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The tight end position has developed over the years, shaping the legacies of some of the best players in NFL history. Although blocking was the top priority for most tight ends in the early inception of the NFL, over the years, tight ends have become more important through the air.
The evolution of the passing game has transformed the tight end position from grunt workers to bonafide passing weapons, leading to more 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Tight ends are becoming wide receiver-like in the modern league. Remember when Jimmy Graham wanted to be named a wide receiver when being franchise-tagged in 2014? Yeah, tight ends were noticing how important they were to their offense and wanted to be paid that way.
Among @NFL’s arguments: Jimmy Graham meets in the TE room, lines up where TEs line up… and lists himself as a TE on Twitter (really).
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— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 17, 2014
Now that we've had a brief history, it's time to look at those top players who set high standards for the position. It was not an easy task narrowing the list to only 10. I didn't see all these players in action as I was born in 1984, so I had a conversation with my dad. Dad is a big Jay Novacek fan. After talking to my dad and reading the biographies of so many great tight ends, I'm excited to see the Hall of Fame again in August, this time through a different lens.
10. Jackie Smith, St. Louis Cardinals
Smith was a track star who received a half scholarship to run for Northwestern Louisiana State College. He had to join the school's football team to get a full scholarship. The St. Louis Cardinals drafted Smith with the 129th pick of the 1963 NFL Draft.
The former 10th-round draft pick played 15 seasons with the Cardinals, recording 7,918 receiving yards on 480 receptions, securing 81 receiving and three rushing scores. His best season came in 1967 when the tight end tallied 1,205 receiving yards and nine touchdowns on 56 receptions. In his time with the Cardinals, he participated in two playoff games.
After retiring in 1977, Smith returned to the league in 1978, playing for the Dallas Cowboys. He was added to the roster as a veteran presence and decided to retire again after the Cowboys' Super Bowl loss.
His accomplishments include five straight Pro Bowl appearances and four straight Second-team All-Pro selections. In 1994, Smith was the third tight end named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although he never won a Super Bowl, he paved the way for future tight ends in this league.
9. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys
Witten started his NFL journey drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. The University of Tennessee alum corralled 1,228 passes for 13,046 yards and 74 touchdowns in his 271-game career. His reception and receiving yard totals are the second-most by an NFL tight end, with Tony Gonzalez taking top honors.
In his journey, Witten recorded four 1,000-yard seasons. His standout season came in 2007 when the tight end hauled in 96 receptions for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns. He made the playoffs in seven seasons throughout his span with Dallas.
.@JasonWitten made this one-handed catch look EFFORTLESS 😱
Touchdown, #DallasCowboys
📺: #LARvsDAL on FOX
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app
Watch free on mobile: https://t.co/ALWDCpltog pic.twitter.com/PXY9tZ2PHH— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2019
The 11-time Pro Bowler decided to retire in 2018 and became a color commentator for ESPN's Monday Night Football. After one year, he returned to the NFL, again joining his former team. Witten landed on the Las Vegas Raiders' roster in 2020. After the 2020 season, he retired once more, signing a one-day contract with Dallas to retire a Cowboy.
Witten caught 1,273 passes for 13,532 yards and 75 touchdowns throughout his tenure. He was inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019 and became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023.
8. Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns
One tight end from the 70s and 80s who was excellent at blocking and pass-catching was Newsome. His size and speed made him a force to be reckoned with. The Cleveland Browns took the Alabama standout in the first round of the 1978 NFL Draft.
Newsome tallied 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns during his time in the league. He holds the franchise record for most receptions and receiving yards by a Browns player. The tight end's touchdown tally is fourth all-time in Browns' history.
The three-time Pro Bowler spent his entire playing career with the Browns. During his time with the Browns, Newsome played in seven playoff games and saw the AFC championship game three times.
Although he never participated in a Super Bowl, he gained two Super Bowl wins as an executive for the Baltimore Ravens. Newsome retired from the NFL after the 1990 season and, in 1999, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
7. Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears
Ditka is one of the first to come to mind when thinking about the Chicago Bears. Before becoming a broadcaster or a coach, he was a tight end in the NFL. The Bears selected the five-time Pro Bowler with the fifth overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. He was also a first-round draft choice in the 1961 AFL Draft. Ditka elected to sign with the Bears.
