had the longest career of any NFL player who never played the sport in college.[[labelnote:*]]While the career of Garo Yepremian (in the "Kickers and Punters" folder of the "Defensive and Special Teams Players" page) spanned the same number of years, Gates played in more seasons. Gates initially enrolled at Michigan State planning to play both football and basketball. Upon finding out that Spartans head coach Nick Saban—yes, ''that'' Nick Saban—wanted him to play only football, he immediately transferred to Eastern Michigan, playing basketball there for part of a season before moving on to a junior college and finally to Kent State for two years.[[/labelnote]] The eight-time Pro Bowler was released by the Chargers in 2018, as they had drafted his presumptive successor, wasn't picked up by another team, and appeared ready to slip quietly into retirement to wait for his inevitable Hall of Fame nomination. Then said successor--''and'' said successor's backup--suffered season-ending injuries in training camp, prompting the Chargers to call the 38-year-old Gates back up for OneLastJob. He didn't catch on with another team in 2019 and after that season made his retirement official, signing a ceremonial contract to retire as a Charger.
* '''Tony Gonzalez''' is the [[TheAce current holder of all the tight end receiving records]] except for career [=TDs=] (Gates), as well as the first TE to amass over 1,000 receptions. Gonzalez [[RunningGag played college basketball]] at Cal, and his talent in that sport translated to him revolutionizing the tight end's role as a pass catcher. He spent twelve years with the Kansas City Chiefs, who drafted him #13 overall in 1997, and holds most of the franchise's receiving records (not by a tight end, by any player period). He ended his career with five more seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, retiring after 2013. He was voted to 14 Pro Bowls, the most ever for a tight end and tied for second-most for a player at any position, and [[MadeOfIron missed only two games]] in his [[LongRunner 17 seasons]], bringing him one game short of Jason Witten for most regular season games played by a TE. Despite his immense talent, he also [[EveryYearTheyFizzleOut only won a single playoff game]], having to wait until his penultimate season to do so, and never played in a Super Bowl. He has worked mainly as an analyst for several major TV networks since his retirement (currently with Creator/PrimeVideo) while occasionally dabbling in acting. He was inducted into Canton in his first year of eligibility.

* '''Jamal Lewis''' was the all-time leading rusher and TD scorer for the Baltimore Ravens, which drafted him #5 overall in 2000 out of Tennessee. He became the team's primary rusher in his rookie season and was a key component of their Super Bowl XXXV win. In 2003, Lewis won Offensive Player of the Year after putting up over 2,000 rushing yards and breaking the single-game rushing record[[note]]since broken by Adrian Peterson[[/note]]. Unfortunately, a brief prison sentence for cocaine distribution after the 2004 season derailed his career. He signed with Cleveland in 2007, but his performance continued to decline. He was released after 2009, didn't sign with another team, and has struggled with his health and finances following his retirement.

* '''Amon-Ra St. Brown'''[[note]]And yes, that is his actual name - his father, bodybuilder John Brown, named Amon-Ra and his brothers (including Equanimeous St. Brown, also a WR for the Chicago Bears) due to an interest in black consciousness and Egyptian names. The “St.” was added to their last names because John felt it looked better on a jersey.[[/note]] is a current wide receiver with the Detroit Lions. Part of the first draft class of new GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, St. Brown was taken in the fourth round out of USC in 2021 (he famously memorized the list of 17 receivers taken before him). After breaking several rookie franchise receiving records, then fully broke out as a top receiver in 2022. Not known for being the flashiest receiver, St. Brown excels in [[DeathOfAThousandCuts picking up short yards]] while still being capable of making big plays, and he was a massive part of the Lions’ 2023 campaign that saw their first playoff win in more than 30 years.

* '''[=LaDainian=] Tomlinson''' was one of the greater running backs of the '00s. The Heisman finalist from TCU was drafted by the San Diego Chargers #5 overall in 2001 and soon helped to revive the trend of [=RBs=] also being reliable pass catchers. He even saw some time as a passer himself in halfback option plays, throwing more touchdowns than any non-QB in the modern era save Walter Payton. Tomlinson scored a TD in an NFL record 18-straight games from 2004-05; he followed that up by setting the current single-season TD record (31) and winning MVP (and Offensive Player of the Year and Walter Payton Man of the Year) in 2006, his first of two seasons as the NFL's rushing leader.[[note]]He also set the single-season record for fantasy football points that year, if that's your cup of tea.[[/note]] Some believed that he had a chance to break Emmitt Smith's rushing record, but injuries and a couple of down years put an end to that. Regardless, when he retired after playing two years with the Jets and signing a ceremonial contract to return to the Chargers in 2012, "L.T." ranked high in most rushing stats, including being behind only Smith in career rushing [=TDs=]. The Chargers retired his #21, and he entered the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He currently serves as an analyst for NFL Network.

* Quintorris Lopez '''"Julio" Jones''' began his career with the Atlanta Falcons, who traded a massive haul of draft picks (including two 1st rounders) to the Browns in order to take him #6 overall out of Alabama in 2011, one of the largest trades for a non-QB prospect ever. The investment proved well worth it, as he broke out as one of the most productive receivers in NFL history. In 2015, Jones amassed 1,871 yards, the second highest single-season total in NFL history (behind only the aforementioned Calvin Johnson). He again led the league in 2018, currently leads active players in career receiving yards, and set a plethora of "fastest to..." career milestone receiving statistics (mostly since surpassed by Justin Jefferson). Following changes in the Falcons front office and coaching staff, and a down year due to injuries in 2020, Jones moved on to play with the Titans, Buccaneers, and Eagles.

* '''Amon-Ra St. Brown'''[[note]]And yes, that is his actual name - his father, bodybuilder John Brown, named Amon-Ra and his brothers (including Equanimeous St. Brown, also a WR for the Chicago Bears) due to an interest in black consciousness and Egyptian names. The “St.” was added to their last names because John felt it looked better on a jersey.[[/note]] is a current wide receiver with the Detroit Lions. Part of the first draft class of new GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, St. Brown was drafted in the fourth round in 2021 on a rebuilding Lions team. He had a relatively quiet rookie season until he caught a game-winning touchdown against the Vikings to win the Lions their first game that season. St. Brown would then fully break out as a top receiver in the league in 2022, putting up his first 1,000 receiving yard season and becoming the youngest Lions player to reach 1,000 in one season (beating Calvin Johnson by eight days) and finishing his 2023 season with 1,515 yards, the third-most in the league that season. Not known for being the flashiest receiver, St. Brown excels in [[DeathOfAThousandCuts picking up short yards]] while still being capable of making big plays. Considered to be a steal in the fourth round, he famously keeps a list of wide receivers drafted before him, and was a massive part of the Lions’ 2023 playoff campaign that saw their first playoff win in more than 30 years. The “Sun God” was selected for the Pro Bowl in 2022 and 2023, named a first-team All-Pro in 2023, and looks to have a promising career on a young Lions team.

