Emmanuel Sanders entered the 49ers record books with a relatively obscure, albeit all-around productive, stat line in the team’s 48-46 win over the Saints.
He had seven catches for 157 yards and a touchdown. He also completed a pass for 35 yards and a touchdown. With his 35-yard toss to Raheem Mostert in the second quarter, he became the first player in 49ers history with a passing and receiving touchdown in the same game.
Get you somebody who can do both đź‘Ź@ESanders_10 | #DualThreatE
(Stats per @ESPNStatsInfo) pic.twitter.com/o4YTPpEGVG
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 9, 2019
Jerry Rice came close to achieving this feat in 1995. He threw a touchdown pass in Week 17 against Atlanta to go along with 12 catches for 153 yards. He didn’t find the end zone as a receiver though.
According to Pro Football Reference, Sanders’ TD throw was the eighth by a non-quarterback in 49ers history, and the first since Terry Kirby did it in 1998. Kirby also did it in 1996, the year after Rice’s TD toss in 1995.
Harry Sydney did it in 1987, Doug Cunningham in 1969, Mike Lind in 1964 and Joe Perry in 1951 complete the list of non-quarterback TD passes by 49ers. None of them added a receiving score like Sanders did though.
Sanders’ receiving touchdown came on the series before his touchdown pass. He hauled in a 75-yard bomb from Jimmy Garoppolo.
Sanders has been a difference-maker for the 49ers’ receiving corps. Sunday he got to show off a more versatile skill set and entered a unique space in 49ers history.