Greatest tight ends in NFL history

Within the NFL, it’s by no means been extra vital to have a look at the very best tight ends of all time. The place is extra vital than ever and among the best TEs in NFL historical past have performed for the reason that flip of the century and would possibly nonetheless be taking part in right now.

However simply because a participant’s profession just lately ended or remains to be taking part in doesn’t imply that they will’t be thought of among the many best tight ends ever.

Greatest tight ends of all time

Naturally, we needed to lengthen our checklist to twenty with a purpose to embrace the very best TEs ever. Along with the entire latest tight ends to make a big impact within the league, there are many gamers from previous generations who’re among the many best tight ends of all time.

In fact, even with 20 spots, we weren’t in a position to embrace each deserving tight finish. However right here is our rating of the 20 greatest tight ends of all time.

20. Dallas Clark

Regardless of popping out of Iowa, a standard hotbed for tight ends, Dallas Clark was usually neglected throughout his profession, showing at only one Professional Bowl. However he performed 11 seasons within the NFL and had some of the dependable units of fingers of any tight finish throughout his era.

Clark’s numbers had been not often eye-popping, though he did have one season with 100 catches and over 1,100 receiving yards, which is sufficient to put him on our checklist of the 20 greatest TEs ever.

19. Keith Jackson

In 9 brief seasons with three totally different groups, Keith Jackson put collectively a profession that put him within the Corridor of Fame.

He was a Professional Bowl choice in six of these 9 years and a First-Crew All-Professional member in every of his first three NFL seasons. 

18. Vernon Davis

The again half of his profession was suffering from accidents, however throughout his heyday with the 49ers early in his profession, there have been few tight ends higher than Vernon Davis.

He was an exceptional athlete, making him one of many few tight ends who could possibly be thought of a bonafide deep menace.

Davis even led the NFL in receiving touchdowns one season, which is a rarity for tight ends. Whereas he made simply two Professional Bowls, Davis put collectively a powerful profession nonetheless.

17. Jimmy Graham

In his prime, there was no tight finish extra feared than Jimmy Graham. He was basically a large receiver who might additionally play on the road and block.

Sadly, his prime solely lasted 4 or 5 seasons. However throughout that point, Graham had two seasons with over 1,200 receiving yards and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2013. These seasons and his prime and his 5 Professional Bowl choices undoubtedly make Graham probably the greatest tight ends of all time.

16. Greg Olsen

Greg Olsen put in 14 sturdy seasons earlier than retiring after the 2020 season. His solely drawback is that he performed in an period that was full of nice tight ends.

That restricted him to only three Professional Bowl choices. However Olsen additionally completed his profession with over 8,000 receiving yards, racking up over 1,000 yards in a season thrice.

15. Jerry Smith

Off the sector, Jerry Smith was a fearless trailblazer whose life story needs to be discovered by each fan.

On the sector, Smith was additionally a trailblazer, serving to to indicate that tight ends might do greater than block. Whereas he solely made the Professional Bowl twice in his 13 seasons, he retired because the all-time chief in landing catches by a good finish.

14. Charlie Sanders

Whereas his receiving stats don’t measure as much as among the different nice tight ends, Charlie Sanders had an impressive 10-year profession that finally put him within the Corridor of Fame.

He was an distinctive blocker and did amass over 4,800 receiving yards and 7 Professional Bowl invites earlier than an harm pressured him to retire early. Nonetheless, he was probably the greatest tight ends of the Seventies.

13. Ben Coates

With the entire nice tight ends within the twenty first century, we typically overlook Ben Coates as one of many best tight ends of all time. He was certainly probably the greatest of the Nineties, spending most of his profession with the Patriots earlier than that they had Tom Brady making life simpler for everybody else.

At one level, he set the single-season document for receptions by a good finish with 96. Coates was additionally a five-time Professional Bowler and a Tremendous Bowl champion who completed his profession with over 5,500 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns.

12. Dave Casper

Dave Casper was part of a number of iconic moments in Raiders historical past, making him one of many franchise’s most memorable gamers. The Corridor of Famer was additionally a five-time Professional Bowler and a four-time First-Crew All-Professional Choice.