* '''George Kittle''' plays for the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the fifth round in 2017 out of Iowa. Known for his prolific skill, CavalierCompetitor attitude, MotorMouth banter, and [[BoisterousBruiser unique sense of humor]], Kittle set the TE record for single season receiving yards on an otherwise floundering Niners team in 2018 (since passed by Travis Kelce), and he was critical to their turnaround run to a Super Bowl appearance the following year. In 2020, he signed the largest contract for a tight end in NFL history.

* '''Pat Studstill''' went undrafted out of Houston in 1961 but landed with the Detroit Lions, where he had a unique career as a receiver, punter, and returner. Studstill was something of a OneHitWonder, leading the NFL in receiving yards in 1966--that was the only year he exceeded ''500'' yards, let alone 1,000. Still, upon retiring in 1972 following stints with the Rams and Patriots, Studstill remained in the public eye for several years as an actor, most notably landing a recurring role on ''Series/TheDukesOfHazzard''. He passed away in 2021.

* '''Christian [=McCaffrey=]''' was drafted #8 overall in 2017 by the Carolina Panthers out of Stanford. A dual threat as both a runner and receiver, [=McCaffrey=] set the record for receptions by a RB in his second season with 107 . The following year, he became only the third player in league history with a 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving yard season (while breaking his own receptions record) and led the league in [=TDs=]. Despite an overall stagnation in RB salaries around the league, [=McCaffrey=] agreed to a new deal with the Panthers during the 2020 offseason that made him the highest paid RB in league history. However, he struggled with injuries in the following years and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the 2022 season as the Panthers' continued to struggle on the field. Since returning to the Bay Area, "CMC" has reemerged as a potent scoring threat, breaking the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown (17 and counting when including playoffs) and leading the NFL in rushing and scrimmage yards and total [=TDs=] in 2023. Christian is the son of former Denver Broncos WR '''Ed [=McCaffrey=]''', a fellow Stanford product who won two Super Bowls with the team in the late '90s.

* '''Travis Kelce'''[[labelnote:*]]pronounced "Kelsey"[[/labelnote]] has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013, when they drafted him in the third round out of Cincinnati, and soon emerged as one of greatest to ever play the position.[[note]]Worth noting: He fell so relatively low in the draft process largely because of a one-year college suspension for marijuana use.[[/note]] The younger brother of Eagles center Jason Kelce (who he faced off against in Super Bowl LVII; see below), Travis shares his elder sibling's BoisterousBruiser personality, and has backed up his confident swagger with excellent receiving ability, nine straight Pro Bowl appearances, and seven consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons, the latter a record for his position (no one else has more than four ''period'', let alone consecutive). Kelce has been the number one target for Patrick Mahomes since his NFL emergence, with his receiving ability serving as a critical part of the Chiefs' dominance in the AFC and victories in Super Bowl LIV and LVII--he has more playoff receptions than any player in the history of the league and is second behind only Jerry Rice in postseason receiving touchdowns and yards. In 2020, Kelce set the single-season record for receiving yards by a TE, and he has set a number of "fastest to" marks that set him on a current pace to compete for many career TE records- and that's despite playing just ''one snap'' in his first season due to injury. In 2023, the same year he became the Chiefs' franchise leader in receiving yards, Kelce saw his public profile outside of the sport skyrocket when he began dating SingerSongwriter Music/TaylorSwift. Thanks to Swift's fame, the relationship has seen mass coverage by the press and social media, with the NFL itself even trying to capitalize off it by featuring Swift in broadcasts of Chiefs games watching Kelce from the stands.

* '''Travis Kelce'''[[labelnote:*]]pronounced "Kelsey"[[/labelnote]] has played for the Kansas City Chiefs since 2013, when they drafted him in the third round out of Cincinnati, and soon emerged as one of greatest to ever play the position.[[note]]Worth noting: He fell so relatively low in the draft process largely because of a one-year college suspension for marijuana use.[[/note]] The younger brother of Eagles center Jason Kelce (who he faced off against in Super Bowl LVII; see below), Travis shares his elder sibling's BoisterousBruiser personality, and has backed up his confident swagger with excellent receiving ability, nine straight Pro Bowl appearances, and seven consecutive 1,000+ yard seasons, the latter a record for his position (no one else has more than four ''period'', let alone consecutive). Kelce has been the number one target for Patrick Mahomes since his NFL emergence, with his receiving ability serving as a critical part of the Chiefs' dominance in the AFC and victories in Super Bowl LIV and LVII--he is second behind only Jerry Rice in postseason receiving touchdowns. In 2020, Kelce set the single-season record for receiving yards by a TE, and he has set a number of "fastest to" marks that set him on a current pace to compete for many career TE records- and that's despite playing just ''one snap'' in his first season due to injury. In 2023, the same year he became the Chiefs' franchise leader in receiving yards, Kelce saw his public profile outside of the sport skyrocket when he began dating SingerSongwriter Music/TaylorSwift. Thanks to Swift's fame, the relationship has seen mass coverage by the press and social media, with the NFL itself even trying to capitalize off it by featuring Swift in broadcasts of Chiefs games watching Kelce from the stands.

* '''Earl Campbell''' was a star for the Houston Oilers, the #1 overall pick in the 1978 Draft after a Heisman-winning career at Texas, and one of the best power backs in NFL history. Nicknamed [[RedBaron "The Tyler Rose"]][[note]]Tyler, in a significant rose-growing area, being his Texas hometown[[/note]], he immediately broke out as a star, winning Offensive Player of the Year in his first three seasons and league MVP in his second. Campbell was known (and feared) for his punishing running style: defenders were often run over, knocked down, or ''knocked out'' trying to tackle him thanks to his large, almost tree trunk-like legs that were the source of his speed and power--even now, short running backs that use powerful legs to their advantage are compared to him. He's also known for coining the name of the famous "Luv Ya Blue" era of the late '70s Oilers after a hard-fought victory over the Dolphins on ''Series/MondayNightFootball'' in 1978. The Oilers began to decline after the firing of coach Bum Phillips, leading Campbell to demand a trade to join his old coach with the Saints in the middle of the 1984 season. The Saints didn't have a clear place for him in their offense, however, and he retired relatively early after the next season. Despite his shortened career, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, had his #34 retired by the Oilers/Titans, and made the NFL 100th Anniversary Team, a testament to how much he dominated the game. Amazingly, he accomplished all this while suffering from spinal stenosis, which wasn't diagnosed until after his playing career ended. [[https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30046975/earl-campbell-got-second-act-texas-longhorns-legend After retirement]], he underwent five back operations, was forced to use a wheelchair, developed an addiction to painkillers, beat that addiction, had five ''more'' operations, and got out of the wheelchair.

