National Tight End’s Day: Listing the top 5 TE of all time

The NFL celebrates the fourth edition of National Tight Ends Day this week. This day is an annual celebration of the players in the tight end position. There are no formal traditions, but the NFL uses the holiday to highlight tight ends from all over the league.

The fourth Sunday in October is celebrated as National Tight Ends Day.

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How was the National Tight Ends Day formed?

Tight ends, Garrett Celek and George Kittle helped the San Francisco 49ers beat the Detroit Lions in Week 2 of the 2018 NFL season. Celek scored an 11-yard touchdown in the third quarter, and Kittle said the idea for National Tight Ends Day came from a conversation between the two tight ends and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Since then, the league has celebrated this day to pay its respects to the players playing at the TE position. 

Listing the Top 5 Tight ends of all time:-

1) Tony Gonzalez (Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons)

Considered to be the greatest TE of all-time, Gonzalez was a 14-time Pro Bowl player by the time he retired in 2013. He was the NFL’s reception leader in 2004 and has played in 270 games with  1,325 catches for 15,127 yards and 111 TDs in his name. The player is also a six- First-team All-Pro and a four-time Second-team All-Pro for his career.

2) Rob Gronkowski (New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

The four-time Super Bowl winner has the most combined receptions (23) and receiving yards (297) for a tight end in Super Bowls. In 2011, Gronk became the first tight end to lead the league in receiving touchdowns with17. In four different seasons, he had 65 receptions, 1,050 receiving yards, and 10 touchdowns.

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3) Antonio Gates (San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers)

Antonio Gates had 50 receptions and 500 receiving yards in 13 consecutive seasons starting from 2004 to 2016, including an eight-year streak of 700+ receiving yards. Gates was named to the Pro Bowl eight times in a row, while also being named All-Pro five times, including three straight first-team selections. His 116 career touchdown receptions are the most for a tight end in NFL history.

4) Kellen Winslow (San Diego Chargers)

Winslow is credited with transforming the tight end position from primarily a blocker to a potential offensive weapon capable of being used similarly to receivers. Winslow was named to five Pro Bowls and four All-Pro teams during his career. He led the NFL in receptions twice (1980 and 1981), surpassed 1,000 yards three times, and is an eight-time Pro Bowler.

5)  Shannon Sharpe (Denver Broncos/Baltimore Ravens)

Shannon Sharpe is a three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the earliest NFL players who won the trophy with two different teams. He is a 4-time first-team All-Pro and an 8-time Pro Bowler who was named into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011. The TE appeared in 204 games, recording 815 catches for 10,060 yards and 62 TDs.