Brock Bowers closing in on Mike Ditka’s 63-year-old record for rookie tight ends

One of the NFL’s oldest records belongs to Mike Ditka, who as a Bears rookie tight end in 1961 gained 1,076 receiving yards. Even 63 years later, in a league with much more sophisticated passing offenses, rules favoring receivers and longer seasons, no rookie tight end has ever matched Ditka’s yardage total.

Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers is closing in, however.

Through 14 games this season, Bowers has 968 receiving yards, which puts him on pace for 1,175 receiving yards in a 17-game season. At his current pace, Bowers will break Ditka’s record in two weeks.

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 90 catches so far this 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 is getting close.