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SFOWENS81

Terrell Owens

Retired

Cincinnati Bengals · WR

Terrell Owens recorded 218 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 15 rostered seasons with Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers.

▶Best highlights

73.1

rec yds/gm

1.2

rush yds/gm

12

playoff games

218

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to Terrell Owens's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Owens's Hall of Fame biography, official playoff histories, receiving records, and verified archive box scores. The Catch II and his injured Super Bowl performance lead, followed by the comeback that showcased his complete impact and the single-game reception and touchdown records of his prime.

  1. #1. After several costly drops, Owens held the 25-yard winner between defenders with eight seconds left, creating The Catch II and his first defining playoff moment. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terrell Owens
  2. #2. Returning seven weeks after a broken leg and torn ankle ligament, Owens caught nine passes for 122 yards in Super Bowl XXXIX in a remarkable physical performance. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terrell Owens
  3. #3. Owens caught nine passes for 177 yards, scored twice, and added a two-point conversion as San Francisco erased a 24-point playoff deficit. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terrell Owens
  4. #4. Owens set the NFL single-game record with 20 receptions, gaining 283 yards in the most prolific volume performance of his career. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terrell Owens
  5. #5. Owens caught eight passes for 173 yards and a career-high four touchdowns, supplying the signature production of Dallas's 13-win season. Pro Football Hall of Fame: Terrell Owens

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Wild Card
1998
GREEN BAYPACKERS
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
JAN 3, 1999

Green Bay Packers vs San Francisco 49ers

Wild Card · Jan 3, 1999

3 rec · 73 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Super Bowl
XXXIX
NEW ENGLANDPATRIOTS
PHILADELPHIAEAGLES
FEB 6, 2005

New England Patriots vs Philadelphia Eagles

Super Bowl XXXIX · Feb 6, 2005

9 rec · 122 rec yds · 0 rec TD

Wild Card
2002
NEW YORKGIANTS
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
JAN 5, 2003

New York Giants vs San Francisco 49ers

Wild Card · Jan 5, 2003

9 rec · 177 rec yds · 2 rec TD

Regular Season
2000
CHICAGOBEARS
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
DEC 17, 2000

Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers

Regular Season · Dec 17, 2000

20 rec · 283 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Regular Season
2007
WASHINGTONCOMMANDERS
DALLASCOWBOYS
NOV 18, 2007

Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season · Nov 18, 2007

8 rec · 173 rec yds · 4 rec TD

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Terrell Owens's indexed NFL box scores.

Career highs: 283 receiving yards · 20 receptions · 22 targets

Regular Season
2000
CHICAGOBEARS
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
DEC 17, 2000

Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers

Regular Season · Dec 17, 2000

20 rec · 283 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Career high: 4 receiving touchdowns

Regular Season
2007
WASHINGTONCOMMANDERS
DALLASCOWBOYS
NOV 18, 2007

Washington Commanders vs Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season · Nov 18, 2007

8 rec · 173 rec yds · 4 rec TD

Career high: 3 receptions of 40+ yards

Regular Season
2008
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
DALLASCOWBOYS
NOV 23, 2008

San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys

Regular Season · Nov 23, 2008

7 rec · 213 rec yds · 1 rec TD

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Terrell Owens's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1991–1998

01
SFOWENS81Terrell Owens
SFYOUNG8Steve Young
SFRICE80Jerry Rice

A quarterback transition preserves greatness

San Francisco 49ers · Steve Young takes the baton

Young escaped Montana's shadow with an MVP peak and six touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIX, extending the dynasty into another generation.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1999–2010

02
SFOWENS81Terrell Owens
SFGARCIA5Jeff Garcia
SFWILLIS52Patrick Willis

Brief Owens–Garcia fireworks precede a rebuild

San Francisco 49ers · The long reset

An explosive early-2000s offense supplied one last playoff comeback before instability took over and Willis became the next defensive foundation.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1999–2012

03
PHIOWENS81Terrell Owens
PHIMCNABB5Donovan McNabb
PHIDAWKINS20Brian Dawkins

Five NFC title games make contention routine

Philadelphia Eagles · Reid and McNabb

Andy Reid and McNabb created the franchise's most sustained run of success and reached Super Bowl XXXIX after four straight NFC title-game appearances.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2000–2015

04
DALOWENS81Terrell Owens
DALROMO9Tony Romo
DALWITTEN82Jason Witten

Undrafted improvisation restores contention

Dallas Cowboys · The Romo years

Romo developed into a prolific quarterback and gave Dallas repeated division titles, though a sequence of narrow playoff losses shaped the era's reputation.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

1997–2016

05
BUFOWENS81Terrell Owens
BUFMOULDS80Eric Moulds
BUFJACKSON22Fred Jackson

Great defenses and near misses without January

Buffalo Bills · The seventeen-year drought

Buffalo cycled through coaches and quarterbacks while devoted fans waited through the league's longest active playoff drought.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2003–2010

06
CINOWENS81Terrell Owens
CINPALMER9Carson Palmer
CINJOHNSON85Chad Johnson

The passing game restores belief

Cincinnati Bengals · Palmer and Ochocinco revive the stadium

Marvin Lewis brought credibility and Palmer's vertical offense won the 2005 division before injuries and inconsistency shortened the window.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

NFL receiving touchdowns leader · 2001, 2002, 20065× first-team All-Pro6× Pro Bowl selection15 NFL seasons218 career games251 career rushing yards3 career rushing touchdowns1,078 career receptions15,934 career receiving yards153 career receiving touchdowns25 career solo tacklesDrafted by: SFDraft pick: 89Jersey: 8112 playoff appearances1 Super Bowl appearanceFirst appearance: Sep 1, 1996Most recent: Dec 12, 2010

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history