Best 1st seasons in NFL history
Who had the best 1st season in NFL history?
Andrew Luck holds the best 1st season in passing yards: 4,374 in 2012, and Justin Herbert in 2020 in passing touchdowns (31).
Passing yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Luck | 2012 | 4,374 |
| 2 | Justin Herbert | 2020 | 4,336 |
| 3 | C.J. Stroud | 2023 | 4,108 |
| 4 | Cam Newton | 2011 | 4,051 |
| 5 | Jameis Winston | 2015 | 4,042 |
| 6 | Mac Jones | 2021 | 3,801 |
| 7 | Carson Wentz | 2016 | 3,782 |
| 8 | Bo Nix | 2024 | 3,775 |
| 9 | Peyton Manning | 1998 | 3,739 |
| 10 | Baker Mayfield | 2018 | 3,725 |
Passing touchdowns
| # | Player | Season | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Herbert | 2020 | 31 |
| 2 | Bo Nix | 2024 | 29 |
| 3 | Baker Mayfield | 2018 | 27 |
| 4 | Peyton Manning | 1998 | 26 |
| 5 | Russell Wilson | 2012 | 26 |
| 6 | Jayden Daniels | 2024 | 25 |
| 7 | Daniel Jones | 2019 | 24 |
| 8 | Andrew Luck | 2012 | 23 |
| 9 | C.J. Stroud | 2023 | 23 |
| 10 | Dak Prescott | 2016 | 23 |
Rushing yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Dickerson | 1983 | 1,808 |
| 2 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | 1,631 |
| 3 | Alfred Morris | 2012 | 1,613 |
| 4 | Edgerrin James | 1999 | 1,553 |
| 5 | Clinton Portis | 2002 | 1,508 |
| 6 | Curtis Martin | 1995 | 1,487 |
| 7 | Mike Anderson | 2000 | 1,487 |
| 8 | Barry Sanders | 1989 | 1,470 |
| 9 | Doug Martin | 2012 | 1,454 |
| 10 | Jerome Bettis | 1993 | 1,429 |
Rushing touchdowns
| # | Player | Season | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Eric Dickerson | 1983 | 18 |
| 2 | Clinton Portis | 2002 | 15 |
| 3 | Ezekiel Elliott | 2016 | 15 |
| 4 | Mike Anderson | 2000 | 15 |
| 5 | Barry Sanders | 1989 | 14 |
| 6 | Cam Newton | 2011 | 14 |
| 7 | Curtis Martin | 1995 | 14 |
| 8 | Fred Taylor | 1998 | 14 |
| 9 | Alfred Morris | 2012 | 13 |
| 10 | Edgerrin James | 1999 | 13 |
Receiving yards
| # | Player | Season | YDS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Victor Cruz | 2011 | 1,536 |
| 2 | Puka Nacua | 2023 | 1,486 |
| 3 | Ja'Marr Chase | 2021 | 1,455 |
| 4 | Justin Jefferson | 2020 | 1,400 |
| 5 | Anquan Boldin | 2003 | 1,377 |
| 6 | Randy Moss | 1998 | 1,313 |
| 7 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 2014 | 1,305 |
| 8 | Brian Thomas Jr. | 2024 | 1,282 |
| 9 | Malik Nabers | 2024 | 1,204 |
| 10 | Brock Bowers | 2024 | 1,194 |
Receptions
| # | Player | Season | REC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brock Bowers | 2024 | 112 |
| 2 | Malik Nabers | 2024 | 109 |
| 3 | Puka Nacua | 2023 | 105 |
| 4 | Jaylen Waddle | 2021 | 104 |
| 5 | Anquan Boldin | 2003 | 101 |
| 6 | Michael Thomas | 2016 | 92 |
| 7 | Eddie Royal | 2008 | 91 |
| 8 | Odell Beckham Jr. | 2014 | 91 |
| 9 | Saquon Barkley | 2018 | 91 |
| 10 | Amon-Ra St. Brown | 2021 | 90 |
Sacks
| # | Player | Season | SACK |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jevon Kearse | 1999 | 14.5 |
| 2 | Aldon Smith | 2011 | 14.0 |
| 3 | Dwight Freeney | 2002 | 13.0 |
| 4 | Micah Parsons | 2021 | 13.0 |
| 5 | Reggie White | 1985 | 13.0 |
| 6 | Leslie O'Neal | 1986 | 12.5 |
| 7 | Simeon Rice | 1996 | 12.5 |
| 8 | Bradley Chubb | 2018 | 12.0 |
| 9 | Charles Haley | 1986 | 12.0 |
| 10 | Julius Peppers | 2002 | 12.0 |
Tackles
| # | Player | Season | TOT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick Willis | 2007 | 174 |
| 2 | Luke Kuechly | 2012 | 164 |
| 3 | Shaquille Leonard | 2018 | 163 |
| 4 | Kiko Alonso | 2013 | 159 |
| 5 | Carson Schwesinger | 2025 | 156 |
| 6 | DeMeco Ryans | 2006 | 156 |
| 7 | Zach Thomas | 1996 | 153 |
| 8 | Jalen Pitre | 2022 | 147 |
| 9 | Jerrell Freeman | 2012 | 145 |
| 10 | Bobby Wagner | 2012 | 140 |
Regular season only, counting stats only. A season is numbered from the first season on file for that player, so a career that began before the league’s rows start is numbered from where the data does. NFL all-time records