You’d be hard-pressed to find a guy in NFL history tougher than Mike Ditka, but Brock Bowers is making his case. On Sunday, Bowers claimed Ditka’s 63-year-old NFL record for receiving yardage by a rookie tight end.
Bowers began the day with 1,067 yards receiving on the year, just 10 behind Ditka’s record. Late in the second quarter of Las Vegas’ game against New Orleans, Bowers caught a 13-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell to move ahead of Ditka.
Worth noting for cross-era statistical accuracy: Ditka set the record in 1961 in a 14-game season. He averaged 19.2 yards per catch, reeling in 56 passes and 12 touchdowns. Bowers needed 16 games, and with 101 receptions coming into Sunday, needed almost twice as many receptions to match Ditka. Those 101 receptions are already a rookie tight-end record; he has four touchdowns on the season.
Bowers entered the day just four receptions behind the Rams’ Puka Nacua for the overall rookie record; Nacua had 105 receptions as a rookie last season. Nacua also holds the overall rookie receiver yardage record with 1,485 yards; it’s unlikely Bowers will catch Nacua, but then there’s still Week 18.
After his spectacular rookie season, Ditka would go on to play a total of 12 years for Chicago, Philadelphia and Dallas. He was named to multiple Pro Bowls and All-Pro lists, and he would go on to have a bit of success as a coach for the Bears.
Yet to be determined: whether Ditka will un-retire next week just to prove he can still do it at Bowers’ level. That’s very much on the table.