* '''Frank Gifford''' was a star player for the New York Giants. The #11 overall pick out of USC in 1952, Gifford won most publications' MVP awards in the Giants' 1956 Championship season,[[note]]The AP introduced its MVP award the following year.[[/note]] contributing as [[JackOfAllTrades a halfback, a "flanker" (an early term for a wide receiver), a defensive back, and even as a passer]]; he still holds the franchise record for total career touchdowns over a half-century after his retirement in 1964. Gifford then entered an extremely successful broadcasting career that arguably outshone his playing career. He reported for numerous sports and TV programs, including the UsefulNotes/OlympicGames, and commented from the broadcast booth on ''Series/MondayNightFootball'' from 1971-97. He served as a color commentator in Super Bowl I, then returned to the Big Game's booth nearly two decades later for four more with ABC. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame for his playing career in 1977 and awarded its Radio-Television Award for his broadcasting achievements in 1995. While working at ABC, Gifford met and married Kathie Lee Johnson, co-host of ''The Morning Show'' with Creator/RegisPhilbin and [[MayDecemberRomance 23 years his junior]], a few years before her show went national. Gifford, long a notorious womanizer, [[RoleEndingMisdemeanor lost most of his TV jobs]] and mostly retreated from public life following a major scandal in which a tabloid [[HoneyTrap paid a woman to seduce and take pictures of him]] in 1997. Gifford died in 2015, and his #16 is retired by the Giants.

* '''Jason Witten''' is the Dallas Cowboys' all-time leader in receiving yards and games played. The Cowboys drafted Witten in the third round out of Tennessee in 2003, and he became a franchise mainstay. Witten trails only Tony Gonzalez in career receptions and receiving yards by a TE in NFL history, set a record for most catches by a TE in a season (since surpassed by the Eagles' Zach Ertz), and currently holds the record for [[MadeOfIron most consecutive starts]] at the position. He broke that streak when he [[TenMinuteRetirement initially retired]] after 2017 and was thrust immediately into the ''Series/MondayNightFootball'' booth by ESPN, who were looking to replicate the success CBS was having with Witten's former Cowboys teammate, Tony Romo. After drawing near-unanimous negative reviews as a commentator (with most criticism calling him dull and humdrum), Witten left ESPN and returned to the Cowboys for 2019, then the Raiders in 2020. He signed a ceremonial contract in 2021 to retire as a Cowboy, this time for good.

* '''Zach Ertz''' was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the second round out of Stanford in 2013 and quickly established himself as one of the team's main receiving threats, contributing to their Super Bowl-winning 2017 season and setting the NFL record for most receptions by a TE in a season (116) the following year. He was traded to the Cardinals during the 2021 season. Despite his football accomplishments, he's OvershadowedByAwesome ''in his own household''—his wife Julie was a fixture on the US women's soccer team (when not injured or pregnant) from 2013 until her retirement in 2023, and has two [[UsefulNotes/TheWorldCup World Cup]] winners' medals.

* '''Jason Kelce''' is the starting center for the Philadelphia Eagles, drafted in the sixth round (#191 overall) in 2011 out of Cincinnati, where his younger brother Travis (in the "Tight Ends" folder) was one of his teammates for two seasons. Jason has been starting center ever since, despite lacking "true NFL size", making him the lineman equivalent of a PintSizePowerhouse at roughly 6'2½"/190cm. He has been instrumental in solidifying the Eagles' offensive line during several playoff runs and is a five-time Pro Bowler/first-team All-Pro. In the locker room, he's particularly known for his penchant for [[BoisterousBruiser fiery, impassioned (sometimes impromptu)]] [[KirkSummation speeches]]. Non-teammates best remember him for his performance in the Eagles' Super Bowl parade, where he spent the length of the event gallivanting up and down the parade route dressed in bright and colorful [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mummers_Parade mummer]] regalia, singing and dancing, before delivering a blistering, [[ClusterFBomb profanity laden]] speech at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Even a local brewery took notice, crafting an IPA using his name and parade likeness, with his blessing[[note]]and a caveat that the brewers give a cut of the sales to [[https://www.mtwb.org/ a local charity]][[/note]]. He returned to the Super Bowl five years later, where he faced off and lost against his brother.

* '''Jamaal Williams''' was drafted by the Packers in the fourth round of the 2017 Draft out of BYU. After serving as a solid no. 2 RB in Green Bay, Williams signed with the rival Detroit Lions in 2021 and became the starting back. He broke out fully in 2022, leading the NFL with 17 rushing [=TDs=][[note]]breaking the previous franchise record set by ''Barry Sanders'', albeit with an extra game[[/note]] before signing with the Saints the following year. Aside from his play, Williams is known for his playful, goofy personality and giving [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lt_p6Q56qNU off-the-wall]] or [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLWJAfrGjzI hilarious]] media interviews; it takes someone who's either a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} or truly JustForFun/OneOfUs to give a Franchise/{{Naruto}}-themed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12RJiLex6jI SNF intro]].

* '''Michael Thomas''' was picked in the second round out of Ohio State in 2016 by the New Orleans Saints and got off to arguably the greatest career start of anyone at his position. While he had a solid rookie season, he truly emerged in his second, becoming a regular Pro Bowl selection and receptions leader. In 2019, Thomas led the league in receiving yards, set a new league record for receptions in a season (149), and was named Offensive Player of the Year.[[note]]The only other player at his position to be named OPOY? One Jerry Rice.[[/note]] While he took a major step back after an ankle injury and some locker room drama knocked him out of half of 2020 and all of 2021, Thomas has the all-time record for receptions through his first four seasons and earned the nickname "Can't Guard Mike" for his skill at contested catches.

* '''Art Powell''' started his career as a DB at San Jose State, drafted in the 11th round in 1959 by the Eagles. He played effectively as a return specialist but was released the following preseason, after which he joined the upstart AFL's New York Titans. Now playing WR, he took advantage of the AFL's more open passing rules to lead the league in receiving yards and [=TDs=] once each. The Titans' financial woes led to him leaving for the Oakland Raiders in '63, where he led the AFL in receiving yards and [=TDs=] again while earning the first of four straight Pro Bowls. Following brief stints with the Bills and Vikings, Powell retired in '68 as the AFL's third all-time leading receiver but has received little attention for HOF induction. He died in 2015.
* '''Ahmad Rashād''' was drafted #4 overall in 1972[[labelnote:*]]under his original name of Bobby Moore; he converted to Islam in 1972 and changed his name the next year[[/labelnote]] by the St. Louis Cardinals out of Oregon, where he turned out to be a bit of a bust for the organization; he was traded to Buffalo after two seasons, where injuries led him to bounce around several teams before landing with the Minnesota Vikings in 1976. He finally lived up to his draft potential in Minnesota, earning four Pro Bowl selections and being the recipient of the memorable "Miracle at the Met" game-winning catch. Rashād retired after 1982 and entered the Vikings Ring of Honor. He then entered into a prolific career as a TV host and broadcaster (mainly for [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation the NBA]] rather than his own pro sport). Outside of the sports and broadcasting world, he was married from 1985 to 2001 to Phylicia Ayers-Allen, best known as Clair Huxtable on ''Series/TheCosbyShow''[[note]]the third marriage for both; upon which Phylicia - unlike most actresses - began using her married name professionally, remaining credited as Phylicia Rashad even after their 2001 divorce[[/note]] and from 2007-13 was married to Sale Johnson, ex-wife of Johnson & Johnson heir and New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.

