In the National Football League (NFL) a receiver is said to have won the triple crown if he leads the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns within a particular season. Finishing joint first in any or all of those three categories is also considered sufficient. The term triple crown has been used to describe the feat at least as far back as 1990, when it was achieved by Jerry Rice.
Since the NFL began keeping statistics in 1932, the triple crown has been won seventeen times by thirteen different players. This includes one player (Lance Alworth) who did so in the American Football League (AFL), the NFL having adopted AFL records when the two leagues merged in 1970. Don Hutson of the Green Bay Packers is the only man to win more than one triple crown, having done so five times (1936, 1941–44). The most recent triple crown winner was Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals, in 2024.
NFL and AFL receivers who have won the triple crown
+Table key† Indicates the player has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame*Active player^NFL champions (before 1967) or Super Bowl champions (since 1967)
+Receiving triple crown winnersYearNamePositionTeamReceptionsYardsTouchdownsNotesRef1932Ray Flaherty†EndNew York Giants2135051936Don Hutson†EndGreen Bay Packers^3453681941Don Hutson† (2)EndGreen Bay Packers5873810Won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL MVP.1942Don Hutson† (3)EndGreen Bay Packers741,21117Won the Joe F. Carr Trophy as the NFL MVP. Hutson achieved more than double the numbers of his nearest competitors in all three categories.1943Don Hutson† (4)EndGreen Bay Packers47776111944Don Hutson† (5)EndGreen Bay Packers^5886691951Elroy Hirsch†EndLos Angeles Rams^661,495171953Pete Pihos†EndPhiladelphia Eagles631,04910Tied with Billy Wilson for touchdowns.1959Raymond Berry†EndBaltimore Colts^66959141964Johnny MorrisFlankerChicago Bears931,20010Tied with Bobby Mitchell for touchdowns. Surpassed by AFL receivers in all three categories.1965Dave ParksEndSan Francisco 49ers801,34412Tied with Bob Hayes for touchdowns. Surpassed by AFL receivers in all three categories.1966Lance Alworth†FlankerSan Diego Chargers731,38313AFL triple crown winner. Alworth would also win the triple crown if NFL players were included, being top in receptions and yards, while tying Bob Hayes for touchdowns.1990Jerry Rice†Wide receiverSan Francisco 49ers1001,50213Voted NFL Player of the Year by the Sporting News.1992Sterling Sharpe†Wide receiverGreen Bay Packers1081,461132005Steve Smith Sr.Wide receiverCarolina Panthers1031,56312Tied with Larry Fitzgerald for receptions; tied with Marvin Harrison for touchdowns.2021Cooper Kupp*Wide receiverLos Angeles Rams^1451,94716Voted the Associated Press NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award and the Super Bowl MVP.2024Ja'Marr Chase*Wide receiverCincinnati Bengals1271,70817
Most Triple Crown Winners Count Player Seasons Team 5 , , , , Green Bay Packers
References