As a true freshman at LSU in 2018, Chase played in all 14 games and made eight starts. He finished the season with 23 receptions for 313 yards and three touchdowns.[7]
A month before the start of the 2020 season, Chase announced that he was opting out to concentrate on his NFL career. His decision was reportedly not specifically due to theCOVID-19 pandemic at the time, but rather due to agents having convinced him to sit out his third collegiate season so to not get injured. Chase was assured he would be a top draft pick before the season started. NFL rules state a player can not be drafted until three years after leaving high school.[14]
Chase was drafted by theCincinnati Bengals fifth overall in the2021 NFL draft, reuniting him with his college quarterbackJoe Burrow.[18] He became the first player in franchise history to wear the number 1, which was his number in college.[19] Chase signed his four-year rookie contract, worth $30.8 million, on June 2, 2021.[20]
Despite early struggles in the preseason,[21] Chase played his first career regular season game on September 12, 2021, against theMinnesota Vikings, finishing with 102 receiving yards and a touchdown as the Bengals won 27–24 in overtime.[22] Chase caught an additional three touchdown passes over his next two games, making him the youngest player in NFL history to catch four touchdown passes in his first three career games.[23] Chase was named the NFL Rookie of the Month for September after totaling 220 receiving yards and four touchdowns through his first three games.[24]
During the Bengals' 25–22 overtime loss to theGreen Bay Packers, Chase had 159 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown at the end of the first half, earning him another Rookie of the Week award.[25] During Week 7 against the Baltimore Ravens, Chase finished with 201 receiving yards, including an 82-yard touchdown in the Bengals 41–17 win, earning him his first AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.[26][27] His 754 receiving yards set an NFL record for the most receiving yards ever by a player in their first seven career games.[28] On December 22, Chase was announced as a selection for the2022 Pro Bowl.[29]
In Week 17, against theKansas City Chiefs, Chase totaled 266 receiving yards and three touchdowns during the Bengals' 34–31 division-clinching win.[30] He was named AFC offensive player of the week, his second of the season. Chase's 266 yards not only set a Bengals franchise record for single-game receiving yards, but it also set an NFL record for most receiving yards in a game by a rookie.[31] In Week 18 against theCleveland Browns, Chase caught two passes for 26 yards before leaving the game, surpassing the Bengals franchise record set byChad Johnson for most receiving yards in a single season.[32] Overall, Chase finished his rookie regular season with 81 receptions for 1,455 yards (4th in the NFL) and 13 receiving touchdowns (3rd).[33] He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press and the PFWA.[34][35] He was named the Sporting News Rookie of the Year as well.[36] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[37]
In theWild Card Game against theLas Vegas Raiders, Chase had nine receptions for 116 receiving yards and three carries for 23 yards, helping the Bengals win their first playoff game since the1990 season.[38] In theDivisional Round against theTennessee Titans, Chase recorded five receptions for 109 receiving yards, making him the youngest player in NFL history to record multiple 100-yard receiving games in a single postseason.[39] In theAFC Championship Game, Chase caught six passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in the 27–24 overtime win against the Chiefs, helping the Bengals advance toSuper Bowl LVI, their first Super Bowl appearance sinceSuper Bowl XXIII in1988.[40] In the Super Bowl, Chase caught 5 passes for 89 yards, but lost 23–20.[41] Chase's 368 postseason receiving yards set a rookie record, breaking the previous record of 242 set byTorry Holt in the 1999 season.[42] He was ranked 24th by his fellow players of theNFL Top 100 Players of 2022.[43]
In Week 1, against thePittsburgh Steelers, Chase caught ten passes for 129 yards and a game-tying touchdown with no time left in regulation, in the 23–20 overtime loss.[44][45] In Week 6, Chase had his best performance of the season, making seven receptions for 132 yards and two second-half touchdowns in a 30–26 comeback victory against theNew Orleans Saints.[46] During this game, Chase suffered a hairline fracture in his hip during a tackle in the end zone.[47] Chase still played the following week against theAtlanta Falcons where he had another two-touchdown game, finishing with 130 yards and eight receptions in the Bengals 35–17 win.[48] Chase left the game right before halftime after aggravating the injury he suffered the previous week. He was ruled out for the next five weeks.[49]
Chase returned in Week 13 against theKansas City Chiefs, making eight receptions for 97 yards. The next week against theCleveland Browns, Chase had his final 100-yard game, finishing with ten receptions for 109 yards, and a touchdown. Chase was selected to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year on December 22.[50] Despite missing four games from the injury, Chase still finished the season as the team's leader in receptions (87) and receiving yards (1,046),[51]
Chase began the season with a combined 70 yards on ten receptions in the Bengals' Week 1 and 2 losses to the Browns and Ravens.[54][55] He bounced back in Week 3 on Monday Night Football against theLos Angeles Rams, with 12 receptions for 141 yards in the 19–16 win.[56] After a game against theTennessee Titans in Week 4, Chase gave a viral postgame locker room interview stating "I'm open, I'm always fucking open".[57] Chase responded the following week against theArizona Cardinals by delivering his second best personal performance to date, with 192 yards and three touchdowns on 15 receptions, setting a new Bengals franchise record for single-game receptions, which was previously set byCarl Pickens in Week 6 of the 1998 season; the Bengals went on to win 34–20.[58] He was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Cardinals.[59] He had another 100-yard game with one touchdown in the Bengals' 31–17 win over theSan Francisco 49ers in Week 8.[60]
Chase injured his back during the Bengals' Week 9 victory over theBuffalo Bills on an awkward landing after an attempted diving catch.[61] Nonetheless, he played the next week against theHouston Texans, going for 124 yards on six catches, scoring one touchdown in the 30–27 loss.[62] In Week 13 against theJacksonville Jaguars, Chase pulled in 11-of-12 targets for 149 yards, his second best performance of the season, with a highlight of a 76-yard touchdown during the first drive of the second quarter of the 34–31 win.[63] Chase also eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark on the season during this game, making it his third straight season over 1,000 yards.
During the Week 15 game against theMinnesota Vikings, Chase injured his shoulder and left the game during the fourth quarter. He was diagnosed with a sprained AC joint and was said to be "day-to-day" by Bengals head coachZac Taylor. After an MRI, Chase's injury was found to be significantly worse, leading him to miss the following week's game against thePittsburgh Steelers.[64] He finished the season with 100 receptions for 1,216 yards and seven touchdowns.[65][66] He earned Pro Bowl honors for the third consecutive season.[67] He was ranked 45th by his fellow players on theNFL Top 100 Players of 2024.[68]
On April 24, 2024, the Bengals picked up the fifth-year option on Chase's contract.[69] Chase had a highly publicized "hold-in" during the team's training camp, in hopes that the Bengals would sign him to an extension.[70] They were unable to come to an agreement, and Chase began the season as the starting wide receiver.[71] He scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 3 against theWashington Commanders. Chase finished the game with two touchdowns and 118 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season.[72] In Week 5 against the Ravens, he had ten receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns, in the Bengals' 41–38 loss.[73] In Week 10 against the Ravens, Chase finished with 11 receptions, 264 yards, and three touchdowns in a 35–34 loss. He became the first player in NFL history to record multiple games of 250-plus receiving yards and two-plus touchdowns.[74] In Week 14, Chase recorded 14 catches for 177 yards and two touchdowns in a 27–20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, earning AFC Offensive Player of the Week.[75] Chase won the2024 triple crown after leading the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17).[76]
_(cropped).jpg)