* Tyshun Raequan '''"Deebo" Samuel''' was selected in the second round in 2019 out of South Carolina by the San Francisco 49ers, where he has blossomed into the one of the most physical and well-rounded receivers in football. He helped the 49ers to make the Super Bowl as a rookie, setting the record for ''rushing'' yards by a WR in the big game with 53, but the team failed to win. After battling injuries, he broke out in 2021 where he led the league in yards per catch while also frequently carrying the ball, scoring eight rushing [=TDs=] on the season and making his first Pro Bowl. After another injury ended his 2022 regular season, he returned in time for the playoffs, helping the 49ers to a conference championship appearance with a series of monster performances but ultimately fell short of another Super Bowl appearance. His nickname was given by his father, based one Creator/TinyLister's character in ''Film/{{Friday}}''.
* '''Sterling Sharpe''' was drafted #7 overall out of South Carolina in 1988 by the Green Bay Packers. He became a favorite receiving target for QB Don Majkowski and later Brett Favre, quickly proving to be the best receiver on the roster and one of the best in the league. In seven years, he made five Pro Bowls, led the league in receiving [=TDs=] twice and receptions thrice (breaking several then-records in the latter category), and broke the Packers' franchise records for career receptions and receiving yards (although most of these were later broken by Donald Driver). Unfortunately, seven years was all he got; his career was cut short by [[CareerEndingInjury a severe neck injury]] in 1994 that revealed an underlying condition which made returning to play impossible. Sharpe's brother, tight end Shannon Sharpe (see below), has credited Sterling with helping him become the player he was, called him the best player in his family, and even gave Sterling his first Super Bowl ring (which, ironically, he won by defeating the Packers) since he never won one himself.
* '''Del Shofner''' played DB at Baylor when he was drafted #11 overall by the Los Angeles Rams in 1957. After one season on defense, the Rams moved him to split end on offense to replace Elroy Hirsch, a decision that made an immediate impact when he immediately led the NFL in receiving yards and was a Pro Bowler in consecutive seasons before a leg injury caused his production to drop significantly in 1960. Believing that he had lost a step, the Rams traded him to the New York Giants, where he paired up with QB Y.A. Tittle and returned to his All-Pro form, posting three straight 1,000-yard seasons (the first Giant to even post one) and helping the Giants appear in the NFL Championship game each year. His play declined again afterwards, and he retired in 1967. Despite all of the success he had, earning five All-Pros and a spot on the '60s All-Decade team, he remains one of the more puzzling exclusions from the Hall of Fame, having never even been a finalist for induction. He died in 2020.
* '''Jimmy Smith''' was drafted in the 2nd round in 1992 out of the HBCU Jackson State by the Dallas Cowboys. He won two Super Bowls with the team, initially playing mainly in special teams and buried deep in the depth chart. However, he missed all of the 1993 season after the Cowboys' coaches and doctors failed to properly diagnose and treat his appendicitis, resulting in multiple surgeries, a near-fatal infection, an ileostomy, and the Cowboys trying to cut his pay and insurance. He was let go after refusing to take a pay cut and sat out the 1994 season before getting a tryout with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995. With the Jaguars, he became a dominant force on the field, as he became their #1 receiver over the next decade and helped them become a perennial playoff contender in the late '90s and early 2000s. Eventually, lingering medical issues and legal troubles started to creep up, including a four game substance abuse suspension in 2003. He retired in 2006 as the Jaguars all-time leader in receptions, receiving touchdowns, and yards. However, his legal troubles continued to follow him long after his career was over, including a stint in prison in 2013.

* '''Steve Smith Sr.''' played from [[LongRunner 2001-16]], most notably for the Carolina Panthers, who drafted him in the third round out of Utah. While his numbers themselves were impressive (he currently ranks 8th all-time in receiving yards and 9th in all-purpose yardage and holds most Panthers franchise records for receiving, punt returns, and overall [=TDs=]), Smith is perhaps best known for putting them up despite standing only 5'9" in an era where many top receivers are 6' to 6'4" and sometimes even taller. He was nonetheless '''''[[PintSizedPowerhouse extremely]]''''' [[PintSizedPowerhouse strong and physical for his size]], often taking on larger defenders in collisions and winning, not to mention very fast. A well-known [[IShallTauntYou trash talker]], he was infamous in his younger days for having a HairTriggerTemper and often got into trouble for fighting with his own teammates in practices. After he lost almost all of the 2004 season to a broken leg, Smith won Comeback Player of the Year in 2005 after earning the receiving "triple crown" of leading the NFL in receptions, yards, and [=TDs=]. He mellowed out in his 30s... a bit. After his release in 2014 by the Panthers, who were undergoing a youth movement, Smith played three more years for the Baltimore Ravens.[[note]]Well, two and a half--an Achilles injury cut his 2015 season (which he had implied would be his last) short. Not wanting to end his career on such a sour note, he decided to rehab the injury--notoriously difficult for an older player--and come back for one more season. His numbers were very solid, leading many to postulate that he had at least another year left in him. However, by the end of the season, he made his decision to walk away.[[/note]] His retirement letter sent to the commissioner read thus: [[BadassBoast "Dear Commissioner Goodell: This is to notify you that as of today, I, Steve Smith Sr., will no longer be antagonizing defensive backs."]] He currently serves as an analyst on the NFL Network.

* '''Lynn Swann''' and '''John Stallworth''' were both drafted in 1974 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. They never put up the same kind of numbers that some other dominant receivers of the era did (as being on the same team interfered with their individual stats to an extent), but they were integral parts of the '70s Steelers' Super Bowl dynasty. Swann, the #21 overall pick out of USC, played one of the best games of his career during Super Bowl X, becoming the first wide receiver to be named the Big Game's MVP. Stallworth, a fourth-round pick out of the much smaller HBCU Alabama A&M, may be best known for his even more dominant performance in Super Bowl XIV. Despite his smaller draft stock, his career lasted five years longer than Swann's, and he won Comeback Player of the Year in 1984 after putting up his best numbers without Swann's competition for targets. Both made the Hall of Fame, Stallworth one year after Swann. After football, Swann entered politics and ran for Pennsylvania governor in 2006, and Stallworth became a minority owner of his former team.

* Hugh '''"Bones" Taylor''' was originally an All-American ''basketball'' player at Tulane before serving in the Navy during World War II. He was discharged in 1946, he played a year of college football at Oklahoma City, and went undrafted in 1947. The lanky 6'4" end was then signed by Washington, where he put up 212 receiving yards and 4 [=TDs=] in his first pro game, setting records for most receiving yards in both a season opener[[note]]broken by Frank Clarke in 1962[[/note]] and a rookie debut[[note]]broken by Anquan Boldin in 2003[[/note]]. He immediately became one of Sammy Baugh's favorite targets, appearing in two Pro Bowls and setting many of the team's receiving records before retiring in 1954. He spent a decade as an assistant coach, most notably serving as the Houston Oilers HC in 1965. He died in 1992.

