Top 20 Receiving
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All-Time Passer Ratings | All-Time Passing Leaders
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Marvin Harrison
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Marvin Harrison of the Indianapolis Colts rewrote the record book in 2002 when he hauled in 143 receptions. Along the way, his career total climbed to 665 catches earning him a ranking among the game's top twenty leading receivers. Harrison, the first player in history to record 1,500 yards receiving in consecutive seasons, entered the Top 20 in Week 15.
Meanwhile, age failed to slow down the Oakland Raiders' Jerry Rice in 2002. At age 40, the game's all-time leading receiver added yet another chapter to his storied career. Playing in his 18th NFL season, Rice had a team-leading 92 catches for 1,211 yards. It marked the 14th time in his career that he's recorded a 1,000-yard season.
Tim Brown joined Rice, and Cris Carter of the Miami Dolphins as the only players ever to record 1,000 receptions in a career. Brown, who caught 81 passes for 930 yards, climbed two spots in 2002 from fifth place to third all-time.
Five other active players, including newcomer Jimmy Smith (No. 19) of the Jacksonville Jaguars, rank in the Top 20 receiving. They include Carter (No. 2), Larry Centers (No. 9), Shannon Sharpe (No. 11), and Terance Mathis (No. 16).
Leading Lifetime Receivers
(At the Start of 2003 Season)
| Rank | Player | League | Yrs | No. | Yds | Avg | TD | |
| 1 |
(1) | JERRY RICE | NFL | 18 | 1,456 | 21,597 | 14.8 | 192 |
| 2 | (2) | CRIS CARTER | NFL | 16 | 1,101 |
13,899 | 12.6 | 130 |
| 3 | (5) | TIM BROWN | NFL | 15 | 1,018 |
14,167 | 13.9 | 97 |
| 4 | (3) | Andre Reed | NFL | 16 | 951 | 13,198 | 13.9 | 87 |
| 5 | (4) | Art Monk | NFL | 16 | 940 | 12,721 | 13.5 | 68 |
| 6 | (6) | Irving Fryar | NFL | 17 | 851 | 12,785 | 15.0 | 84 |
| 7 | (7) | Steve Largent* | NFL | 14 | 819 | 13,089 | 16.0 | 100 |
| 8 | (8) | Henry Ellard | NFL | 16 | 814 | 13,777 | 16.9 | 65 |
| 9 | (9) | LARRY CENTERS | NFL | 13 | 808 | 6,691 | 8.3 | 27 |
| 10 | (10) | James Lofton* | NFL | 16 | 764 | 14,004 | 18.3 | 75 |
| 11 | (15) | SHANNON SHARPE | NFL | 13 | 753 |
9,290 | 12.3 | 54 |
| 12T | (11T) | Charlie Joiner* | AFL-NFL | 18 | 750 | 12,146 | 16.2 | 65 |
| 12T | (11T) | Michael Irvin | NFL | 12 | 750 | 11,904 | 15.9 | 65 |
| 14 | (13) | Andre Rison | NFL | 12 | 743 | 10,205 | 13.7 | 84 |
| 15 | (14) | Gary Clark | NFL | 11 | 699 | 10,856 | 15.5 | 65 |
| 16 | (17) | TERANCE MATHIS | NFL | 13 | 689 | 8,809 | 12.8 | 63 |
| 17 | (16) | Herman Moore | NFL | 11 | 670 | 9,174 | 13.7 | 62 |
| 18 | (-) | MARVIN HARRISON | NFL | 7 | 665 | 8,800 | 13.2 | 73 |
| 19 | (-) | JIMMY SMITH | NFL | 9 | 664 | 9,287 | 14.0 | 51 |
| 20 | (18) | Ozzie Newsome* | NFL | 13 | 662 | 7,980 | 12.1 | 47 |
2002 Notes:
JIMMY SMITH entered the Top 20 in Week 11. MARVIN HARRISON entered in Week 15. Drew Hill (634 receptions for 9,831 yards, 60 TDs) and Charley Taylor * (649 receptions for 9,110 yards, 79 TDs) were displaced from the Top 20.
Next in Line:
Players active in 2002 who rank closest to a Top Twenty ranking: KEENAN McCARDELL (640), MARSHALL FAULK (628), ISAAC BRUCE (619), RICKY PROEHL (580), ROD SMITH (559), KEYSHAWN JOHNSON (558), ED McCAFFREY (546), ERIC METCALF (541), and TERRELL OWENS (512).
ACTIVE IN 2002
* Pro Football Hall of Fame Member
( ) - indicates rank at the start of the 2002 season