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.

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

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