* '''Brandon Marshall''' was a well-travelled six-time Pro Bowler who began his career with the Denver Broncos, who drafted him in the 4th round in 2006 out of UCF. After becoming a starter in his second year, he put up 1,000+ receiving in 8 of 9 seasons while playing for the Broncos, Dolphins, Bears, and Jets, making him the first NFL player to have a 1,000+ yard season with four different teams. In a 2009 loss in Denver, he set the current record for most receptions in a game with 21, . In 2011, he announced that he was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (which could explain some of the legal troubles that plagued his early career) and often wore green cleats to promote mental health awareness. He finished out his career with two unimpressive years with the Giants and Seahawks, retiring after 2018 as likely the most productive receiver to never reach the playoffs, and entered a career as an analyst. Not to be confused with a similarly-named linebacker who also played much of his career with the Broncos.

* [=DeKaylin=] Zecharius '''"DK" Metcalf''' is a wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks and one of the biggest freak athletes in the game today. Measuring at 6'4", 228 lbs, Metcalf ran a blazing 4.33 40-yard dash at the 2019 Combine coming out of Ole Miss and was taken with the final pick of the second round. Selecting him paid immediate dividends for the Seahawks as he set multiple franchise rookie receiving records as well as the NFL playoff game record for receiving yards by a rookie (160). During his second season, he set the franchise single-season record for receiving yards (1,303) on the way to his first Pro Bowl selection. That season, he made [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N0m_rzB_9U an all-time highlight against the Cardinals]] as he chased down the much smaller Budda Baker over 90 yards to prevent a pick six. In 2023, he reached a speed of 22.23 MPH on a 73-yard TD run, the second fastest recorded since the NFL began keeping "Next Gen Stats" in 2016 and by far the largest player to be so close to the top. He attributes his athleticism and physique to both his extreme workouts and, in part, to his unusual diet, eating one very large meal per day along with "three to four" bags of [[TrademarkFavoriteFood gummy candies]]. He also participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game in 2023, winning MVP.

* '''Bobby Mitchell''' started his career as a HB and return specialist with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in the seventh round in 1958 out of Illinois. Paired with Jim Brown, Cleveland had dominant ground game with Mitchell as a runner. However, the team had a chance to potentially upgrade their offense when Washington drafted Ernie Davis (see above under "Running Backs") as the #1 pick in 1962. When Davis refused to become the first African-American player for the last NFL team to racially integrate, Washington traded him to Cleveland in exchange for Mitchell and another player, making Mitchell [[JackieRobinsonStory their first black player]]. Davis tragically died before ever playing for the Browns; Mitchell, who played as a flanker in Washington's system, broke out as a major star, leading the league in catches and receiving yards in his first year playing for the team that had traditionally represented the Jim Crow South, a tremendous symbolic victory for the Civil Rights Movement. Mitchell retired from playing after 1968 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame, but he stayed employed by Washington in their front office for decades. When he retired in 2003, he expressed frustration for how many times he had been passed over for promotion, missing the chance to become the league's first black GM. After his death in 2020, which coincided with both the growth of the Black Lives Matter movement and the organization's efforts to reform by changing its name and disowning its racist legacy, Washington finally retired his #49 (for decades an honor only held by Sammy Baugh).

* '''Stanley Morgan''' was one of the NFL's most renowned "deep threats", holding the career record for yards per catch (19.2) among receivers with over 500 catches. Drafted #25 overall in 1977 out of Tennessee by the New England Patriots, Morgan led the league in receiving [=TDs=] in '79, earned four Pro Bowl selections, played in Super Bowl XX, and became the Pats' franchise leader in receiving yards before he retired after spending 1990 with the Colts. Despite this individual success, Morgan has [[AwardSnub never garnered serious Hall of Fame consideration]] due to playing on mostly mediocre teams during his tenure.
* '''Johnny Morris''' is the Bears’ all-time leader in receiving yards, despite last taking a snap in 1967. They drafted him in the 12th round in 1958 out of UC Santa Barbara,[[note]]UCSB shut down its football program in 1971, briefly revived it in 1987 as a D-III team, and dropped it again in 1992.[[/note]] originally playing as a running back and earning a Pro Bowl in 1960 before switching to wide receiver. He put up solid, if unspectacular numbers for a few years before having a massive ‘64 season when he led the NFL in all major receiving categories and earned the lone All-Pro of his career. That same year, he became a sportscaster for CBS, starting a near-three decade career in broadcasting for the Bears, during which time he popularized the use of the telestrator during broadcasts. He retired from broadcasting in 1991.

* '''Muhsin Muhammad II''' was one of the first stars of the Carolina Panthers, who took him in the second round in 1996 out of Michigan State (where he played under Nick Saban). He led the league in receptions in 2000, then led it in reciving yards and [=TDs=] in '04, making two Pro Bowls and being named an All-Pro. During that span, he paired with Steve Smith (see below) to give the Panthers one of the more dominant WR duos in the league. He was part of their Super Bowl XXXVIII team in a losing effort, but did set a Super Bowl record with an 85-yard reception. Despite a dominant '04 season, he was not retained by the Panthers and moved on to the Chicago Bears as a free agent. He was the leading receiver on their Super Bowl XLI team but again lost in the big game. After three years with the Bears, he returned to the Panthers, briefly becoming their all-time leading receiver (since surpassed by Smith) and surpassing 10,000 career receiving yards, before retiring after 2009 and entering the Panthers Hall of Honor. His son, Muhsin III, is currently a WR at Texas A&M.

* '''Terrell Owens''' sits in the top five for most of the all-time receiving stats but is most known for defining the "diva" receiver archetype for the 21st century with his elaborate touchdown celebrations and [[AwesomeEgo often egotistical attitude]]. "T.O." was drafted in the third round in 1998 out of FCS Chattanooga by the San Francisco 49ers and played there for eight seasons before bouncing around to four other teams (the Philadelphia Eagles, the Dallas Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals). With every team, his personal behavior often overshadowed his immense talent, as he alienated just about every quarterback that played with him by openly discussing interpersonal conflict or criticism with the press: In San Francisco, he questioned Jeff Garcia's sexuality; in Philly, he feuded with Donovan [=McNabb=], blaming him for the team's loss in Super Bowl XXXIX (in which Owens put up a great performance on a still-broken leg);[[note]]Notably, his performance with Philly in 2004 earned him a spot on the cover of ''[[Creator/TakeTwoInteractive NFL 2K5]]''; not only did his off-field antics contribute to him being suspended and cut the following season, this turned out to be the final installment of the ''2K'' series, an interesting variant on the infamous Madden Curse.[[/note]] in Dallas, he accused Tony Romo of conspiring to keep him out of the offense--and Romo was the first QB who actually tolerated his antics! He didn't do too much damage in Buffalo, but that's mostly because he was gone after one year, and had a solid final season in Cincy before he was cut due to injury at the end of 2010. He signed with Seattle in 2012 after a year away, but was released during training camp. He was passed over for Canton in his first two years on the ballot, seemingly just for how many feathers he ruffled during his playing career, but got in alongside Moss in 2018 following significant fan and media outcry. In classic T.O. fashion, he refused to attend the induction ceremony and opted to host his own. He has remained in solid shape in retirement; as of 2023, at 49 years old, he's still [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xeZaXHg5hmE catching footballs]] in the Fan Controlled Football indoor league, making the oldest man to ever play professional football.