In his first NFL season, Ditka secured 12 receiving touchdowns, the most by a Chicago rookie. The six-time All-Pro tight end made history as the first tight end in the NFL to reach 1,000 receiving yards in his rookie season and went on to win Rookie of the Year.
Happy birthday to the pioneer of the position, Mike Ditka 🥳️
📅: Oct. 23 #NationalTightEndsDay pic.twitter.com/es9aBWz3Nd
— NFL Films (@NFLFilms) October 18, 2022
Ditka was known for his incredible blocking talent, but he paved the way for future tight ends by becoming a master pass-catcher. He proceeded to post 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 receiving touchdowns in his 11-year tenure in the league.
After his time with the Bears, the tight end played for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. He won Super Bowl VI as part of the Cowboys' roster. Ditka retired from football on March 1, 1973, and secured a healthy coaching and broadcasting career. In 1988, the Pittsburgh product was selected as the first tight end to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
6. Kellen Winslow Sr., San Diego Chargers
Another tight end who blazed a trail for pass-catching tight ends, Winslow could do it all. The San Diego Chargers drafted the former Missouri Tiger in the 1979 NFL Draft. The Chargers moved up to No. 13 to secure the playmaker, trading with the Cleveland Browns. His rookie season came to a halt in Week 7 when he fractured his left fibula.
As his career progressed, he became essential to the Air Coryell offense. The tight end dominated the league in receptions for two consecutive years, becoming the first TE to do so. He gained three 1,000-yard seasons in his tenure.
Over his career, the star was selected as First-team All-Pro three times and Second-team All-Pro twice. Winslow spent his entire career on the Chargers squad, registering 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns on 541 receptions. Knee injuries marred his time in the league, and ultimately, he was pushed into retirement in 1988.
The talented TE entered the Chargers Hall of Fame and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995. He has been named to the NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team, 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, solidifying his place as a top tight end.
5. Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos
You must watch his NFL highlights if you only know Sharpe from his broadcast, radio, and television career. The Denver Broncos acquired the Savannah State alum in the 1990 NFL Draft. They selected him in the seventh round, getting a player who would be a four-time First-team All-Pro, one-time Second-team All-Pro, and an eight-time Pro Bowler.
Sharpe was not considered the right size for a tight end or wide receiver, and he played college ball at a Division II school, which dropped his stock. The Broncos decided to take a shot on the athlete, utilizing him as a wide receiver for his first two seasons.
During that period, Sharpe acquired just 29 passes. In his third season with the Broncos, Denver switched him to TE, and he brought in 53 balls, proving he was the right fit for the tight end position.
1st career TD #TBT #1990 https://t.co/Jwo9spj00P pic.twitter.com/03QfLzxC3m
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) October 7, 2021
He was with the team from 1990 to 1999, winning two Super Bowls in the process. Sharpe spent his 2001 and 2002 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before returning to Denver for two more seasons. While a Raven, Sharpe obtained his third Super Bowl victory.
Sharpe hung up his cleats after the 2003 season, wrapping up a 14-year career that included 815 catches for 10,060 receiving yards and 62 touchdowns. He had three seasons of over 1,000 receiving yards and was the first tight end to accumulate over 10,000 receiving yards. His noteworthy career led to his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.
4. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers
A college basketball player became one of the best to play tight end in the NFL. Gates played college basketball for Kent State, but NBA teams deemed him undersized as a power forward. Although Gates never played college football, his remarkable athletic ability drew interest from the NFL.
The tight end signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chargers, and he remained with the team for his entire 16-year career. He had an incredible run with the team, earning eight Pro Bowl selections, three First-Team All-Pro honors, and two Second-Team All-Pro nods.
The playmaker became the second tight end in league history to amass 100 career touchdowns in 2015. In his tenure, he racked up two 1,000-yard seasons.
