San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel found an entirely new way to make NFL history Sunday, finishing with 80 receiving yards and a touchdown — without recording a single catch.
Samuel produced the bizarre stat line during the 49ers’ 36-30 win over the Arizona Cardinals, breaking an NFL record that had stood for 65 years.
Lateral turns into 80-yard touchdown
The history-making play came on San Francisco’s opening possession.
Quarterback Brock Purdy completed a short pass to Mike Evans, who lateraled the ball to Samuel at the 49ers’ 20-yard line. Samuel took it from there, racing up the left sideline for an 80-yard touchdown.
Because Evans caught the original pass, he was credited with the reception. Samuel received credit for the receiving yards gained after taking the lateral and the receiving touchdown.
The result was one of the strangest stat lines imaginable: zero receptions, 80 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown.
Record falls after 65 years
Players have previously recorded receiving yards without making a catch, but nobody had ever accumulated as many as Samuel.
The previous NFL record belonged to Philadelphia Eagles running back Timmy Brown, who recorded 65 receiving yards without a reception against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1961.
Samuel wasn’t finished after his record-setting touchdown.
He added 14 yards on two rushing attempts and contributed one final crucial play on special teams. With 33 seconds remaining, Samuel recovered an Arizona onside kick to help seal the 49ers’ victory.
For a wide receiver who officially finished the afternoon without catching a single pass, Samuel found plenty of other ways to make an impact.