Rookie magic

History shows that it is a rare occurrence that a first-year player ever wins a NFL statistic crown. In fact, no rookie has ever led the NFL in passing since the passer rating system was instituted in 1973 nor has any rookie ever led the league in sacks since it became an official NFL stat in 1982.

PHOTO GALLERY - Click on image to view gallery

Here's how difficult it generally is for a rookie to win a stat title.

RUSHING

1999 – Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts – 1,553
1983 – Eric Dickerson, Los Angeles Rams – 1,808
1981 – George Rogers, New Orleans Saints – 1,674
1978 – Earl Campbell, Houston Oilers – 1,450
1968 (AFL) – Paul Robinson, Cincinnati Bengals – 1,023
1960 (AFL) – Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans – 875
1957 – Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns – 942
1955 – Alan Ameche, Baltimore Colts – 961
1943 – Bill Paschal, New York Giants – 572
1942 – Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh Steelers – 696
1939 – Bill Osmanski, Chicago Bears – 699
1938 – Byron “Whizzer” White, Pittsburgh Pirates – 567
1936 – Alphonse “Tuffy” Leemans, New York Giants – 830
1934 – Beattie Feathers, Chicago Bears – 1,004
1932 – Cliff Battles, Boston Redskins – 576 

PASSING TOUCHDOWNS
1945 – ^Bob Waterfield, Cleveland Rams – 14
1933 – Harry Newman, New York Giants – 11

SCORING (POINTS)
2007 – Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers – 141
1985 – Kevin Butler, Chicago Bears – 144
1982 – Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders – 84
1978 – Frank Corral, Los Angeles Rams – 118
1972 – Chester Marcol, Green Bay Packers – 128
1965 – Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears – 132
1960 (AFL) – Gene Mingo, Denver Broncos – 123
1950 – Doak Walker, Detroit Lions – 128

SCORING (TOUCHDOWNS)
1999 – ^Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts – 17
1982 – Marcus Allen, Los Angeles Raiders – 14
1980 – Billy Sims, Detroit Lions – 16
1965 – Gale Sayers, Chicago Bears – 22
1955 – ^Alan Ameche, Baltimore Colts – 9
1954 – Harlon Hill, Chicago Bears – 12
1943 – ^Bill Paschal, New York Giants – 12
1935 – Don Hutson, Green Bay Packers – 7
1934 – Beattie Feathers, Chicago Bears – 9
1933 – ^Charlie “Buckets” Goldenberg, Green Bay Packers – 7
1933 – ^Elvin “Kink” Richards, New York Giants – 7

Hall of Famer Tom Fears is the last player to lead the league in receiving as a rookie.

RECEPTIONS
1948 – Tom Fears, Los Angeles Rams – 51
1940 – Don Looney, Philadelphia Eagles – 58
1935 – Tod Goodwin, New York Giants – 26

RECEIVING YARDS
1960 (AFL) – Bill Groman, Houston Oilers – 1,473
1952 – Billy Howton, Green Bay Packers – 1,231
1940 – Don Looney, Philadelphia Eagles – 707
1937 – Gaynell Tinsley, Chicago Cardinals – 675
1933 – Paul Moss, Pittsburgh Pirates – 383 

PUNT RETURNS

2015 - Rashad Greene, Jacksonville Jaguars - 16.7 average (18 returns, 301 yards, 73 long, 1 TD)
1999 – Charlie Rogers, Seattle Seahawks – 14.5 average (22 returns, 318 yards, 94 long, 1 TD)
1993 – Tyrone Hughes, New Orleans Saints – 13.6 average (37 returns, 503 yards, 83 long, 2 TDs)
1986 – Bobby Joe Edmonds, Seattle Seahawks – 12.3 average (34 returns, 419 yards, 75 long, 1 TD)
1983 – Henry Ellard, Los Angeles Rams – 13.6 average (16 returns, 217 yards, 72 long, 1 TD)
1960 – Abner Haynes, Dallas Texans – 15.4 average (14 returns, 215 yards, 46 long, 0 TD)
1954 – Veryl Switzer, Green Bay Packers – 12.8 average (24 returns, 306 yards, 93 long, 1 TD)
1950 – Herb Rich, Baltimore Colts – 23.0 average (12 returns, 276 yargs, 86 long, 1 TD)
1947 – Walter Slater, Pittsburgh Steelers – 15.5 average (28 returns, 435 yards, 33 long, 0 TD)
1945 – Dave Ryan, Detroit Lions – 14.7 average (15 returns, 220 yards, 56 long, 0 TD)
1944 – Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia Eagles – 15.3 average (15 returns, 230 yards, 55 long, 1 TD)
 
