# Terrell Owens
**Terrell Owens** (full name Terrell Eldorado Owens, often called "T.O."; born 1973 in Alexander City, Alabama) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played 15 seasons in the NFL from 1996 to 2010 and was inducted into the [Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-football-hall-of-fame) in 2018. His career totals of 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards (14.8 yards per catch) and 153 receiving touchdowns ranked second all-time in yards and third in touchdown catches at the time of his retirement.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1973, Alexander City, Alabama; 6 ft 3 in, 224 lb (190 cm, 101 kg)[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/pfr-blog/2023/03/top-10-nfl-wide-receivers-of-all-time/) |
| Draft | San Francisco 49ers, 3rd round (89th overall), 1996 NFL Draft, out of Tennessee-Chattanooga[4](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwenTe00.htm) |
| Teams | 49ers (1996–2003), Eagles (2004–05), Cowboys (2006–08), Bills (2009), Bengals (2010); 219 games[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) • [3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/pfr-blog/2023/03/top-10-nfl-wide-receivers-of-all-time/) |
| Career stats | 1,078 receptions, 15,934 yards, 14.8 yards per catch, 153 receiving touchdowns[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) |
| Honors | Hall of Fame (2018); six Pro Bowls; five-time first-team All-Pro (2000–02, 2004, 2007); NFL All-Decade Team of the 2000s[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) |
| Signature game | NFL-record 20 catches for 283 yards against the Chicago Bears, December 17, 2000; the record stood for nine years[5](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/terrell-owens-timeline-306881) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) |
| 49ers franchise ranks | Second in receptions (592), yards (8,572), and touchdowns (81), behind only Jerry Rice[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) |
## Career with the 49ers
Owens was drafted out of little-known Tennessee-Chattanooga in the third round of the 1996 draft and spent his first eight professional seasons in San Francisco, playing most of that time alongside Hall of Fame receiver [Jerry Rice](https://www.edgepedia.org/jerry-rice).[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) He led the 49ers in receptions five times and remains second in the franchise record book in receptions (592), yards (8,572), and touchdowns (81).[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details)
His peak stretch came from 2000 to 2002, when he caught 290 passes for 4,163 yards and 42 touchdowns over three seasons.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) He set career highs with 1,451 receiving yards in 2000 and 100 catches in 2002.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) On December 17, 2000, in a game at Dallas, he set an NFL record with 20 catches for 283 yards against the [Chicago Bears](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-bears), surpassing a 50-year-old mark held by Tom Fears; the single-game record stood for nine years.[5](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/terrell-owens-timeline-306881) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) Earlier, in the January 1999 NFC Wild Card game against Green Bay, he caught the game-winning touchdown from [Steve Young](https://www.edgepedia.org/steve-young) between defenders, a play remembered as "The Catch 2.0."[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens)
## Later career: Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals
After leaving San Francisco, Owens played as a free agent for four more teams. With the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.edgepedia.org/philadelphia-eagles) in 2004–05 he was a key weapon in the drive to [Super Bowl XXXIX](https://www.edgepedia.org/super-bowl-xxxix), catching many of quarterback [Donovan McNabb](https://www.edgepedia.org/donovan-mcnabb)'s career-high 31 touchdown passes during the 2004–05 span.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) • [6](https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/29/eagles-brooklyn-bowl-party-terell-owens-diplo) In the Super Bowl itself, played seven weeks after he broke his leg against Dallas, he caught nine passes for 122 yards in a narrow loss to the New England Patriots.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details) • [6](https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/29/eagles-brooklyn-bowl-party-terell-owens-diplo)
He then joined the [Dallas Cowboys](https://www.edgepedia.org/dallas-cowboys) (2006–08), the [Buffalo Bills](https://www.edgepedia.org/buffalo-bills) (2009), and the [Cincinnati Bengals](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati-bengals) (2010), finishing his career in 2010.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) He led the league in receiving touchdowns three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2006.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) Across his career he recorded 60 or more catches in all but three of his 16 seasons, eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards nine times over an 11-year span, and had eight seasons with double-digit touchdown receptions.[1](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details)
