By Sunday 
When you think of consistency, toughness, and pure wide-receiver artistry, Amon-Ra St. Brown is pretty much the poster child wearing Honolulu blue. And on Sunday, in that wild overtime win over the New York Giants, the “Sun God” didn’t just shine — he inched even closer to NFL history.
A Slow Start to a Blazing Career
St. Brown’s rookie season in 2021 didn’t exactly begin with fireworks. But once the final six games rolled around, something flipped. Since then, he’s been one of the league’s most productive pass catchers — not occasionally, not in spurts, but every single year.
On Sunday, he added another chapter.
With just two early catches, St. Brown hit 498 career receptions, already the second-most in NFL history through a player’s first five seasons, trailing only Michael Thomas (510).
Then came his fourth catch — and with it, a milestone: 500 receptions in just 77 games, the second-fewest in league history.
A Historic Thanksgiving on the Horizon?
By the end of the day, St. Brown had nine catches for 149 yards and a touchdown, pushing him to 505 career receptions. Now he needs just six more to pass Michael Thomas and claim the crown for most receptions in a player’s first five seasons.
And the timing? Chef’s kiss.
The Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thanksgiving Day — a stage St. Brown already loves. In nine career games against Green Bay, he’s averaged 5.7 catches per game, and at Ford Field that jumps to 6.5. The last time the Packers visited on Thanksgiving (2023), he torched them for nine grabs and 95 yards.
Don’t be surprised if history is served right alongside the turkey.
Detroit Doesn’t Miss a Moment
If there’s one thing the Lions’ coaching staff has proven, it’s that they pay attention when players have milestones within reach. Need proof?
- In 2023, they dialed up late-game plays to help Josh Reynolds hit a contract incentive tied to receiving yards.
- Earlier this season, they let David Montgomery — playing in his hometown — throw a touchdown pass as a nod to his quarterbacking roots.
So if St. Brown hasn’t already smashed the record naturally… you can bet Dan Campbell and Ben Johnson won’t let that final catch slip by unnoticed.
Imagine it: Ford Field, Thanksgiving afternoon, and a designed play to cement Amon-Ra St. Brown into NFL history. The crowd would lose its mind. Honestly? Feels inevitable.