Brock Bowers Breaks Mike Ditka's 63-Year-Old NFL Record in Raiders' Week 17 Game

The rookie tight end has been dominant in his first NFL season.
Bowers is now the NFL's record holder for most yards by a tight end in NFL history.
Bowers is now the NFL's record holder for most yards by a tight end in NFL history. / Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
In this story:

Another week, another record for Brock Bowers.

On a 14-yard reception in the first half of the Las Vegas Raiders' Week 17 game vs. the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, the tight end broke the NFL's all-time record for most receiving yards by a rookie tight end.

The previous record holder was former Bears tight end Mike Ditka, who tallied 1,076 receiving yards in 1961. He held the honor for 63 years.

Now? It's Bowers's record.

The 22-year-old in just the third tight end in NFL history (Ditka, Kyle Pitts) to tally over 1,000 yards in a rookie season, and is the first to tally over 1,100.

Bowers set another NFL record earlier this month vs. the Chiefs, breaking the NFL's all-time record for most receptions by a rookie tight end in a single season—set by Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta in 2023. On the season at time of writing, Bowers has tallied 105 receptions for 1,105 yards and four touchdowns.

He's just one reception away from breaking Puka Nacua's NFL record for most receptions by a rookie (wide receivers, running backs included) in a single season. Stay tuned.


More of the Latest Around the NFL

feed


Published
Mike Kadlick
MIKE KADLICK

Mike Kadlick is a contributor to the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. Before joining SI in November 2024, he covered the New England Patriots for WEEI sports radio in Boston and continues to do so for CLNS Media. He has a master's in public relations from Boston University. Kadlick is also an avid runner and a proud lover of all things pizza.