James Lofton made NFL history during the Buffalo Bills’ season opener in 1992 by breaking the league’s all-time receiving yards record. On September 6, 1992, Lofton caught six passes for 56 yards, surpassing Steve Largent’s previous record of 13,089 yards with a new career total of 13,091 yards. The game ended with a decisive 40-7 victory for Buffalo over the Los Angeles Rams.
Lofton had gathered friends, relatives, and former teammates to witness the milestone at Highmark Stadium. Reflecting on the achievement, he said: “My teammates and even one official told me how close I was during the game. We were running the ball exceptionally well and we didn’t have a great need to pass the ball. When the fourth quarter started, we were just grinding it out. I’m sitting over there thinking about all the people who came into town and how hollow it would be to get it on the road.”
As Buffalo maintained a comfortable lead in the final moments of the game, Lofton received three consecutive targets from quarterback Frank Reich. The third target resulted in Lofton’s record-setting catch.
Although Jerry Rice surpassed Lofton’s career mark three years later, this moment remains significant in NFL history. Lofton finished his career with 764 receptions, 76 touchdowns, and 14,004 receiving yards. He is remembered as a key player during Buffalo’s Super Bowl years and for being the first player to reach 14,000 receiving yards.
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