Trivia: Receiving Yards with Multiple Franchises

by Chase Stuart on March 14, 2015

in Trivia

Last year, I asked you about rushing yards with multiple franchises. In light of the trade of Brandon Marshall to the Jets, I thought it would be fun to look at the same question but for receiving yards.

First, I stumbled upon a bit of trivia that caught me by surprise. Only one player has recorded over 5,000 receiving yards with two teams. Some hints:

Trivia hint 1	Select Show
The two teams were AFC teams, and he played in modern times but is retired.

Trivia hint 2	Select Show
He gained 6,114 yards with one team, and 5,777 yards with the other.

Trivia hint 3	Select Show
He gained nearly half of his career receiving yards from Steve McNair.

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Derrick Mason caught 6,114 yards in eight seasons with the Titans, and then added 5,777 yards over six years in Baltimore. And while that’s a difficult one to answer, how about this: no other player is within 1,500 yards of that feat. Rob Moore (Jets, Cardinals) and Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs, Falcons) are the only other players to gain over 4,000 yards for two teams. Moore picked up 5,110 yards in five years with the Cardinals, and 4,258 yards during the first five years of his career in New York. Gonzalez gained 10,940 yards during his 12 seasons with the Chiefs, and another 4,187 yards while playing for five years with the Falcons. After those three, Henry Ellard, Joey Galloway, Randy Moss, Keyshawn Johnson, Plaxico Burress, Vincent Jackson, Terrell Owens, and yes, Marshall, are all members of the 3500/3500 club.

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Now, what about the record for most receiving yards with at least three teams?

Trivia hint 1	Select Show
The player is long retired, but not in the Hall of Fame.

Trivia hint 2	Select Show
This 5’10 receiver gained between 3,162 and 3,591 yards for three different teams, while making five Pro Bowls.

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Those teams: the Eagles, Rams, and Patriots.

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Harold Jackson actually began his career with the Rams, but did not record a catch in 1968. He then gained 3,493 yards in four seasons with the Eagles, 3,591 yards over the next five years with the Rams, and then 3,162 yards over the next four years while playing in New England. Marshall gained 4,019 yards with the Broncos and 3,524 yards with the Bears, so he’ll need 3,163 yards with the Jets to set a new NFL “record.” The only other member of the 3,000/3,000/3,000 club? Irving Fryar. After him, Joey Galloway, Anquan Boldin, and yes, Marshall, are the only members of the 2,000/2,000/2,000 club

Click 'Show' for the Answer

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Marshall has a decent chance of becoming the record-holder in the above category; he’s got an outstanding chance of doing it in the next one. In fact, only two players have ever gained 1,000 career receiving yards with four different teams. One is perhaps somewhat easy — it’s Keenan McCardell, who had 6,393 yards with the Jaguars, 1,844 yards with the Bucs, 1,747 yards with the Chargers, and 1,133 yards at the start of his career in Cleveland. But it’s not McCardell who is the record-holder:

Trivia hint 1	Select Show
He gained 2,686 yards, 2,245 yards, 1,330 yards, and 1,311 yards with the four teams.

Trivia hint 2	Select Show
Neil O’Donnell and Erik Kramer were each responsible for just over 20% of his yards.

Trivia hint 3	Select Show
The teams: the Chargers, Bears, Jets, Steelers.

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Jeff Graham. Oh, and Graham caught more touchdowns from O’Donnell in New York (3) than he did from him in Pittsburgh (1). Marshall may not be able to break the record this year, but should be in good shape to become the first player with 1,400 receiving yards with four different teams sometime in 2016.

Tagged as: Brandon Marshall, Weekend Trivia

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