List of NFL receivers who have won the triple crown explained

In the National Football League (NFL) a receiver is said to have won the triple crown if they lead the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns within a particular season. Finishing joint first in any or all of those three categories is also considered sufficient.[1] The term triple crown has been used to describe the feat at least as far back as 1990, when it was achieved by Jerry Rice.[2]

Since the NFL began keeping statistics in 1932, the triple crown has been won sixteen times by twelve different players. This includes one player (Lance Alworth) who did so in the American Football League (AFL), the NFL having adopted AFL records when the two leagues merged in 1970.[3] Don Hutson of the Green Bay Packers is the only man to win more than one triple crown, having done so five times (1936, 1941–45). The most recent triple crown winner was Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams, in 2021.

NFL and AFL receivers who have won the triple crown

†
Indicates the player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Active player
^NFL champions (before 1967) or Super Bowl champions (since 1967)
Receiving triple crown winners
YearNamePositionTeamReceptionsYardsTouchdownsNotesRef
scope=row 1932Ray Flaherty†EndNew York Giants213505[4] [5]
scope=row 1936Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers^345368[6] [7]
scope=row 1941Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers5873810Won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL MVP.[8] [9]
scope=row 1942Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers741,21117Won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL MVP. Hutson achieved more than double the numbers of his nearest competitors in all three categories.[10] [11]
scope=row 1943Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers4777611[12]
scope=row 1944Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers^588669[13]
scope=row 1951Elroy Hirsch†EndLos Angeles Rams^661,49517[14] [15]
scope=row 1953Pete Pihos†EndPhiladelphia Eagles631,04910Tied with Billy Wilson for touchdowns.[16] [17]
scope=row 1959Raymond Berry†EndBaltimore Colts^6695914[18] [19]
scope=row 1964Johnny MorrisFlankerChicago Bears931,20010Tied with Bobby Mitchell for touchdowns. Surpassed by AFL receivers in all three categories.[20] [21]
scope=row 1965Dave Parks†EndSan Francisco 49ers801,34412Tied with Bob Hayes for touchdowns. Surpassed by AFL receivers in all three categories.[22] [23]
scope=row 1966Lance Alworth†FlankerSan Diego Chargers731,38313AFL triple crown winner. Alworth would also win the triple crown if NFL players were included, being top in receptions and yards, while tying Bob Hayes for touchdowns.[24] [25] [26]
scope=row 1990Jerry Rice†Wide ReceiverSan Francisco 49ers1001,50213Voted NFL Player of the Year by the Sporting News.[27] [28] [29]
scope=row 1992Sterling Sharpe†Wide ReceiverGreen Bay Packers1081,46113Two-time Pro Football Hall of Fame semi-finalist[30]
scope=row 2005Steve Smith Sr.Wide ReceiverCarolina Panthers1031,56312Tied with Larry Fitzgerald for receptions; tied with Marvin Harrison for touchdowns.[31]
scope=row 2021Cooper KuppWide ReceiverLos Angeles Rams^1451,94716Voted the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and the Super Bowl MVP.[32] [33]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gordon . Grant . Rams WR Cooper Kupp captures receiving triple crown . nfl.com . July 9, 2022 . February 1, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220201081409/https://www.nfl.com/news/rams-wr-cooper-kupp-captures-receiving-triple-crown . live .
  2. News: Silver . Michael . Little fanfare after Rice makes 100th reception . C1, C2 . Santa Rosa Press Democrat . December 31, 1990 . July 9, 2022 . July 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220709191936/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105280669/rice-triple-31-dec-1990/ . live .
  3. Web site: Pavlik . Ed . Opinion: pro football records should include the AAFC . Pro Football Researchers . July 9, 2022 . March 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230320133915/http://www.profootballresearchers.org/coffin-corner80s/02-07-036.pdf . live .
  4. Web site: 1932 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 7, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707223434/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1932/receiving.htm . live .
  5. Web site: Ray Flaherty - Class of 1976 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710174826/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/ray-flaherty/ . live .
  6. Web site: 1936 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 7, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707225833/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1936/receiving.htm . live .
  7. Web site: Don Hutson - Class of 1963 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . June 13, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150613180754/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/member.aspx?PlayerId=104 . live .
  8. Web site: 1941 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707230530/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1941/receiving.htm . live .
  9. News: Don Hutson voted league's Most Valuable Player . 13 . Green Bay Press-Gazette . February 11, 1942 . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710191513/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105341710/hutson-1941-mvp-11-feb-1942/ . live .
  10. Web site: 1942 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . March 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220310233945/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1942/receiving.htm . live .
  11. News: Hutson repeats 'Most Valuable' for Carr Trophy . U.P. . 12 . Kenosha News . January 28, 1943 . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710191513/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105344295/hutson-1942-mvp-28-jan-1943/ . live .
  12. Web site: 1943 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707231618/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1943/receiving.htm . live .
  13. Web site: 1944 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707231618/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1944/receiving.htm . live .
  14. Web site: 1951 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707234121/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1951/receiving.htm . live .
  15. Web site: Elroy Hirsch - Class of 1968 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710174828/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/elroy-crazylegs-hirsch/ . live .
  16. Web site: 1953 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707234120/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1953/receiving.htm . live .
  17. Web site: Pete Pihos - Class of 1970 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710174827/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/pete-pihos/ . live .
  18. Web site: 1959 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707234120/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1959/receiving.htm . live .
  19. Web site: Raymond Berry - Class of 1973 . pro-football-reference.com . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710174826/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/raymond-berry/ . live .
  20. Web site: 1964 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220707234121/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1964/receiving.htm . live .
  21. Web site: 1965 AFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 9, 2022 . June 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220627204019/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965_AFL/receiving.htm . live .
  22. Web site: 1965 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708000843/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1965/receiving.htm . live .
  23. Web site: 1966 AFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 9, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708000843/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966_AFL/receiving.htm . live .
  24. Web site: 1966 AFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . July 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220708000843/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966_AFL/receiving.htm . live .
  25. Web site: 1966 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 9, 2022 . July 9, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220709193303/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1966/receiving.htm . live .
  26. Web site: Lance Alworth - Class of 1978 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . May 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524151553/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/lance-alworth/ . live .
  27. Web site: 1990 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . October 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221008183831/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990/receiving.htm . live .
  28. Web site: Jerry Rice - Class of 2010 . Pro Football Hall of Fame . July 10, 2022 . May 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220519235825/https://www.profootballhof.com/players/jerry-rice . live .
  29. News: Rice grabs Sporting News MVP honors . 10 . Chapel Hill Daily Tar Heel . February 8, 1991 . July 10, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220710191512/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105344599/rice-tsn-mvp-8-feb-1991/ . live .
  30. Web site: 1992 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . October 7, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221007194127/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1992/receiving.htm . live .
  31. Web site: 2005 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . October 10, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181010145759/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2005/receiving.htm . live .
  32. Web site: 2021 NFL receiving . pro-football-reference.com . July 8, 2022 . January 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220105065402/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/receiving.htm . live .
  33. Web site: DeArdo . Bryan . Rams' Cooper Kupp is first receiver to capture Super Bowl MVP despite not accomplishing this statistic . cbssports.com . February 17, 2022 . July 10, 2022 . February 18, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220218014154/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/rams-cooper-kupp-is-first-receiver-to-capture-super-bowl-mvp-despite-not-accomplishing-this-statistic/ . live .

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