* '''[=DeAndre=] Hopkins''', aka "Nuk", is among the premier receivers of the '10s. Hopkins became a star for the Houston Texans after they drafted him #27 overall in 2013 out of Clemson; he was selected to four Pro Bowls and led the league in receiving touchdowns in 2017. Despite being one of the league's best players, Hopkins was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2020 for a few middling draft picks and a running back, a widely-panned move that contributed to the Texans firing coach/GM Bill O'Brien early the next season when Hopkins remained extremely productive with the Cardinals and the Texans cratered. With the Cardinals, Hopkins negotiated a contract extension that briefly made him the highest-paid non-QB in league history and continued his Pro Bowl-caliber performance. In 2022, he was suspended for 6 games for PED use, was released in '23, and signed with the Titans.

* '''[=DeSean=] Jackson''' was one of the NFL's most prominent deep threats. Drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008 out of Cal, he experienced some troubles on and off the field,[[note]]He infamously fumbled away what would have been his first NFL TD with a premature celebration and faced accusations of anti-Semitism for remarks on social media in 2020.[[/note]] but his blazing speed made him dangerous both as a receiver (where he set the NFL career record for receiving [=TDs=] over 60 yards) and a returner (where he helped the Eagles achieve the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands" comeback in 2010 with the only game-winning punt return TD in NFL history). He made three Pro Bowls in Philly before departing in 2014, playing for six different teams (including a second stint with the Eagles) before officially retiring in 2023.
* '''Harold Jackson''' was one of the best receivers of the 1970s. Drafted in the twelfth round in 1968 out of HBCU Jackson State by the Los Angeles Rams, he played only two games in his rookie season before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. In his first full playing season, Jackson led the NFL in receiving yards, but his individual production rarely translated to wins for the struggling franchise. After he again claimed the league title in catches and receiving yards in '72, Jackson was shipped back to L.A. in a blockbuster trade for QB Roman Gabriel, a mutually beneficial move that boosted both teams' win records; in his first year back with his original team, Jackson led the NFL in receiving [=TDs=]. Jackson [[LongRunner played another decade]] in the NFL, remaining highly productive even after being traded to the Patriots in 1978. When Jackson retired in 1983 after short stints in Minnesota and Seattle, he ranked behind only Don Maynard in career receiving yards and ranked first in all major receiving stats for the 1970s. Despite that individual success, Jackson was [[AwardSnub snubbed]] from both the 1970s All-Decade Team and the Hall of Fame. After his playing career, he had a long coaching career at various levels, including briefly serving as HC at his alma mater.

* '''Andre Johnson''' played 14 seasons with the Houston Texans, who drafted him #3 overall in 2003 out of Miami. Johnson set almost all of the new franchise's standing receiving records, was selected to seven Pro Bowls, and twice led the league in receptions ('06, '08) and receiving yards ('08-'09). Johnson was traded away to the Colts in 2015. Following a short tenure with the Titans the following year, he retired after signing a ceremonial contract with the Texans.
* '''Calvin Johnson''' was considered the top wide receiver of the late '00s and early '10s, with a [[LightningBruiser freakish combination of size and speed]] that made him almost impossible to cover. Drafted #2 overall by the Detroit Lions out of Georgia Tech in 2007, Johnson was 6'5" and 238 lb, which is nearly as large as many tight ends and earned him the nickname "[[Franchise/{{Transformers}} Megatron]]". However, Johnson also boasted a blistering 4.35-second 40-yard dash time[[note]]For context, the current Combine record sits at a 4.22 by WR John Ross, who is much, ''much'' smaller than Johnson[[/note]], which, combined with his [[InASingleBound jumping ability]] and massive hands, made him a walking UnblockableAttack at times, able to routinely come down with receptions over two and sometimes even ''three'' defenders. Johnson regularly led the league in passing stats and set several records, and though critics noted that playing for the woeful Lions gave him more opportunities for receptions (since teams tend to pass more when they're trying to come from behind and run the ball more when they've got a lead), his talent was undeniable. During the Lions' winless 2008 season, he co-led the league in touchdowns. In 2012, he broke Jerry Rice's single-season record for receiving yards with one game left to go and fell ''just'' short of becoming the first to ever record 2,000 receiving yards in a season, ultimately landing at 1,964.[[note]]Doing so the year he was placed on the ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' cover; [[MemeticBadass Megatron ]] ''[[MemeticBadass laughed]]'' [[MemeticBadass at the Madden Curse]].[[/note]] The following year, he set the record for most receiving yards in a regular four-quarter game (329)[[note]]Just seven yards behind the total game record of Flipper Anderson, who had the benefit of overtime.[[/note]] and tied Lance Alworth's long-standing record for most 200+ yard receiving games. Johnson retired after 2015, despite only being 30 years old, ostensibly due to the immense punishment that his body absorbed throughout his career; he later admitted that, like Barry Sanders before him, he was just [[LosingTheTeamSpirit tired of suffering]] through said punishment for a Lions team that wasn't contending for the playoffs. Despite a shortened career, Johnson holds practically every Lions receiving record and earned a first-ballot induction into the Hall of Fame, making him the second-youngest Canton inductee ever behind only Gale Sayers.

* Quintorris Lopez '''"Julio" Jones''' began his career with the Atlanta Falcons, who traded a massive haul of draft picks (including two 1st rounders) to the Browns in order to take him #6 overall out of Alabama in 2011, one of the largest trades for a non-QB prospect ever. The investment proved well worth it, as he broke out as one of the most productive receivers in NFL history. In 2015, Jones amassed 1,871 yards, the second highest single-season total in NFL history (behind only the aforementioned Calvin Johnson). He again led the league in 2018, currently leads active players in career recptions and receiving yards, and set a plethora of "fastest to..." career milestone receiving statistics (mostly since surpassed by Justin Jefferson). Following changes in the Falcons front office and coaching staff, and a down year due to injuries in 2020, Jones moved on to play with the Titans, Buccaneers, and Eagles.

* '''Christian [=McCaffrey=]''' was drafted #8 overall in 2017 by the Carolina Panthers out of Stanford. A dual threat as both a runner and receiver, [=McCaffrey=] set the record for receptions by a RB in his second season with 107 . The following year, he became only the third player in league history with a 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving yard season (while breaking his own receptions record) and led the league in [=TDs=]. Despite an overall stagnation in RB salaries around the league, [=McCaffrey=] agreed to a new deal with the Panthers during the 2020 offseason that made him the highest paid RB in league history. However, he struggled with injuries in the following years and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the 2022 season as the Panthers' continued to struggle on the field. Since returning to the Bay Area, "CMC" has reemerged as a potent scoring threat, breaking the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown (17 and counting when including playoffs) and leading the NFL in rushing yards and total [=TDs=] in 2023. Christian is the son of former Denver Broncos WR '''Ed [=McCaffrey=]''', a fellow Stanford product who won two Super Bowls with the team in the late '90s.