## Place among all-time receivers
Owens ranks near the top of every major career receiving list. He is third all-time in receiving yards (15,934) and third in receiving touchdowns (153), and eighth in receptions (1,078).[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/pfr-blog/2023/03/top-10-nfl-wide-receivers-of-all-time/) • [7](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-10-greatest-nfl-wide-receivers-all-time) • [8](https://www.nfl.com/news/terrell-owens-my-hall-of-fame-skill-speaks-for-itself-0ap3000000912693) When he retired after the 2010 season, the yardage total ranked second in NFL history behind Jerry Rice's 22,895, and the touchdown total third behind Rice's 197.[9](https://as.com/us/us/2019/06/09/nfl/1560104125_797785.html) Owens shares the NFL's third-highest total of seasons reaching 1,000 receiving yards, with nine, and his eight campaigns of 10 or more receiving touchdowns tie for the second-most in league history.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens)
Ranking lists place him accordingly: Pro-Football-[Reference](https://www.edgepedia.org/reference) and FOX Sports both rank him third among all-time wide receivers,[3](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/pfr-blog/2023/03/top-10-nfl-wide-receivers-of-all-time/) • [7](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-10-greatest-nfl-wide-receivers-all-time) and NFL.com's 2014 ranking placed him sixth, with the writer noting that [Randy Moss](https://www.edgepedia.org/randy-moss) was considered more dominant from a scheme standpoint while Owens "could play with anybody."[10](https://www.nfl.com/news/jerry-rice-don-hutson-top-list-of-best-wide-receivers-of-all-ti-0ap3000000642368)
## Hall of Fame induction
Unlike first-ballot selection Randy Moss, Owens was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his third year of eligibility, as a member of the Class of 2018 alongside [Ray Lewis](https://www.edgepedia.org/ray-lewis), Brian Urlacher, Brian Dawkins, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile, and Bobby Beathard.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) He publicly announced that he would not attend the enshrinement ceremony in [Canton, Ohio](https://www.edgepedia.org/canton-ohio), and instead gave his Hall of Fame speech at his alma mater, the [University of Tennessee](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-tennessee) at Chattanooga.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) The delayed election is frequently cited alongside other players whose Hall of Fame entry was held up by controversy.[11](https://as.com/us/nfl/bill-belichick-y-otras-figuras-del-deporte-castigados-por-el-salon-de-la-fama-f202601-n/) He was later inducted into the 49ers Hall of Fame.[12](https://www.nfl.com/news/terrell-owens-to-be-inducted-into-49ers-hall-of-fame-0ap3000001021292)
## Reputation and playing style
Contemporaries describe a player of unusual physical gifts and intensity. Coaches who worked with him in San Francisco recalled his work ethic and competitiveness in every drill, and his early humility as a third receiver learning from Jerry Rice.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson noted his unusual quickness for his size, and receiver Reggie Wayne described his ability to turn a 2-yard slant into an 80-yard play, a trait that followed him to every team he played for.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens)
He was also a polarizing figure throughout his career, known for planned touchdown celebrations, public disputes with quarterbacks Jeff García and Donovan McNabb, and contentious departures from San Francisco and Philadelphia; after leaving the Eagles he signed with division rival Dallas in 2006.[2](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens) • [6](https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/29/eagles-brooklyn-bowl-party-terell-owens-diplo) His catchphrase from his Dallas years, "Getcha popcorn ready!", became part of his public persona.[6](https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/29/eagles-brooklyn-bowl-party-terell-owens-diplo)
## References
1. [Terrell Owens, Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/_showcase/player-details)
2. [The Real Terrell Owens: An insider's look at the Hall of Fame receiver, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/the-real-terrell-owens)
3. [Top NFL Wide Receivers of All Time, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/pfr-blog/2023/03/top-10-nfl-wide-receivers-of-all-time/)
4. [Terrell Owens Stats, Pro-Football-Reference.com](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/O/OwenTe00.htm)
5. [Terrell Owens Timeline, DallasCowboys.com](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/terrell-owens-timeline-306881)
6. [T.O. is hosting a season-opening kickoff party in Philly, Axios Philadelphia](https://www.axios.com/local/philadelphia/2025/08/29/eagles-brooklyn-bowl-party-terell-owens-diplo)
7. [Who are the 10 best wide receivers of all-time?, FOX Sports](https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/who-10-greatest-nfl-wide-receivers-all-time)
8. [Terrell Owens: My Hall of Fame skill speaks for itself, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/terrell-owens-my-hall-of-fame-skill-speaks-for-itself-0ap3000000912693)
9. [Terrell Owens, una carrera plagada de talento y polémica, AS.com](https://as.com/us/us/2019/06/09/nfl/1560104125_797785.html)
10. [Jerry Rice, Don Hutson top list of best wide receivers of all time, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/jerry-rice-don-hutson-top-list-of-best-wide-receivers-of-all-ti-0ap3000000642368)
11. [Bill Belichick y otras figuras del deporte castigados por el Salón de la Fama, AS.com](https://as.com/us/nfl/bill-belichick-y-otras-figuras-del-deporte-castigados-por-el-salon-de-la-fama-f202601-n/)
12. [Terrell Owens to be inducted into 49ers Hall of Fame, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/terrell-owens-to-be-inducted-into-49ers-hall-of-fame-0ap3000001021292)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › American football players, coaches, and executives › Wide receivers › Retired NFL wide receivers › 2000s and later retired receivers › Surnames J to W*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license