Raiders rookie tight end Brock Bowers just broke one of the NFL’s oldest records.

On his third catch today in New Orleans, Bowers broke the record for most receiving yards for a rookie tight end in NFL history, set by Bears tight end Mike Ditka in 1961. Ditka gained 1,076 receiving yards that year; Bowers is now at 1,087 and counting.

It’s a great accomplishment for Bowers and also a reminder of the greatness of Ditka, who was a Hall of Fame tight end before becoming a head coach and winning the Super Bowl. It took 63 years, much more sophisticated passing attacks, rules that favored receivers and longer seasons for a rookie tight end to reach Ditka’s distance.

Bowers has already broken the rookie tight end receptions record set last year by Detroit’s Sam LaPorta. LaPorta had 86 catches in 2023; Bowers has 104 catches so far this year, closing in on Puka Nacua’s overall NFL rookie record of 105 catches set last year.

What Ditka did in a 14-game season and a completely different NFL is an extraordinary accomplishment, and Bowers’ higher numbers don’t necessarily reflect a better season. But any time a record stands for 63 years, breaking it is a major achievement. And Bowers did it.