Most Receiving Yards in a Single Game by a Pittsburgh Steelers Player
When the Pittsburgh Steelers decide to open up the playbook, history tends to follow. From the black-and-white film days of Elbie Nickel to the electric prime of Antonio Brown, the Steelers have had their fair share of jaw-dropping receiving performances.
Antonio Brown dominates this list like he dominated defensive backs — with three appearances in the top 10, including the record-setting 284-yard eruption in 2015. But it’s not all about AB. Plaxico Burress, Buddy Dial, and deep-cut legends like Jimmy Orr and Roy Jefferson helped write the early chapters of Pittsburgh’s passing legacy.
And don’t overlook Markus Wheaton’s surprise 200+ yard game or Yancey Thigpen’s gritty late-’90s performance. The list blends old-school toughness with modern precision, making it one of the most diverse in NFL receiving history.
TOP 10 LIST
10. Yancey Thigpen – 196 Yards (1997)
Thigpen’s 1997 game was a last gasp of old-school Steelers receiving grit before the league’s passing revolution really took off.
9. Antonio Brown – 196 Yards (2013)
One of AB’s many dominant outings, this 196-yard game helped solidify his reputation as one of the most unguardable receivers in football.
8. Roy Jefferson – 199 Yards (1968)
Before the Steelers became a defensive dynasty, Jefferson was torching secondaries with rare athleticism for his time.
7. Markus Wheaton – 201 Yards (2015)
Wheaton’s 200+ yard game came out of nowhere — a career high that no one saw coming and hasn’t been matched by him since.
6. Elbie Nickel – 202 Yards (1952)
Nickel was doing it before face masks were standard — and still managed to rack up over 200 yards in one game.
5. Jimmy Orr – 205 Yards (1958)
In the late ‘50s, Orr’s hands and footwork helped him become one of the most reliable targets in the league. This performance turned heads.
4. Antonio Brown – 213 Yards (2017)
AB was simply unstoppable. In 2017, he made elite DBs look like practice squad fill-ins with this monster game.
3. Buddy Dial – 235 Yards (1961)
A name younger fans might not know — but Dial’s 235-yard game is still a top-tier receiving day, more than 60 years later.
2. Plaxico Burress – 253 Yards (2002)
Long before the Super Bowl fame, Burress had this career-high performance that put him on the national radar.
1. Antonio Brown – 284 Yards (2015)
The king of the list — and rightly so. Brown’s 284-yard explosion in 2015 was a masterclass in route-running, separation, and big-play brilliance.
Ranking the 10 best single-game receiving yard performances in Pittsburgh Steelers history
Top 50 Single-Game Receiving Performances in Steelers History
This chart showcases the greatest receiving games in franchise history — from Hall of Fame trailblazers to 21st-century superstars.
| Rank | Player Name | Receiving Yards | Receiving Touchdowns | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antonio Brown | 284 | 0 | 11/8/2015 |
| 2 | Plaxico Burress | 253 | 2 | 11/10/2002 |
| 3 | Buddy Dial | 235 | 2 | 10/22/1961 |
| 4 | Antonio Brown | 213 | 0 | 12/10/2017 |
| 5 | Jimmy Orr | 205 | 3 | 12/13/1958 |
| 6 | Elbie Nickel | 202 | 1 | 12/14/1952 |
| 7 | Markus Wheaton | 201 | 1 | 11/29/2015 |
| 8 | Roy Jefferson | 199 | 4 | 11/3/1968 |
| 9 | Antonio Brown | 196 | 2 | 9/22/2013 |
| 10 | Yancey Thigpen | 196 | 0 | 10/26/1997 |
| 11 | George Pickens | 195 | 2 | 12/23/2023 |
| 12 | Antonio Brown | 195 | 1 | 9/20/2015 |
| 13 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | 193 | 1 | 10/29/2017 |
| 14 | Jeff Graham | 192 | 0 | 12/19/1993 |
| 15 | Lynn Swann | 192 | 2 | 12/2/1979 |
| 16 | Elbie Nickel | 192 | 1 | 12/4/1949 |
| 17 | JuJu Smith-Schuster | 189 | 1 | 11/25/2018 |
| 18 | Antonio Brown | 189 | 2 | 12/20/2015 |
| 19 | Antonio Brown | 187 | 1 | 1/3/2016 |
| 20 | Buddy Dial | 187 | 1 | 10/23/1960 |
| 21 | Buddy Dial | 186 | 0 | 12/2/1962 |
| 22 | Antonio Brown | 185 | 2 | 12/23/2018 |
| 23 | Louis Lipps | 183 | 2 | 9/2/1984 |
| 24 | Antonio Brown | 182 | 0 | 9/10/2017 |
| 25 | Martavis Bryant | 178 | 1 | 11/15/2015 |
| 26 | Yancey Thigpen | 175 | 3 | 12/7/1997 |
| 27 | Theo Bell | 173 | 0 | 11/30/1980 |
| 28 | Hines Ward | 171 | 3 | 10/22/2006 |
| 29 | Louis Lipps | 171 | 1 | 11/13/1988 |
| 30 | Antonio Brown | 169 | 2 | 11/26/2017 |
| 31 | Hines Ward | 168 | 2 | 11/17/2002 |
| 32 | John Stallworth | 167 | 1 | 9/2/1984 |
| 33 | Louis Lipps | 166 | 2 | 12/4/1988 |
| 34 | Charles Johnson | 165 | 2 | 12/24/1994 |
| 35 | Ray Mathews | 165 | 2 | 11/3/1957 |
| 36 | Plaxico Burress | 164 | 1 | 12/16/2001 |
| 37 | Roy Jefferson | 164 | 2 | 11/2/1969 |
| 38 | Gary Ballman | 163 | 1 | 12/12/1965 |
| 39 | Jimmy Orr | 163 | 1 | 11/30/1958 |
| 40 | Yancey Thigpen | 162 | 0 | 10/5/1997 |
| 41 | Dave Smith | 162 | 1 | 9/26/1971 |
| 42 | Buddy Dial | 162 | 3 | 10/27/1963 |
| 43 | Gary Ballman | 161 | 1 | 11/17/1963 |
| 44 | Yancey Thigpen | 160 | 0 | 10/8/1995 |
| 45 | Bob Schnelker | 160 | 1 | 11/5/1961 |
| 46 | Le’Veon Bell | 159 | 0 | 11/30/2014 |
| 47 | Hines Ward | 159 | 1 | 10/18/2009 |
| 48 | Eric Green | 158 | 1 | 9/22/1991 |
| 49 | John Stallworth | 158 | 1 | 10/4/1981 |
| 50 | Antonio Brown | 157 | 0 | 10/8/2017 |
This top 10 proves one thing: when the Steelers air it out, they do it in style. Antonio Brown’s dominance across multiple seasons puts him in elite company, while legends like Buddy Dial and Plaxico Burress show just how far back Pittsburgh’s WR talent goes. Could George Pickens be the next to crack this list?
FAQ SECTION
Who holds the Steelers record for most receiving yards in a single game?
Antonio Brown holds the record with 284 yards in 2015.
Are there any Hall of Famers on this list?
Yes — Elbie Nickel and Roy Jefferson are both historic names with Hall of Fame-worthy legacies.
What’s the most recent entry on this list?
Antonio Brown’s 213-yard performance in 2017 is the most recent among the top 10.
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