Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill will join NFL exclusive company with 86 yards against Eagles
Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is on the verge of joining some exclusive company. And, the strangest twist of all, the fellow receivers on this list all played in the NFL more than six decades ago.
According to the NFL, with 86 receiving yards against the Eagles on Sunday night, Hill will become the first player in 62 years - and fourth player in league history - to reach 900 receiving yards through his team’s first seven games. He will join Charlie Hennigan (1,044 receiving yards in 1961), and Pro Football Hall of Famers Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch(961 in 1951) and Don Hutson(915 in 1942). If you ever have heard of Charlie Hennigan, who played for the Houston Oilers in the American Football League, go to the head of the class.
With all the great receivers of the past 60 years - and all the high-scoring offenses - it's hard to believe there are not more receivers Hill would be chasing. Then again, the Dolphins are doing things on offense perhaps no one has done through the first two months of the 2023 season.
Hill has totaled at least 150 receiving yards and a TD reception in four games this season and is the first player ever to record 150 receiving yards in four of his team’s first six games. On Sunday, he could become the fourth player since 1970 to record 150 receiving yards and a touchdown reception in three consecutive games, joining Josh Gordon (2013), Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton (1984) and Andre Rison (1990).
Since entering the NFL in 2016, Hill has 15 career games of 150 receiving yards. With another 150-yard game, he will tie Julio Jones, who signed with the Eagles on Monday, for the fourth-most such games all-time. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice(30 games), Lance Alworth (17) and Terrell Owens(17) have more.
Finally, Hill only trails the Giants' Odell Beckham Jr., for the most receiving yards in the first 25 games with their new team. Beckham had 2,625 yards in 2014-15 while Hill has 2,524 yards since coming to Miami via a trade with Kansas City before the 2022 season.
More: Tyreek Hill grabs phone, backflips after scoring go-ahead touchdown vs. Panthers
Of course, Hill has clearly stated that his goal is to go past 2,000 yards receiving this season. If that happens, he will continue re-writing the NFL record books in all its receiving categories. And with Miami putting up pinball-like numbers on offense, there is no reason to think he won't do it as long as he remains healthy.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Tyreek Hill approaching NFL receiving records not seen since 1961
