How an undrafted wide receiver broke records and survived the 'Lunatic Lateral'
In short: From a college quarterback to an NFL standout, Jakobi Meyers has navigated the highest highs and lowest lows. His journey includes breaking school records at NC State and a high-stakes blunder that earned a permanent place in football folklore.
Jakobi Meyers' ascent began at NC State, where he transitioned from a recruited quarterback to a prolific wide receiver between 2015 and 2018. During his 2018 campaign, he recorded 92 receptions and 1,047 receiving yards, a performance that broke Torry Holt's single-season reception record for the Wolfpack. His collegiate career concluded with 168 receptions, 1,932 yards, and nine touchdowns. His impressive 2018 season saw him rank second in total receptions and fourth in receiving yards across the ACC. This standout year helped establish him as a premier collegiate talent.
Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Meyers joined the New England Patriots. During his third year, he emerged as a significant statistical outlier, setting a modern NFL benchmark with 1,540 receiving yards and 134 catches before recording his first touchdown. He eventually broke this streak in Week 10 of that season with an 11-yard catch from Brian Hoyer against the Cleveland Browns. He eventually overcame this unusual statistical anomaly to lead the Patriots in both receptions and receiving yards during his third professional season. This period marked his emergence as a reliable offensive weapon.
Meyers' career has been marked by both high-level production and high-profile errors. In a Week 15 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, a failed backwards lateral by Meyers resulted in a walk-off touchdown for the opposition, a play dubbed the 'Lunatic Lateral.' Despite this, his productivity remained high, leading the Patriots in receptions and yards in his third season. After a stint with the Raiders, Meyers was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars in November 2025 in exchange for 2026 fourth and sixth-round picks. Following his time in New England, he signed a substantial three-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. He later joined the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Raiders traded him for two draft picks.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Jakobi Meyers
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-jakobi-meyers.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