* '''Christian [=McCaffrey=]''' was drafted #8 overall in 2017 by the Carolina Panthers out of Stanford. A dual threat as both a runner and receiver, [=McCaffrey=] set the record for receptions by a RB in his second season with 107 . The following year, he became only the third player in league history with a 1,000/1,000 rushing/receiving yard season (while breaking his own receptions record) and led the league in [=TDs=]. Despite an overall stagnation in RB salaries around the league, [=McCaffrey=] agreed to a new deal with the Panthers during the 2020 offseason that made him the highest paid RB in league history. However, he struggled with injuries in the following years and was traded to the San Francisco 49ers in the middle of the 2022 season as the Panthers' continued to struggle on the field. Since returning to the Bay Area, "CMC" has reemerged as a potent scoring threat, breaking the NFL record for consecutive games with a touchdown (17 and counting when including playoffs) and leading the NFL in rushing yards in 2023. Christian is the son of former Denver Broncos WR '''Ed [=McCaffrey=]''', a fellow Stanford product who won two Super Bowls with the team in the late '90s.

* '''Mike Evans''' was drafted #7 overall in 2014 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers out of Texas A&M[[note]]where he was the primary target of Johnny Manziel during his Heisman campaign[[/note]] and immediately broke out as one of the league's most talented and consistent receivers. Evans is the only WR in NFL history to post 1,000+ receiving yards in each of his first ten seasons, breaking the six-season mark previously held only by Randy Moss and sitting behind only Jerry Rice for most such seasons total. Evans holds practically every franchise receiving record by a considerable margin but largely remained out of the spotlight due said franchise's consistent underperformance... until Tom Brady came to town in 2020, at which point he became a key part of their Super Bowl run.

* '''Tyreek Hill''', nicknamed "Cheetah" for his blistering speed, became a star with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hill's selection in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft made him a subject of controversy before his career even started--Hill had been dismissed from the Oklahoma State program after a domestic violence arrest and spent the last year of his college career at the obscure D-II University of West Alabama.[[note]]He was later accused of child abuse, though no charges were issued and the NFL did not issue a suspension following its own investigation.[[/note]] Originally used mainly as a return specialist, Hill was shifted to a full-time receiver role after a breakout rookie season. The [[PintSizedPowerhouse 5'10"]] player has made the Pro Bowl every season since and made the 2010s All-Decade Team as a punt returner. In 2022, he was traded to the Dolphins for a sizable haul of picks, becoming the highest-paid WR in the league and seeing continued success.

* '''[=CeeDee=] Lamb''' is the current star receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. Drafted #17 overall in 2020 out of Oklahoma, he inherited the famed #88 jersey traditionally worn by the team's greatest wide-outs and has so far lived up to the expectations placed on that number, becoming a regular Pro Bowler, breaking Michael Irvin's franchise record for single-season receiving yards, and breaking a few league-wide records.

* '''Ja'Marr Chase''' was drafted #5 overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2021 and immediately produced one of the greatest rookie receiving seasons in NFL history. Reunited with his LSU teammate, QB Joe Burrow, Chase quickly set about breaking multiple franchise receiving records. While he ultimately couldn't surpass Bill Groman's legendary rookie receiving yards production in the regular season, he shattered the standing postseason record as a key component in the Bengals' unexpected Super Bowl run and won Offensive Rookie of the Year.

* '''Bill Groman''' has held the rookie receiving yards record (1,473 yards) for the combined NFL-AFL since his 1960 debut, a truly remarkable feat considering that he played a 14-game season, came out of total obscurity, and has likewise largely been forgotten to fans save for whenever his record comes close to being challenged. Groman played football for the tiny Heidelberg College and was totally overlooked by NFL scouts after graduating in 1958. He taught middle school science for a few years before a fellow teacher noticed his talent during a game of catch and recommended him to his former college teammate and head coach of the new AFL's Houston Oilers, Lou Rymkus. Groman became QB George Blanda's favorite target, led the AFL in receiving yards in his remarkable rookie campaign and in receiving touchdowns the following year, and was a key component to the Oilers winning the first two AFL Championships. However, his remarkable career was tragically cut short when, during the second title game, he received a CareerEndingInjury to his knee that robbed him of his former explosiveness; he hopped around the benches of the Broncos and Bills (earning two more AFL titles with the latter despite rarely seeing the field) and retired after 1965. Groman passed away in 2020.

* '''Jaylen Waddle''' was drafted #6 overall in 2021 by the Miami Dolphins, reuniting him with college QB Tua Tagovailoa from Alabama. While his production in college had been somewhat limited by injuries, Waddle quickly broke out as a star in Miami, setting a rookie record for receptions (104). However, he is perhaps most notable for his TD celebration, a penguin [[{{Pun}} waddle]] through the end zone that quickly became popular with Miami fans.

* '''Marvin Harrison''' spent most of his career as Creator/PeytonManning's go-to guy with the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him #19 overall in 1996 out of Syracuse. His production blossomed with Manning, and his pairing with fellow perennial Pro Bowler Reggie Wayne (below) formed the most dominant WR duo of the 2000s. Harrison earned eight Pro Bowl nods, led the NFL in receiving stats multiple times (including setting a then-record for single-season receptions in '02), and was tracking to compete for some of Jerry Rice's career records before his career was derailed by injuries. After setting most franchise receiving records over his 13 years with the Colts, he retired in 2008 following a shooting incident outside a Philadelphia business which he owned that resulted in the death of a man. The controversy surrounding this incident may have contributed to his initial exclusion from the Hall of Fame (as the body of work over his career should have made his case immediately), but he was finally inducted in 2016, his third year of eligibility. His son Marvin Jr. currently plays WR at Ohio State and appears on track to be drafted even higher than his dad.

* '''Harlon Hill''' had one of the NFL's most electrifying debuts. A 15th-round draft pick by the Chicago Bears in 1954 out of the obscure North Alabama, he set multiple franchise records by leading the entire league in touchdowns in his first two seasons. Hill even won the first Jim Thorpe Award (an MVP-precursor that was voted on by players) in his second year, when he led the Bears to a championship appearance. Unfortunately, injuries began to slow his performance, and while he became the first pro athlete to recover from a surgical repair of an Achilles tear, he retired after spending 1962 with the Steelers and Lions. Hill still holds multiple franchise receiving records and is the namesake of the trophy awarded to the best player in D-II college football. He passed away in 2013.
* '''Tyreek Hill''', nicknamed "Cheetah" for his blistering speed, became a star with the Kansas City Chiefs. Hill's selection in the fifth round of the 2016 Draft made him a subject of controversy before his career even started--Hill had been dismissed from the Oklahoma State program after a domestic violence arrest and spent the last year of his college career at the obscure D-II University of West Alabama.[[note]]He was later accused of child abuse, though no charges were issued and the NFL did not issue a suspension following its own investigation.[[/note]] Originally used mainly as a return specialist, Hill was shifted to a full-time receiver role after a breakout rookie season. The [[PintSizedPowerhouse 5'10"]] player has made the Pro Bowl every season since and made the 2010s All-Decade Team as a punt returner. In 2022, he was traded to the Dolphins for a sizable haul of picks, becoming the highest-paid WR in the league and seeing continued success but missing a second Super Bowl ring with KC.

