Terry McLaurin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Terry McLaurin

McLaurin with the Washington Commanders in 2022
No. 17 – Washington Commanders
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1995-09-15) September 15, 1995 (age 29) Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	Cathedral (Indianapolis)
College:	Ohio State (2014–2018)
NFL Draft:	2019 / Round: 3 / Pick: 76
Career history
Washington Redskins / Football Team / Commanders (2019–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
Second-team All-Pro (2024) 2× Pro Bowl (2022, 2024) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2019) CFP national champion (2015)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Receptions: 460 Receiving yards: 6,379 Receiving touchdowns: 38
Player stats at PFR

Terry McLaurin (born September 15, 1995) is an American professional football player. He is a wide receiver for the Washington Commanders in the National Football League (NFL). Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Washington chose him in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. In 2024, McLaurin set a team record for most touchdown catches in a season with 13. He also earned second-team All-Pro honors, which means he was recognized as one of the best players in the league.

Early Life and High School Football

Terry McLaurin was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on September 15, 1995. He showed great talent in football early on. In 2013, while playing for Cathedral High School, he won Indiana's Mr. Football Award. This award goes to the best high school football player in the state. Experts considered him a top player in his age group.

College Football Career

McLaurin started his college career at Ohio State in 2014. He spent his first year as a redshirt, meaning he practiced with the team but didn't play in games. This allowed him to develop his skills.

In 2015, his first year playing, he appeared in six games. As a sophomore in 2016, he caught 11 passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns. His performance improved each year. By his junior year in 2017, he had 29 catches for 436 yards and six touchdowns. In his senior year in 2018, he had 35 catches for 701 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was a key player for the Buckeyes.

College Statistics

Season	Games Played	Receiving
		Receptions	Yards	Average	Touchdowns
2014	Redshirt
2015	6	0	0	0.0	0
2016	13	11	114	10.4	2
2017	13	29	436	15.0	6
2018	12	35	701	20.0	11
Career	44	75	1,251	16.7	19

Professional NFL Career

Starting Strong in 2019

The Washington Redskins picked McLaurin in the third round of the 2019 NFL draft. Interestingly, Washington also drafted his college quarterback, Dwayne Haskins, in the first round. McLaurin signed his first professional contract on June 6, 2019.

He quickly showed his talent and was named a starter for the first game of the 2019 season. In his very first NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught five passes for 125 yards, including a 69-yard touchdown! He continued to impress, catching at least five passes and a touchdown in his first three games. No other player in NFL history had done that before.

McLaurin finished his rookie season with 58 catches for 919 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, recognizing him as one of the best new players in the league.

Becoming a Leader in 2020

McLaurin catching a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020

In 2020, McLaurin continued to be a top receiver. He had several games with over 100 receiving yards. After a teammate got injured, McLaurin was voted by his teammates to become a team captain. This showed how much his teammates trusted and respected him.

Even though the team had different quarterbacks throughout the season, McLaurin still managed to gain 1,118 receiving yards and score four touchdowns. The team won their division, and McLaurin played in his first NFL playoff game.

Consistent Performance in 2021

In 2021, McLaurin was reunited with his college roommate and fellow receiver, Curtis Samuel, who joined the Washington team. McLaurin continued his strong play, having several games with over 100 receiving yards and scoring touchdowns. He played in all 17 games that season. He finished the year with 77 catches for 1,053 receiving yards and five touchdowns.

First Pro Bowl Selection in 2022

McLaurin catching a pass near the goaline against Indianapolis Colts player Stephon Gilmore in 2022

Before the 2022 season, McLaurin signed a big three-year contract extension. This showed the team's commitment to him. In the first game of the season, he caught a 49-yard touchdown.

A special moment for McLaurin was playing in his hometown of Indianapolis for the first time as a professional. In that game against the Indianapolis Colts, he made a crucial 33-yard catch with only 40 seconds left. This play helped his team score a touchdown and win the game! He finished the season with a career-high 1,191 receiving yards and five touchdowns. His excellent performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection, which means he was chosen as one of the best players in the NFL.

Another 1,000-Yard Season in 2023

In 2023, McLaurin continued his impressive streak. He had his career-high in single-game receiving yards against the Los Angeles Rams, catching 141 yards and a touchdown. He finished the season with 1,002 yards, making him the first Washington player to have four straight seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Record-Breaking 2024 Season

The 2024 season was a standout year for McLaurin. In a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he caught a 27-yard touchdown from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels that helped seal the victory. He also had his first game with multiple touchdowns since 2021 against the Baltimore Ravens.

McLaurin continued to shine, breaking his personal record for touchdowns in a season. He scored two touchdowns in a game against the Tennessee Titans, bringing his total to nine, which was more than his rookie year record of seven. He then scored two more touchdowns the very next week against the New Orleans Saints, marking the first time in his career he scored multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games.

He finished the season second in the entire league with 13 touchdown catches, setting a new record for the Commanders team! This was also his fifth year in a row with over 1,000 receiving yards. For his amazing performance, he was named second-team All-Pro and was also selected for the Pro Bowl again.

In the playoffs, McLaurin continued to play well. He had seven catches for 89 yards and a touchdown in a win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He then added four catches for 87 yards and another touchdown in a win against the Detroit Lions, helping his team advance further in the playoffs.

Player Statistics

Regular Season Statistics

Postseason Statistics

Personal Life and Community Work

McLaurin arriving to a game, 2022

Terry McLaurin has earned several fun nicknames during his NFL career. Some people call him "Scary Terry," "F1," or "The Captain."

Beyond football, McLaurin cares about helping others. He started the Terry McLaurin Foundation. This foundation works to help kids who are facing challenges in the Washington metropolitan area. He also has his own cereal called "Terry McLaurin's Crunch Time."