Fourteen years ago, Calvin Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s NFL‘s all-time single-season receiving record.
Johnson’s 1,964 yards from that season with the Detroit Lions still stand as the active record. Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford was Johnson’s quarterback back then in Detroit, and the Pro Football Hall of Famer believes Stafford could be part of breaking his record next season.
While speaking with Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Johnson identified Rams All-Pro receiver Puka Nacua as the most likely to become the NFL’s new all-time single-season receiving leader.
“He’s still got Matthew, so I think he’s got a shot,” Johnson said. “If he stays healthy, that dude’s a killer out there. He’s a definite No. 1. Who else? Help me out.”
Stafford, the reigning NFL MVP, is the common denominator. Cooper Kupp finished the 2021 regular season with 1,947 yards — second all-time to Johnson — in Stafford’s first year with the Rams.
“I thought he was going to break it, honestly,” Johnson said of Kupp, who is now with the Seattle Seahawks. “But, yeah, you never know. You got to have a good start. It’s hard to pick it up late in the season. You got to get off to a good start, [and] you got to maintain that good pace and then you got to finish strong. I think that’s the key if you’re going to break the record.”
Nacua is coming off the best season of his three-year NFL career. He posted a career-high 129 receptions for 1,715 yards and 10 touchdowns, leading to his first First Team All-Pro selection.