Detroit Lions tight end Sam LaPorta is topping the NFL with his recent win over Chicago

After a standout 2023 rookie season with the Detroit Lions (13-2, 5-0 NFC North), former Iowa Hawkeyes tight end Sam LaPorta has continued his meteoric rise among the position’s top talents with another impressive year .

So far this season, LaPorta has 47 receptions for 599 yards and six touchdowns for a Lions squad that is competing for a second straight NFC North Division title and potentially the NFC’s No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

LaPorta’s four receptions for 43 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s 34-17 win over the Chicago Bears (4-11, 0-5 NFC North) from Chicago’s Soldier Field led to the former Hawkeye joining an exclusive NFL club.

LaPorta’s touchdown reception early in the third quarter passed Rob Gronkowski (132) for the third-most reception recorded by a tight end in his first two career seasons.

LaPorta’s 133 receptions trail only Jim Phillips (138) and Keith Jackson (144) and lead the niche statistical category.

LaPorta also became the second tight end in Lions franchise history with multiple seasons of 500-plus yards and five-plus touchdowns (2023, 2024), joining Charlie Sanders (1970, 1971 and 1976).

During his time at Iowa from 2019-22, LaPorta recorded 153 receptions for 1,766 yards and five touchdowns in 46 career games. LaPorta was later selected by the Lions 34th in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

With only two games left in the regular season, LaPorta’s chances of overtaking Jackson for the top spot are slim, but the fan favorite from Detroit has shown no signs of slowing down.

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The story originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire