Who Is The Best Tight End In NFL History?

There’s no question that tight ends have become a more integral part of offenses in the NFL over the last few years. With that in mind, we thought it was time to take a look at the best tight ends in NFL history.

Introduction

In American football, the tight end (TE) is a player who lines up between the scrimmage-line and the wide receivers. This is usually a large and tall player who can block or catch passes. The tight end position was created by George Halas in Loyala, Illinois in 1941.

The first tight end in NFL history was Mike Ditka, who played for the Chicago Bears from 1961-1972. Ditka is considered one of the best tight ends in NFL history and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

Other notable tight ends include Kellen Winslow Sr., who played for the San Diego Chargers from 1979-1987, and Shannon Sharpe, who played for the Denver Broncos from 1990-1999.

The Candidates

Shannon Sharpe

Part of what makes Shannon Sharpe so great is that he played on some terrible teams during his NFL career. The Broncos didn’t make the playoffs in Sharpe’s first four seasons, but he still managed to rack up 462 catches for 6,569 yards and 36 touchdowns. When John Elway and Terrell Davis arrived in Denver, Sharpe became a key part of one of the most explosive offenses in NFL history. He helped the Broncos win back-to-back Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, and he was named to the Pro Bowl eight times in his career. Sharpe retired after the 2003 season with 815 catches for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns, which were all records for a tight end at the time. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011.

Jason Witten

Jason Witten is an American football tight end for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Tennessee, and was drafted by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. Witten ranks second all-time in career receptions and receiving yards by an NFL tight end, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. He is also one of only three tight ends in NFL history with at least 1,000 career catches, joining Gonzalez and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe. He has been selected to eleven Pro Bowls, tying Dwight Clark and Tony Gonzalez for the most ever by a tight end.

Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez is a retired NFL tight end who played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons. He is widely considered to be the best tight end in NFL history, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2019.

Gonzalez was born in Torrance, California, and played college football at the University of California, Berkeley. He was drafted by the Chiefs in the first round of the 1997 NFL Draft, and played for them for 12 seasons. He holds numerous NFL records for tight ends, including most career catches (1,325), most career receiving yards (15,127), and most career touchdown catches (111).

In 2009, Gonzalez was traded to the Falcons, with whom he played for five seasons before retiring. In his 17-year career, he caught 1,325 passes for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns. He was selected to 14 Pro Bowls, and was named first-team All-Pro 10 times.

The Case for Shannon Sharpe

Shannon Sharpe is considered by many to be the best tight end in NFL history. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in 1990 and played for the team for 12 years, winning two Super Bowls. He then played for the Baltimore Ravens for two years before retiring in 2003. In his 14-year career, Sharpe caught 815 passes for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time First Team All-Pro.

The Case for Jason Witten

When people think of the greatest tight ends in NFL history, certain names come to mind. Players like Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow Sr. are often considered some of the best to ever play the position. But there is one name that sometimes gets overlooked: Jason Witten of the Dallas Cowboys.

In his 15 years in the league, Witten has amassed more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns than any other tight end in NFL history. He is also a 11-time Pro Bowler, a 2-time All-Pro selection, and was named the 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year. Simply put, he is one of the most decorated tight ends in NFL history.

What separates Witten from other great tight ends is his durability. He has played in all 16 games for 13 straight seasons, an NFL record for a tight end. He has also never missed a start in his entire career. That kind of reliability is hard to come by, and it’s a big reason why Witten has been so successful over the years.

So when people ask who the greatest tight end of all time is, my answer is always Jason Witten. He may not have the flashy plays or highlight-reel catches like some of his counterparts, but his longevity and production make him one of the best to ever play the game.

The Case for Tony Gonzalez

In terms of tight ends, one player who often gets left out of the conversation is Tony Gonzalez. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs for 12 seasons before moving on to the Atlanta Falcons for five more. In his 17 seasons, he racked up an impressive 1,325 catches for 15,127 yards and 111 touchdowns.

What’s even more impressive is that he did all of this while playing in an era where quarterbacks were throwing to tight ends less and less. In fact, in his last season in 2013, he was still able to put up 79 catches for 879 yards and eight touchdowns.

When you compare his numbers to other tight ends in NFL history, it’s clear that he is one of the best to ever play the game. He is first in catches and second in yards and touchdowns. He was also selected to 14 Pro Bowls, the most of any tight end in NFL history.

Not only was he a great player on the field, but he was also a class act off of it. In 2009, he was selected as the NFL Man of the Year for his work with various charities. He has also been active in promoting breast cancer awareness.

It’s time that we start giving Tony Gonzalez the credit he deserves as one of the best tight ends in NFL history.

The Verdict

After much deliberation, the experts have come to a consensus: the title of best tight end in NFL history goes to Dallas Cowboys legend Jason Witten.

A five-time Pro Bowler and three-time first-team All-Pro, Witten ranks first all-time in catches (1,152) and receiving yards (12,448) by a tight end, and fourth in touchdown receptions (68). He is also the Cowboys’ all-time leader in games played (239), catches, and receiving yards.

In addition to his statistical dominance, Witten was also widely respected for his toughness and durability, as he missed just one game throughout his entire 15-year career. He was also an excellent blocker, helping pave the way for Dallas’ prolific running game throughout his career.

It’s safe to say that Jason Witten is the best tight end in NFL history.