The number of receiving yards each player has recorded in each season is a recorded stat in American football games. In the sport, passing is one of the two main methods of advancing the ball down the field. Passes are typically attempted by the quarterback, but any offensive player can attempt a pass provided they are behind the line of scrimmage; a player who catches a forward pass is a receiver. The National Football League did not begin keeping official records until the 1932 season. The average number of receiving yards the leader has gained has increased over time – since the 1961 season, all but one year saw the receiving leader record over 1,000 yards. No player has ever finished with over 2,000 receiving yards in a season; the current record is 1,964 yards, set by Calvin Johnson during the 2012 season. Don Hutson (pictured) led the league in receiving yards seven times, the most of any player; Jerry Rice is second with six. (Full list...)