He additionally performed as an offensive lineman at instances and didn’t catch many passers early in his profession. Nevertheless, Casper finally emerged as a key goal within the passing recreation, amassing over 5,000 receiving yards throughout his profession.

11. Jackie Smith

Jackie Smith is probably the proper instance of an old-school tight finish mixed with a new-school tight finish. He might block in addition to anybody but in addition confirmed unimaginable grace as a pass-catcher.

Like all true tight finish, he welcomed contact and will break arm tackles. Accidents slowed him just a little, however within the prime of his profession, Smith went to 5 straight Professional Bowls, in the end ending his Corridor of Fame profession with just below 8,000 receiving yards.

10. Mike Ditka

Most folk in all probability keep in mind Mike Ditka as a coach, however earlier than then, he was one heck of a good finish. Simply by him, it’s simple to see that he was a hard-nosed tight finish.

Ditka was a right away star with the Bears in 1961, profitable offensive Rookie of the Yr honors and going to his first of 5 straight Professional Bowls. Throughout his heyday, Ditka might block in addition to any tight finish within the league, however he was additionally a part of a era of tight ends that made their presence recognized within the passing recreation, as he completed his profession with over 5,800 receiving yards.

9. Ozzie Newsome

Earlier than he was a profitable government within the NFL, Ozzie Newsome was probably the greatest tight ends of his era.

He set data and made a big impact throughout his 13-year profession, all coming with the Browns. Newsome was probably the greatest within the league throughout the Nineteen Eighties, going to a few Professional Bowls and early All-Professional honors six instances.

8. Kellen Winslow

Though his son by no means lived as much as his full potential, the elder Kellen Winslow is unquestionably among the many greatest tight ends of all time. Whereas he solely performed 9 seasons, he made probably the most of it, making 5 Professional Bowls.

Winslow had the ability set that the majority tight ends can solely dream of possessing. He might block like a lineman however catch passes like a large receiver, which is why he led the NFL in receptions twice.

7. Jason Witten

There aren’t many NFL gamers who can declare to have gone to 11 Professional Bowls, a lot much less tight ends to succeed in that mark. However most tight ends aren’t Jason Witten, who performed 17 years within the league and was as constant as any tight finish within the league throughout that point.

Witten was additionally as sturdy as any tight finish to play the sport. He performed 16 video games in each season besides his rookie yr when he solely performed 15 video games. That’s a giant purpose why he’s performed in additional video games than another tight finish and why he completed his profession with over 1,200 receptions and over 13,000 receiving yards.

6. John Mackey

John Mackey is arguably probably the most influential tight finish in NFL historical past, so he have to be thought of among the many best tight ends of all time.

Earlier than Mackey, tight ends had been not often used as pass-catchers in a significant manner. He ended his profession with over 5,000 receiving yards, which was a rarity for tight ends of his period. Mackey performed 10 seasons, making the Professional Bowl 5 instances, and was finally elected to the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.

5. Antonio Gates

Who might have guessed that an undrafted participant who performed basketball in school might find yourself being one of many best tight ends ever?

However that’s precisely what occurred with Antonio Gates, who nonetheless holds the all-time document for receiving touchdowns by a good finish.

He performed 16 seasons within the NFL and infrequently missed a recreation in his profession. Gates was a 1,000-yard receiver twice, which is a rarity for tight ends. Beginning together with his second season within the league, Gates went to eight straight Professional Bowls, serving to to place him excessive on our checklist.

4. Rob Gronkowski

For many of his profession, there was no tight finish within the league defensive gamers needed to protect one-on-one lower than Rob Gronkowski. He was an absolute beast who was solely slowed down by accidents.

In equity, he had Tom Brady throwing him the ball for many of his profession. However Gronk nonetheless discovered methods to get open and do loads of injury after the catch. Along with his 4 Tremendous Bowl wins, Gronkowski was a Professional Bowler 5 instances and nonetheless holds the document for many receiving touchdowns in a single season by a good finish.

