James Lofton was the Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice. He just made so many catches look easy. And he had good speed and quickness off the line. Always found the holes on the defense and was a very tremendous route runner. Now many people might not know that Lofton also played for the Eagles at the end of his career. He was basically a mentor but did still catch a fair share of passes even though he was past his prime. His final catch of his career came on a Monday Night in San Francisco in 1993 with Bubby Brister throwing the pass to him. What a great all around player he was and was really a joy to watch in his day.
Some athletes just have a particularly aesthetic look to their stride and movements. I always felt that James Lofton was one of those. Beautiful coordination and fluidity.
Was hoping James best play 1984 vs Seattle in Milwaukee was on here. It was Packers final drive and 4th & 21 and Lofton made a leaping grab along sideline between Kenny Easley & a corner amd dragged them for a cpl yards to get 1st down. Game started w 79 yard TD to James on 1st play. Would love to see that play again
As I've told some other people, from the moment James Lofton entered the league until he was sent to the Raiders, he was the best receiver in the NFL. As I've also said, James Lofton was the ultimate precursor to Jerry Rice and was probably the first person to do all the things we now associate with Rice: he could catch an 8-yard pass and run 80 yards to score; he could run the reverse (end-around); he was a major deep threat; and he rarely dropped a pass. He even returned kicks and punts. It's just too bad he spent so much time in Green Bay. He joined a great team in Buffalo in his twilight years, but had the YOUNG James Lofton been able to spend his time with teams like Walsh's early 49ers; the Air Coryell Chargers; the Flores-era Raiders; or even--God help me--the Cowboys, who knows what we would've seen.
Only got to see him in his bills years but I do distinctly remember him retiring with the all time receiving yardage record at the time. I must’ve been 8-9 lol
Lynn Dickey was a great QB. There was a year with Dickey, Lofton, John Jefferson and Paul Coffman that was the lone bright spot in 20 years of horrible packer teams
He was Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice too bad he played on bad teams in Green bay.Hard to believe that his longest catch with the Raiders covered 48 yards only that looked like a match made in heaven.
Tremendous wide receiver! I remember watching the Packers there would be one or two holding calls on the other teams defensive backs every game. They had no answer for his speed. He was big play waiting to happen.
It may have been Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy that was quoted in saying this about James Lofton. “ Look at Lofton gracefully running down the field. He looks like a big gazelle when he’s running”.
I remember he brought excitement to Green Bay! He was fun to watch and suddenly the Packers had a deep ball threat. Which meant they were hardly ever out of a game. Just lob a long ball to Lofton and boom, you got 7 points!
James Lofton, Philadelphia Eagle😊 and so was Art Monk. My point is I would never change the Redskins name and I would never change the logo no matter what if I own the team.
As a Packer fan I wanted to be like Lofton as a kid......Probably the greatest deep threat in NFL history next to Moss......Imagine Lofton with Favre or Rodgers slinging it.
NIKO SAMUELS dang. That’s a scary list. Lofton and Dickey, JJ and Coffman were an incredible group. Had it not been for the terrible defense, they could have been SB contenders.
@Niko Suave’s World 🌍 Of Sports & Music!!!!! ......I saw an interview with a dude from that Packers coaching staff that said Jefferson wasn't fast enough to get open consistently, which surprised me after seeing him in Air Coryell's offense......The dude had absolute stick-um for hands in my opinion though.
NIKO SAMUELS yes. Lofton was a great athletes college. He was a great sprinter and (like Rice) played in 3 decades (the 70s, 80s and 90s). Lofton was Jerry Rice before Rice. When he retired, he led every major receiving record. He is no doubt the greatest Green Bay receiver ever. He and Rice were special receivers. Lofton is not that far behind guys like Owens or Marvin Harrison in yardage. He was a transcendent talent.
Rodgers threw the long ball very well when he had Jordy. Keep an eye on Christian Watson. He may be the new Jordy but with the size of Lofton, something special potentially brewing. Funny how Dickey and Rodgers both wore #12.....
Have to preface that with the great Lynn Dickey. I honestly think he’s the best QB to come out of that draft class. Better than Theismann, Ken Anderson, Dan Pastorini, Archie Manning and Jim Plunkett. If only he had a good defense. Hmm. Sounds like another great Green Bay QB wearing #12.
