A ranked list of the 10 top tight ends of all time: Who is the greatest tight end ever?

The top tight ends of all time are the explosive players from the National Football League who have excelled at the position. Although the closed-role end position has changed from primarily blocking to concentrating on receptions, these all-time greats were unstoppable when it came to playing the part.

Over the years, the National Football League has been home to some outstanding tight ends. These athletes have revolutionized their position by bringing a new level of size, speed, and adaptability to the field. Although the role is no longer exclusively associated with blocking and dirty work, it was formerly used for that. This article provides a ranked list of the 10 top tight ends of all time.

Top 10 tight ends of all time

All eyes are now on the tight ends because of their impact on professional football. Here are the all-time great tight ends players who changed the course of games, according to Rotoballer.

10. Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys team made it to the playoffs seven times while he was a part of it. In his second season, the ex-Tennessee standout finished with 980 yards and six touchdown catches, putting the league on notice. His best season was in 2007 when he rushed for 1,145 yards and seven touchdowns, but he successfully reached the 1,000-yard mark four times.

Because of that performance, he was named to the First Team All-Pro for the first time. Witten was named the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year and was named to the Pro Bowl eleven times.

After retiring after the 2017 season, he came out for one more season in the NFL in 2019. After playing for the Las Vegas Raiders for a single season, the 2003 third-round pick retired. He collected 1,273 passes for 13,532 yards and 75 touchdowns in his career.

9. John Mackey, Baltimore Colts

The 1963 NFL Draft second-round pick had a career-ending stat line of 331 receptions for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns in 10 seasons. Throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s, he played an integral role in the Baltimore Colts' unstoppable run. He was most known for his 75-yard touchdown reception in Super Bowl V. In his NFL career, Mackey was named to the All-NFL team three times and to the Pro Bowl five times.

The former Syracuse University football player played for the San Diego Chargers for just one season before calling it quits in 1972. Thirty years after his death, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and in 2019, he was selected to the NFL 100 All-Time Team.

8. Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears

After participating in three sports while at university, Ditka focused on football after the Chicago Bears selected him fifth overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. He played for the Bears, Eagles, and Cowboys throughout 11 seasons, beginning with that selection.

He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year after making an immediate impression. The Cowboys won Super Bowl VI, of which Ditka was a member, against the Miami Dolphins. He was also named to the All-Pro team five times and to the Pro Bowl five times. During his time in the NFL, the ex-Pittsburgh Panther caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in his stats.

7. Kellen Winslow, San Diego Chargers

Kellen was able to amass 5,741 receiving yards, 45 touchdowns, and 6,741 passing yards in nine seasons. Even though he was selected to four All-Pro teams and five Pro Bowls after being selected with the thirteenth overall pick in the 1979 NFL Draft, his performance in the 1981 playoffs at the Orange Bowl in Miami catapulted him to legendary status.

He pulled off 13 receptions for 166 yards in that game. One of the iconic moments in league history was when his teammates helped him off the field. For the NFL's centennial, Winslow was named to the All-Time Team.

6. Ozzie Newsome, Cleveland Browns

He was a crucial cog in the franchise's three AFC Championship Game appearances and was named to the All-Pro team five times. In addition to being named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 1980s, he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection. When he retired in 1990, the former Alabama star had 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns.

Both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Browns Ring of Honor exalted him, the former in 1999 and the latter in 2010. After leaving his position as general manager, Newsome remained with the Ravens, this time in the role of executive vice president.

5. Shannon Sharpe, Denver Broncos

Despite playing wide receiver in college, he was too short to play tight end in the NFL. Based on his physical attributes, the Denver Broncos drafted him in the seventh round of the 1990 draft. But he became a threat to opponent defences thanks to his speed and agility.

He became the first tight end in NFL history to record 10,000 receiving yards. Two of Sharpe's Super Bowl teams were with the Denver Broncos, and the third was with the Baltimore Ravens. For his career, Sharpe was recognized with four First-Team All-Pro nods, one Second-Team All-Pro nod, and eight Pro Bowl nods. In 2011, he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

4. Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs

His seven 1,000-yard seasons and 1,416 receiving yards in a season set new records for the position. With three seasons under his belt, Kelce holds the record for most 100-catch seasons by a tight end.

The former Bengal is fifth in NFL history with 10,000 receiving yards, and he played for Cincinnati. Kelce is at his peak now. He has already been selected to eight Pro Bowls, three Second-Team All-Pro teams, and the First Team four times.

3. Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots

With seventeen touchdown receptions in a single season, the tight end selected in the second round of the 2010 NFL Draft is the all-time leader. His 2013 ACL and MCL injuries did not diminish his talent. He continued precisely where he had left off the previous year, earning him the title of Comeback Player of the Year.

Three of his Super Bowls were with the Patriots, and one was with the Buccaneers, all thanks to his partnership with Tom Brady. Gronkowski accumulated 10,675 receiving yards, 107 touchdowns, and 719 receptions.

He was selected to five Pro Bowls and four First-Team All-Pro teams during his career. Gronkowski was named to the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team before re-retiring following the 2021 season.

2. Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers

Regarding the power of persistence and its rewards, Gates is the gold standard. While at Kent State, he excelled on the basketball court but was never a football player. The worst part was that NBA scouts thought he was undersized for his position. He gambled on the NFL, but the 2003 draft passed him by.

The Chargers were fortunate to have him for his 16-year career, during which he contributed to seven playoff berths and an appearance in the AFC Championship Game. Gates retired with 116 receiving touchdowns, setting a new record for tight ends.

He also had two seasons with 1,000 yards. His three First Team All-Pro nods and two Second Team All-Pro awards speak for themselves. A member of the NFL's All-Decade Team from the 2000s, Gates has also been named to the Pro Bowl eight times.

1. Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City Chiefs

Throughout his seventeen seasons in the NFL, Tony Gonzalez went unrecognized despite his greatness. He was so good at not fumbling the ball that "Sure Hands" would have been perfect. As of the 2022 season, the former Cal standout had the most receptions and receiving yards among tight ends in league history. With 1,325 receptions, he is the greatest of all time and ranks third on the all-time list for receivers.

Gonzalez was a two-sport athlete in college, but he was named to the NFL First Team six times for football rather than basketball. He also had the second-highest number of Pro Bowl selections with fourteen. He is the best tight end of all time in the NFL.

The legendary Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs player was named to the NFL 100 All-Time Team and received four Second Team All-Pro nods. In 2019, the first year he was eligible, the California native was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Final word

The top 10 tight ends of all time have each contributed uniquely to the legacy of the position, leaving an enduring impact on the sport and shaping the expectations for future generations of players. As we celebrate these football titans, their collective influence serves as a reminder of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of the game.

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