KICKOFF RETURNS
2013 - Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings, 32.4 average (43 returns, 1,393 yards, 109 long, 2 TDs)
2010 – David Reed, Baltimore Ravens – 29.3 average (21 returns, 616 yards, 103 long, 1 TD)
2000 – Darrick Vaughn, Atlanta Falcons – 27.7 average (39 returns, 1,082 yards, 100 long, 3 TDs)
1998 – Terry Fair, Detroit Lions – 28.0 average (51 returns, 1,428 yards, 105 long, 2 TDs)
1988 – Tim Brown, Los Angeles Raiders – 26.8 average (41 returns, 1,098 yards, 97 long, 1 TD)
1984 – Bobby Humphery, New York Jets – 30.7 average (22 returns, 675 yards, 97 long, 1 TD)
1982 – Mike Mosley, Buffalo Bills – 27.1 average (18 returns, 487 yards, 66 long, 0 TD)
1977 – Raymond Clayborn, New England Patriots – 31.0 average (28 returns, 869 yards, 101 long, 3 TDs)
1976 – Duriel Harris, Miami Dolphins – 32.9 average (17 returns, 559 yards, 69 long, 0 TD)
1975 – Walter Payton, Chicago Bears – 31.7 average (14 returns, 444 yards, 70 long, 0 TD)
1967 – Travis Williams, Green Bay Packers – 41.1 average (18 returns, 739 yards, 104 long, 4 TDs)
1964 – Clarence Childs, New York Giants – 29.0 average (34 returns, 987 yards, 100 long, 1 TD)
1960 – Tom Moore, Green Bay Packers – 33.1 average (12 returns, 397 yards, 84 long, 0 TD)
1957 – Jon Arnett, Los Angeles Rams – 28.0 average (18 returns, 504 yards, 98 long, 1 TD)
1956 – Tom Wilson, Los Angeles Rams – 31.8 average (15 returns, 477 yards, 103 long, 1 TD)
1949 – Don Doll, Detroit Lions – 25.5 average (21 returns, 536 yards, 56 long, 0 TD)
1948 – Joe Scott, New York Giants – 28.5 average (20 returns, 569 yards, 99 long, 1 TD)

INTERCEPTIONS
2013 - ^Marcus Peters, Kansas City Chiefs - 8
2009 – ^Jairus Byrd, Buffalo Bills – 9
2001 – ^Anthony Henry, Cleveland Browns – 10
1995 – Orlando Thomas, Minnesota Vikings – 9
1990 – Mark Carrier, Chicago Bears – 10
1981 – Everson Walls, Dallas Cowboys – 11
1967 – ^Lem Barney, Detroit Lions – 10
1964 – ^Paul Krause, Washington Redskins – 12
1960 (AFL) – Austin “Goose” Gonsoulin, Denver Broncos – 11
1952 – Dick “Night Train” Lane, Los Angeles Rams – 14
1948 – Dan Sandifer, Washington Redskins – 13
1944 – Howard Livingston, New York Giants – 9
1941 – ^Art Jones, Pittsburgh Steelers – 7

PUNTING
1979 – Bob Grupp, Kansas City Chiefs – 43.6 average
1950 – Fred “Curly” Morrison, Chicago Bears, 43.3 average
1949 – Mike Boyda, New York Bulldogs, 44.2 average
1939 – Parker Hall, Cleveland Rams, 40.8 average

^ shared league lead