Puka Nacua put together one of the best rookie seasons ever by a wide receiver in 2023, but two of his most impressive records have already been broken. Not only did Brock Bowers (and Malik Nabers) surpass Nacua’s record for receptions by a rookie in one season with 112 catches, but Ladd McConkey eclipsed another one of Puka’s marks on Saturday.
With his 197 yards against the Texans on Saturday, McConkey broke Nacua’s record for the most receiving yards by a rookie in a playoff game. Nacua had 181 yards and a touchdown last year against the Lions.
It’s amazing how quickly both Bowers and McConkey overtook Nacua on those two lists, but it’s also a testament to how great the 2024 class of rookie pass-catchers has been.
History of the rookie receiving playoff record (single game):
109 – Steve Junker (1957 season)
128 – Billy Cannon (1960)
142 – Keith Jackson (1988)
146 – Jeremy Maclin (2009)
160 – D.K. Metcalf (2019)
181 – Puka Nacua (2023)
197 – Ladd McConkey (2024)— Football Perspective (@fbgchase) January 12, 2025
Nacua still has perhaps the most important record of all, though. He holds the mark for the most receiving yards in a season by a rookie with 1,486 yards, breaking Bill Groman’s record of 1,473 yards, which was set way back in 1960. Brian Thomas Jr. came the closest to breaking Nacua’s record this year with 1,282 yards for the Jaguars.
Even with two of his records being broken, no single individual has ever matched the collective rookie season that Nacua had in 2023.