3. Travis Kelce

Whilst an lively participant, Travis Kelce has completed sufficient to be thought of among the many best TEs in NFL historical past. At instances, he’s merely been unimaginable to defend one-on-one. In 2015, Kelce started a run of 9 straight Professional Bowl choices and counting.

In 2020, he set the single-season document for receiving yards by a good finish and likewise owns the tight finish document with seven straight 1,000-yard seasons. By the point he’s completed taking part in, he might have a powerful argument for being the very best tight finish of all time.

2. Shannon Sharpe

Shannon Sharpe is really solely of these gamers who performed tight finish within the physique of a large receiver. He was undoubtedly the very best tight finish of the Nineties, spending your complete decade with the Broncos, serving to them win two Tremendous Bowls.

He was an eight-time Professional Bowler and 4 instances was chosen as a First-Crew All-Professional. Sharpe was the primary tight finish in NFL historical past to surpass 10,000 receiving yards, and whereas a lot of his data of since been damaged, he retired because the all-time chief in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns amongst tight ends.

1. Tony Gonzalez

Within the historical past of tight ends, no one has performed the place higher than Tony Gonzalez.

Regardless of how grueling the place could be, he performed 17 seasons within the NFL, lacking simply two video games in his whole profession. In these 17 seasons, Gonzalez was chosen to the Professional Bowl 14 instances and was an All-Professional on 10 events. He’s additionally the all-time chief in profession receptions and receiving yards for a good finish, leaving little question that he’s the very best tight finish of all time.

Who has the very best tight finish stats ever?

Tony Gonzalez leads the way in which with tight finish stats. Gonzalez is the profession chief in receptions and receiving yards on the place. Antonio Gates is the one tight finish with extra touchdowns than Gonzalez.

What number of tight ends are within the HOF?

9. There have been 9 tight ends inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame. Tony Gonzalez was the latest to be voted into the museum together with Shannon Sharpe, Charlie Sanders, Dave Casper, Ozzie Newsome, Kellen Winslow, Jackie Smith, John Mackey, and Mike Ditka.

Who’re the best paid tight ends of all-time?

Jimmy Graham is the highest-paid tight finish of all-time with $82,615,640 in profession earnings. Vernon Davis trails Graham with $79,468,750. Travis Kelce signed a contract after the 2023 season which ought to finally see him change into the highest-paid tight finish ever — Kelce is presently third on the checklist. If we use cap-inflated earnings, Tony Gonzalez is the highest-paid tight finish by a major margin with $203,391,913.

Who has the longest tight finish profession?

Marcedes Lewis has the longest tight finish profession ever. The 2024 season is Lewis’ nineteenth marketing campaign within the NFL, placing him two seasons forward of Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez.

Who has probably the most TE receptions in a season?

Zach Ertz’s 116 receptions for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018 is the document for probably the most tight finish receptions in an NFL common season.

Has a TE ever led the league in yards?

No, a good finish has by no means led the NFL in receiving yards. Kellen Winslow’s 1,290 receiving yards in 1980 are the closest any tight finish has acquired to touchdown the receiving title. Winslow completed second to his teammate John Jefferson by 50 yards. Travis Kelce was second to Stefon Diggs in 2020 however was 119 yards behind.

Which tight finish has probably the most receiving yards in a recreation?

Shannon Sharpe set the document for probably the most receiving yards by a good finish in a recreation in October 2002. Sharpe had in a recreation in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs on October twentieth.

What number of tight ends can play without delay?

Groups can select to have between zero and three tight ends on the sector without delay. Offensive coordinators will change up the variety of tight ends on the sector all through the sport relying on availability, fatigue, and recreation state of affairs.

What number of tight ends have had 1000-yard seasons?

There are 25 tight ends in NFL historical past who’ve recorded a 1000-yard season. Of these, 13 have had a number of 1000-yard seasons. Travis Kelce is the document holder with seven 1000-yard seasons, forward of Rob Gronkowski, Jason Witten, and Tony Gonzalez, who had 4 apiece.