Throwback Thursday to when Antonio Gates became the all-time leader in touchdowns by a tight end pic.twitter.com/sNXfpBLyBq
— ChargersMuse (@ChargersMuse) October 25, 2024
Gates retired from the NFL in January 2020, leaving a legacy of 116 receiving touchdowns and 11,841 receiving yards on 955 receptions. He holds the Chargers' all-time records for receptions and receiving yards, and his touchdown total is the most by a tight end in NFL history.
The celebrated TE was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame in 2023. He was eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, becoming a finalist but falling short of induction. In November, Gates was designated as one of the 25 semifinalists for the 2025 Hall of Fame Class.
3. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
The only active NFL player on this list has proven through his 12 years that he deserves to be called one of the best. Kelce, a standout for the Cincinnati Bearcats, was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
A knee injury kept the rising star from seeing action in his rookie season, as Kelce could only play one snap on special teams. Despite the speed bump, the tight end came out strong for the 2013 season, bringing in his first NFL touchdown reception in Week 3.
TRAVIS KELCE THROWS A TD PASS 🔥
Yes, you heard that right.
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/oE6hirWtO3
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 17, 2022
Throughout his path, Kelce has won three Super Bowls (LIV, LVII, and LVIII) and competed in four. Kelce recorded the most receiving yards by a tight end in a single season, recording 1,416 in 2020. He was the fifth tight end in the league to gain 10,000 career receiving yards, doing it in less time than the four before him.
Kelce is still performing well in the 2024 season, surpassing Tony Gonzalez as the Chiefs' leader in career receptions and touchdowns. In the 175 regular season games the 35-year-old has played, he totaled 1,004 receptions for 12,151 yards and 77 touchdowns. It will be incredible to see what other records and stats the 10-time Pro Bowler will post as his career continues.
2. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
One of the most outstanding tight ends to exist, Gronkowski spent nine years with the New England Patriots and an additional two with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Patriots selected Gronk in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft, grabbing him with the 42nd overall pick. The rookie snagged his first touchdown pass from Tom Brady in Week 1; the rest is history.
Over his tenure with the Patriots, Gronkowski earned three Super Bowl victories and five Pro Bowl appearances. He was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2014 after having ACL and MCL surgery in 2013. Gronkowski dealt with his fair share of knee and back injuries throughout his journey. In 2019, Gronk retired, partially due to the injuries he sustained over the years.
Rob Gronkowski scores his first touchdown as a Buccaneer six weeks into the season.
And of course, he lays down the Gronk spike!pic.twitter.com/Q8l0g336WS
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 18, 2020
In April 2020, Gronkowski came out of retirement and was dealt to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, reuniting with Brady, who had recently signed with the team. He gained his fourth Super Bowl win as part of the 2020 Buccaneers roster.
His 2021 season was injury-riddled, and the tight end decided to hang it up in the summer of 2022. He ended his career with 9,286 receiving yards and 92 receiving touchdowns on 621 receptions. The accomplished TE will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2027, with a strong shot of being a first-ballot Hall of Famer.
1. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs
Of course, no list of the top tight ends of all time is complete without Gonzalez. The 17-year NFL pro was a talent in both basketball and football, deciding to stick with football for his college career. The Kansas City Chiefs moved up to take the tight end with the 13th pick of the 1997 NFL Draft.
In his time with the Chiefs, Gonzalez recorded more than 1,000 receiving yards in four seasons. The Atlanta Falcons traded for Gonzalez in the spring of 2009, and he spent his last five seasons with the team. He missed just two games during his career, playing in an impressive 270 regular season games.
Tony Gonzalez = 🐐
Tony G has been named a finalist for the NFL 100 All-Time Team!
Tune in Friday at 8pm on @NFLNetwork. #NFL100 pic.twitter.com/urMCbEGTc8
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) December 10, 2019
In his playing days, Gonzalez saw six First-team All-Pro nods, four Second-team All-Pro selections, and 14 Pro Bowl appearances. He is the all-time leader in receptions (1,325) and receiving yards (15,127) by a TE. After the 2013 NFL season, Gonzalez retired from the NFL but remained involved in football, transitioning to a studio analyst role.
Although the TE never made it to the Super Bowl, he was named to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was added to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019, the first year he was eligible for the honor.
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