Lynn Dickey.....Probably the 4th best QB in Packer history along with Majkowski, behind Rodgers, Favre and Starr........Big time arm, but injuries hurt his career.
Frank Gifford on MNF said that Lofton ran like a gazelle. Against the Giants, Lofton caught one in the middle of the field on a dead run and was GONE! Those LONG strides of his made it seem like he covered the length of the field in about 5 steps. He was already in the end zone by the time most guys were just getting started.
james lofton was one of my favorite packer. just sad the packers were so bad when he was here.
James Lofton was the Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice. He just made so many catches look easy. And he had good speed and quickness off the line. Always found the holes on the defense and was a very tremendous route runner. Now many people might not know that Lofton also played for the Eagles at the end of his career. He was basically a mentor but did still catch a fair share of passes even though he was past his prime. His final catch of his career came on a Monday Night in San Francisco in 1993 with Bubby Brister throwing the pass to him. What a great all around player he was and was really a joy to watch in his day.
And had Michael Young made a block his last reception would have been for a game winner in OT if his last NFL game
They even talk about walsh (niners) at the beginning saying he was best player in tje league. Wasn't long before he got a pretty good no. 80 himself
Went over 14,000 yards that game too...
Probably the greatest receiver to have ever played the game.
I always knew about the great James Lofton and respected his game for sure, but watching these highlights puts it into perspective for me.
Excellent video. What a graceful athlete. Glad that the Bills have him a chance in 1989 when it looked like he was finished.
Even went to the Pro Bowl
Some athletes just have a particularly aesthetic look to their stride and movements. I always felt that James Lofton was one of those. Beautiful coordination and fluidity.
Harvey this is great. Thanks for putting together!
Thank you!
Was hoping James best play 1984 vs Seattle in Milwaukee was on here. It was Packers final drive and 4th & 21 and Lofton made a leaping grab along sideline between Kenny Easley & a corner amd dragged them for a cpl yards to get 1st down. Game started w 79 yard TD to James on 1st play. Would love to see that play again
Me too. Unfortunatley his highlights were some of the hardest to come by which is a shame as talented as he was.
th-cam.com/video/_jn9ScaVg9o/w-d-xo.html
As I've told some other people, from the moment James Lofton entered the league until he was sent to the Raiders, he was the best receiver in the NFL. As I've also said, James Lofton was the ultimate precursor to Jerry Rice and was probably the first person to do all the things we now associate with Rice: he could catch an 8-yard pass and run 80 yards to score; he could run the reverse (end-around); he was a major deep threat; and he rarely dropped a pass. He even returned kicks and punts. It's just too bad he spent so much time in Green Bay. He joined a great team in Buffalo in his twilight years, but had the YOUNG James Lofton been able to spend his time with teams like Walsh's early 49ers; the Air Coryell Chargers; the Flores-era Raiders; or even--God help me--the Cowboys, who knows what we would've seen.
Had Lofton been drafted by 49ers we would have never known Jerry Rice
I believe Lofton was more Randy Moss, before Moss.......Probably the 2 greatest deep threats in NFL history to this day.
@@tallpaul1563 cliff branch started it
Loved this classic look.
Only got to see him in his bills years but I do distinctly remember him retiring with the all time receiving yardage record at the time. I must’ve been 8-9 lol
Lynn Dickey was a great QB.
There was a year with Dickey, Lofton, John Jefferson and Paul Coffman that was the lone bright spot in 20 years of horrible packer teams
David Whitehurst (#17) was also in this video.
He was Jerry Rice before Jerry Rice too bad he played on bad teams in Green bay.Hard to believe that his longest catch with the Raiders covered 48 yards only that looked like a match made in heaven.
Lofton and Dickey were such a great combo. Schnelker said that Lofton was the best player he ever coached.
Can you imagine a 90s Packers with Favre, Lofton, Levens, Chumra. Jackson, Sharpe, Sanders and Brooks? 3 SB victories
And Freeman also
Put Lofton in the throwing era and his numbers would never be touched
Tremendous wide receiver! I remember watching the Packers there would be one or two holding calls on the other teams defensive backs every game. They had no answer for his speed. He was big play waiting to happen.
