Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers has just broken one of the NFL’s oldest records.
On his third catch today in New Orleans, Bowers broke the record for most receiving yards for a rookie tight end in NFL history, which was set by Bears tight end Mike Ditka in 1961. Ditka gained 1,076 receiving yards that year; Bowers is now at 1,087 and counting this year.
It’s a great achievement for Bowers and also a reminder of the greatness of Ditka, who was a Hall of Fame tight end before he became a Super Bowl-winning head coach. It took 63 years, much more sophisticated passing offenses, rules favoring receivers and longer seasons for a rookie tight end to match Ditka’s yardage total.
Bowers has already broken the rookie tight end receptions record, which was set by Detroit’s Sam LaPorta last year. LaPorta had 86 catches in 2023; Bowers has 104 catches so far this year and is closing in on Puka Nacua’s overall NFL rookie record of 105 catches, set last year.
What Ditka did in a 14-game season and a very different NFL is an extraordinary achievement, and Bowers putting up bigger numbers doesn’t necessarily reflect a better season. But any time a record has stood for 63 years, breaking it is a major accomplishment. And Bowers has done it.
