Introduction
In any sport, records are meant to be broken. That’s just the nature of competition. But sometimes, certain records are so unbreakable that they stand the test of time. Such is the case in the NFL, where a number of records have been set over the years that may never be broken. From most passing yards in a career to most rushing yards in a season, these are the top-10 most unbreakable NFL records of all-time.
Most Career Rushing Yards – Emmitt Smith
With 18,355 yards, Emmitt Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher. He played for the Dallas Cowboys for 15 seasons and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Smith is the only running back to have won a Super Bowl MVP award and an NFL rushing crown in the same season.
Most Consecutive Starts by a Position Player – Brett Favre
In 1992, Brett Favre became the starting quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He would go on to start every game for the next 297 games, a record that still stands today. That’s not to say that Favre didn’t have his share of injuries; he famously played through a torn tendons in his thumb and had various other aches and pains throughout his career.
Most Career Receiving Yards – Jerry Rice
In his 20 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders, Jerry Rice amassed an incredible 22,895 receiving yards, which is nearly 2,000 yards more than the next player on the list. His 1,549 catches are also almost 300 more than the second-most productive receiver. Simply put, Jerry Rice is the greatest receiver in NFL history, and his records are unlikely to ever be broken.
Most Career Sacks – Bruce Smith
Bruce Smith holds the record for most career sacks with 200. His record is so high that it’s very unlikely to ever be broken. Smith was a dominant force on the defensive line for 19 seasons. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler and a 2-time Defensive Player of the Year. He was a member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 1990s. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
Most Career Interceptions – Paul Krause
Paul Krause holds the record for the most career interceptions with 81. He played 16 seasons in the NFL, all with the Minnesota Vikings. He was an 8-time Pro Bowl selection and a 4-time First-team All-Pro. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
Most Consecutive Games with a touchdown – streak by a player – Jerry Rice
In the history of the NFL, there have been many great players who have set records that may never be broken. One of those players is Jerry Rice, who holds the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch. From December 5, 1993, to December 15, 1996, Jerry Rice caught a touchdown pass in 17 consecutive games. This is a truly amazing feat and is a record that may never be broken.
Throughout his career, Rice was one of the most dominant wide receivers ever to play the game. He was known for his incredible work ethic and his ability to make big plays in clutch situations. His record-breaking streak of 17 consecutive games with a touchdown catch is just one example of his greatness.
If any player is going to break Jerry Rice’s record for most consecutive games with a touchdown catch, they will have to be an exceptional player with great focus and determination. It is a record that stands as a testament to the greatness of Jerry Rice and may never be broken.
Most All-Purpose Yards in a career – Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith is the NFL’s all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards, a record that will likely never be broken. In his 15 seasons in the league, Smith averaged over 1,200 yards per year and reached the 1,000-yard mark 12 times. He was a key member of the Dallas Cowboys teams who won three Super Bowls in four seasons in the 1990s.
Smith was known for his versatility as a runner, able to find success both between the tackles and on the outside. He was also an excellent receiver out of the backfield, catching 515 passes for 3,895 yards and 11 touchdowns in his career. His ability to make plays in the passing game made him even more dangerous as a runner, as defenses had to account for him on every play.
Despite his success on the field, Smith was never perfect. He relied on his vision and patience to find holes to run through, and his strength to break tackles when he got into the open field. His determination and will to win were perhaps his most defining traits, as he constantly fought for extra yards even when there didn’t seem to be any available.
Smith’s records are a testament to his greatness as a player, and it is unlikely that anyone will ever come close to matching his accomplishments.
Highest
In NFL history, there have been some truly unbreakable records. Here are the top-most unbreakable NFL records of all-time:
1. Most Passing Yards in a Season: Peyton Manning holds the record for most passing yards in aseason with 5,477 yards, set in 2013. This record isunlikely to ever be broken. In today’s pass-happy NFL, it is becoming increasingly rare for any one quarterback to throw for over 5,000 yards in a season. The closest any quarterback has come to breaking Manning’s record is Drew Brees, who threw for 5,476 yards in 2011, just one yard shy.
2. Most Consecutive Seasons with at Least 10 Wins: The New England Patriots have an amazing streak of 10+ win seasons, with 18 consecutive seasons from 2003-2020. Thispartiular record will be very tough to beat. The next closest team is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have had 8 consecutive seasons of 10+ wins (2007-2014).
3. Most Receiving Yards in a Season: Calvin Johnson holds the record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,964 yards, set in 2012. This is another record that seems unlikely to ever be broken. In today’s NFL, there are very few true “number one” receivers who get the majority of targets from their team’s quarterback. Instead, offenses spread