It's crazy because he carried the packers. He was the only star in the 70s for us
It may have been Buffalo Bills head coach Marv Levy that was quoted in saying this about James Lofton. “ Look at Lofton gracefully running down the field. He looks like a big gazelle when he’s running”.
I remember he brought excitement to Green Bay! He was fun to watch and suddenly the Packers had a deep ball threat. Which meant they were hardly ever out of a game. Just lob a long ball to Lofton and boom, you got 7 points!
James Lofton, Philadelphia Eagle😊 and so was Art Monk. My point is I would never change the Redskins name and I would never change the logo no matter what if I own the team.
Christian Watson, the Pack's newest WR pick to me looks like a hybrid of Jordy/Lofton and will be catching passes from another #12 like Lofton.
As a Packer fan I wanted to be like Lofton as a kid......Probably the greatest deep threat in NFL history next to Moss......Imagine Lofton with Favre or Rodgers slinging it.
Too bad Packers couldn’t have had him with Sterling Sharpe
NIKO SAMUELS indeed
NIKO SAMUELS dang. That’s a scary list. Lofton and Dickey, JJ and Coffman were an incredible group. Had it not been for the terrible defense, they could have been SB contenders.
@Niko Suave’s World 🌍 Of Sports & Music!!!!! ......I saw an interview with a dude from that Packers coaching staff that said Jefferson wasn't fast enough to get open consistently, which surprised me after seeing him in Air Coryell's offense......The dude had absolute stick-um for hands in my opinion though.
Lofton was Rice with much more speed he was a WORLD CLASS 400M (45.2)and LONG JUMPER (26-7)while at Stanford.
Played at a high level in 3 decades. That's nuts
James loften is the 10th best wr of all time
Sounds about right......I'd put him at #2 behind Moss as all-time deep threat though.
Only know him from the bills. This is a nice history lesson
He’d get a $40m/contract today if guys like Adams are getting $28m
Here from the jets commentators
Guy was awesome
Christian Watson will be James Lofton 2.0. It's too bad, Lofton didn't stay in Green Bay.
My cousins boyfriend is his son
I’m guessing it’s Daniel. He is a great guy
Rice before rice
Yes.
NIKO SAMUELS yes. Lofton was a great athletes college. He was a great sprinter and (like Rice) played in 3 decades (the 70s, 80s and 90s). Lofton was Jerry Rice before Rice. When he retired, he led every major receiving record. He is no doubt the greatest Green Bay receiver ever. He and Rice were special receivers. Lofton is not that far behind guys like Owens or Marvin Harrison in yardage. He was a transcendent talent.
Dominant of his era, like Rice, yes......Skills, I would compare him more to Moss before Moss though......Tall, athletic, World class speed.
Lofton was tremendous! That aside, did anyone notice how Dickey could throw the long ball? Better than Rodgers with that!!
Know your history before you thought it was your idea ....
Dickey was a great passer. Just not very mobile.
Rodgers threw the long ball very well when he had Jordy. Keep an eye on Christian Watson. He may be the new Jordy but with the size of Lofton, something special potentially brewing. Funny how Dickey and Rodgers both wore #12.....
Not sure on that......But Dickey was known for his long ball.
Who was the QB #12
Lynn Dickey
And a great Dickey at that.
Have to preface that with the great Lynn Dickey. I honestly think he’s the best QB to come out of that draft class. Better than Theismann, Ken Anderson, Dan Pastorini, Archie Manning and Jim Plunkett. If only he had a good defense. Hmm. Sounds like another great Green Bay QB wearing #12.
Lynn Dickey 🤙🏼
Lynn Dickey.....Probably the 4th best QB in Packer history along with Majkowski, behind Rodgers, Favre and Starr........Big time arm, but injuries hurt his career.
whos here after pete carroll compared him to dk metcalf
That'd be a compliment for Metcalf, because Lofton is the second greatest deep threat in history behind Moss in my opinion.
WHS
Frank Gifford on MNF said that Lofton ran like a gazelle.
Against the Giants, Lofton caught one in the middle of the field on a dead run and was GONE!
Those LONG strides of his made it seem like he covered the length of the field in about 5 steps.
He was already in the end zone by the time most guys were just getting started.