On Sunday, Josh Jacobs made NFL history—a record he probably would rather not have. Jacobs caught four passes in the close 31-29 defeat of the Vikings by the Green Bay Packers, raising his career total to 204 receptions without a receiving score. With this accomplishment, Jacobs becomes the player with the most receptions in NFL history without finding the end zone, breaking Gerald Riggs’ prior record.
Gerald Riggs set a record in 1987 and kept it for 37 years when he made 201 receptions without ever scoring a touchdown during his 10-year NFL career.
Riggs had two seasons with over 30 catches while playing for the Atlanta Falcons (1982–88) and the Washington Redskins (1989–91), but he was still unable to cross the end zone. Notwithstanding this unfavourable record, Riggs concluded his career with a Super Bowl victory with Washington in his penultimate campaign. He may have an unusual stat, but at least he had a championship ring when the game ended.
With no receiving touchdowns, Jacobs surpasses Riggs’ record.
Despite catching 197 passes and scoring an astounding 46 rushing touchdowns during his five seasons with the Raiders, Jacobs was unexpectedly never able to find the end zone via the air. But after hauling in three receptions for the Packers over the first three weeks of the season, Jacobs made a slow but steady progress toward matching Riggs’ elusive mark in a thrilling performance in Week 4.
Jordan Love vowed to stop it, but in the end, Jacobs broke the terrible NFL record by going over 140 catches without a score, a distinction only held by Gerald Riggs and Eric Bieniemy.
With nine years and 146 receptions, Bieniemy had nearly matched Jacobs’ record, but now Jacobs holds the only one. Jacobs is still one of just three players in NFL history to catch at least 140 passes without finding the end zone, along with Riggs and Bieniemy.
Love stated; “I saw that the other day. I’m surprised he doesn’t have any touchdowns yet. Let’s see, 197 career receptions, zero receiving touchdowns. I sent that to him, I said, ‘Bro, we’re going to get you a touchdown, for sure”.