Ja’Marr Chase Becomes 6th Wide Receiver to Win Triple Crown in Super Bowl Era

Ja’Marr Chase may not be in the playoffs, but he joined an elite group of wide receivers on Sunday night.

The Cincinnati Bengals star became just the sixth wide receiver to win the Triple Crown in the Super Bowl era. Chase finished the year with 1,708 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 127 receptions, all career highs. He also averaged 100.5 receiving yards and was targeted 175 times per game.

“It says I`m off to a tremendous start,” Chase said on the NFL Network on Saturday when asked about the award. “There’s more to be done, but I’m doing good so far.”

Chase is the first receiver since Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp to achieve the feat in 2021; Steve Smith (2005), Sterling Sharpe (1992), Jerry Rice (1990) and Lance Alworth (1966) are the others. Chase, 24, is also the youngest player in league history to win the Triple Crown.

Chase became the first Bengals player to lead the league in all three categories, but that was known heading into Saturday’s regular-season finale. He led Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown with eight catches and held a four-touchdown lead over St. Brown and Washington Commanders star Terry McLaurin. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson came closest in receiving yards, but he had 133 through Week 18.

Chase just missed tying Carl Pickens’ single-season touchdown receiving record; he needed two in Saturday’s 19-17 win over the Steelers and only managed one. He leads the franchise in the other two categories. The Bengals finished the season 9-8 and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

All of this comes after Chase’s contract dispute with the team last fall. Despite not signing a new long-term deal, he returned to the team in time for Week 1 and will earn $21.8 million next year, which is the option year of his first rookie contract. Given his performance on the field this season and that he’s reportedly already close to reaching that goal, Chase would arguably be the highest-paid wide receiver in the league if that happens. And he deserves it.