* '''Marcedes Lewis''' is a LongRunner entering his 18th season. Drafted in the first round in 2006 out of UCLA by the Jaguars, he made one Pro Bowl and set every career franchise record for a TE over 12 years before moving on as a free agent to the Packers in 2018. Primarily a blocker and veteran leader late in his career, he signed with the Bears in 2023 at age 39, making him the oldest TE in NFL history.

* '''Gaynell Tinsley''' was an end drafted by the Chicago Cardinals in the second-round out of LSU in 1937 and serves as a case of WhatCouldHaveBeen had he remained healthy. He made an immediate impact, leading the league in receiving yards in his rookie year (aided largely by a then-record 97-yard catch) and led the league the league in receptions the following year, tying Don Hutson's record from two seasons prior and breaking his record for longest reception with then-record 98-yard TD catch (still the longest in Cardinals history), achieving all this while coaching Louisiana College. After taking the 1939 season off to coach high school football and play minor league baseball, he returned to the Cards in 1940, but his career was [[CareerEndingInjury cut short by a torn ligament]]. At the time of his retirement, he ranked fourth in career receptions and was named a member of the 1930s All-Decade team despite only playing three seasons. He returned to the collegiate ranks, serving as HC of his alma mater from 1948-54 and was inducted into the College Hall of Fame in 1956 before passing away in 2002.

* '''Gene Washington''' was a star receiver of the early '70s in a number of respects. Drafted #16 overall in 1969 by the San Francisco 49ers out of nearby Stanford, Washington hit the ground running, earning Pro Bowl nods in his first four seasons, leading the league in receiving yards in his second year, and leading in receiving [=TDs=] in his fourth. His performance played a major role in breaking the Niners' 12-year playoff drought and making them serious contenders. Taking advantage of his relative proximity to Hollywood, Washington built off of his on-field fame to launch a simultaneous acting career, starring in ''Film/TheBlackSix'' and appearing in several other TV shows and Blaxploitation movies. His on-field production began to decline around the same time, but he remained a capable player until retiring after 1977; he returned for one more season with the Lions in 1969. Washington would later serve as the NFL's director of football operations from 1994 to 2009. Fun fact: Two years before Washington entered the league, the Vikings drafted a first round receiver also named Gene Washington; the two both made the Pro Bowl in 1969-70.

* '''Todd Christensen''' was drafted in 1978 in the 2nd round by the Dallas Cowboys out of BYU, where he was originally a fullback. He was injured in the preseason, missed all of his rookie year, and was cut after he didn't want to become a tight end. He was signed by the Giants in 1979, only played a single game before being waived, and then signed with the Oakland Raiders, at first playing mainly on special teams as a long snapper before he finally agreed to play TE. He put up unspectacular numbers in his first three seasons at the position before breaking out in 1982 and becoming one of the NFL's most dominant receiving [=TEs=], leading the league in receptions twice. (His 95 catches in 1986 stood as the record for most catches by a tight end until 1994, when it was broken by Ben Coates.) He was named to 5 straight Pro Bowls from 1983-87 and won two Super Bowls with the Raiders. He retired after an injury-riddled 1988. Off the field, he was known as another [[BunnyEarsLawyer Raider eccentric]]; the son of a college professor, he would often play up the expectations of him being a DumbJock by peppering his speech with SesquipedalianLoquaciousness and allusions to poetry, only to joke that he didn't understand anything he just said. After his playing career, he became a broadcaster for various networks before passing away from complications during liver transplant surgery in 2013.

* '''Jimmy Graham''' initially made his name with the New Orleans Saints, who drafted him in the third round in 2010. [[RunningGag Yet another former college basketball player]], Graham played four years of basketball at Miami before playing football for one year.[[note]]Under NCAA rules, students have five years of athletic eligibility but can only play for four seasons in a particular sport.[[/note]] He led the NFL in most major receiving categories early in 2013, earning him an Offensive Player of the Month award, the first TE in the history of that award (dating back to 1986) to win it. He was the center of a controversy during the 2014 offseason after the Saints applied the "franchise tag"[[note]]A mechanism teams can use to keep a would-be free agent player by forcing a 1-year, fully guaranteed contract on him equal to the average of the top 5 highest paid players at his position or 125% of his previous year's salary, whichever is higher.[[/note]] to him as a tight end. Graham, whose athleticism allows him to play split out wide as a wide receiver quite often, argued that he should get the wide receiver franchise tag instead, a difference of about $5 million. This was despite Graham being drafted as a tight end, listed on the roster as a tight end, accepting a Pro Bowl invitation as a tight end, and ''having tight end in his Twitter handle''. The case went to court where the judge ruled in favor of the NFL. (The Saints struck a deal with Graham later in offseason anyway, making it a moot point other than for precedent.) Following a trade the next season, Graham has played for Seattle, Green Bay, and Chicago, and [[HesBack he is currently back in the Big Easy]] after a year out of the league.
* '''Rob Gronkowski''', also known simply as "Gronk", played for the New England Patriots for nine seasons and was one-half of the "Boston TE Party" before [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeagueNotoriousFigures Aaron Hernandez]] was released. A second-round pick in 2010 out of Arizona, Gronkowski is considered by many to be [[TheAce the greatest tight end of all time]]; he holds many of the per game/per season records for the position, is the only TE to lead the league in receiving [=TDs=] in a single season, holds the Pats' franchise TD record, and is the only TE to be featured on a ''VideoGame/MaddenNFL'' cover. Known for his unusual size--6'6" and around 250 lbs[[note]]for you metric folks, 1.98 m and 113 kilos[[/note]]--he could go up for passes that other players can't get their hands on, block elite defensive ends, and shrug off tackles. A forearm injury in 2013 led him to don a bulky arm brace for several seasons; already considered TheLancer (or TheDragon) to Creator/TomBrady, this cyborg-like appearance led many to compare the massive Gronk to [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader]] (and helped him win Comeback Player of the Year in 2014). His retirement in 2019 to deal with his injuries and mental health[[note]]and, to hear him tell it, to avoid [[FateWorseThanDeath being traded to Detroit]][[/note]] ensured that he wouldn't claim many of the career TE records he was on track to shatter, but that retirement proved [[TenMinuteRetirement temporary]], as the Buccaneers made a deal with the Pats for his rights in 2020, reuniting him with Brady on the way to a fourth Super Bowl win before re-retiring after 2021. Off-field, Gronk was known for his [[{{Fratbro}} hard-partying ways]]. He is the second-youngest of the five Gronkowski brothers (Gordie Jr., Dan, Chris, and Glenn), all of which played football in college and had brief careers in the NFL. {{He also|Did}} dabbled in professional wrestling during his first retirement, appearing at ''Wrestling/WrestleMania 36'' and coming away with the Wrestling/{{WWE}} [=24/7=] Championship. In 2023, he became the first living former player ever to place his name on a college bowl game—the LA Bowl Hosted by Gronk.