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As of the early 2000s, the NFL tight end has emerged as the Jack-of-all trades Renaissance Man. Within increasingly complex passing schemes, the most productive tight ends motion out of formations, run crisp routes, and catch the football with the grace of a wide receiver. In today's game, Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are both poised to solidify their names atop the greatest NFL tight ends of all time lists. Meanwhile, Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten epitomizes what playing tight end is all about, with his prime-time 53-yard helmet-less catch and rumble in Philadelphia.
As a receiver, an elite tight end is a match-up nightmare. In single coverage, the greatest tight ends are too big and strong for defensive backs, but also too fast for linebackers. Beyond one-on-one duels, a crafty tight end will pass protect for one count, before settling into the soft zone to make a play and move the chains.
Of course, old school sports buffs will point out that a good tight end also keys the ground game. The greatest NFL tight ends of all time hold the edge at the line of scrimmage and free up space for running backs to burst into the clear. Many football diehards of the John Madden camp, long for the days of jumbo packages, two to three tight end sets, three yards, and a cloud of dust.
The greatest tight ends of all-time will smack you upside the head at 3rd and inches, and turn around and beat you deep on the very next play.
10: Ben Coates
As a late bloomer, Ben Coates completed his 10-year NFL career with 499 total receptions, 5555 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns. Upon his retirement, Coates' reception totals placed him fourth on the all-time tight end list, behind Ozzie Newsome, Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow. In 2004, Coates set a then single-season record with 96 catches at tight end. In retrospect, few NFL observers would have ever believed that a 1991 fifth round draft pick out of Livingstone College was to emerge as a perennial Pro Bowl tight end and all-time great.
Coates opened up his career at New England with a pedestrian 30 catches for 266 yards - in two years of action. In 1993, Coates joined forces with Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells in Foxboro. The Tuna, having groomed smash mouth Mark Bavaro as a Giant, quickly installed Coates as part of his winning game plan. In response, Ben "Winter" Coates became the ultimate security blanket for a young Drew Bledsoe. At 6'5 - 245 lbs, Coates relied on his big body to clear space in the short zone, shield linebackers, and rack up catches. In the twilight of his career, Coates walked away with a Super Bowl trophy - with the 2000 Baltimore Ravens.
9: Antonio Gates
Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez are both products of the basketball player turned tight end movement. Gates' career is that of storybook legend, as he showed up at a San Diego try-out - without ever playing a snap of football for Kent State. In camp, Gates put his basketball skills to work and impressed scouts with his ability to box out in space and battle for deep bombs.
On the field, Gates plays as an extra wide receiver, and is often motioned out of the formation to lock-up with cornerbacks. For a tight end, Gates is about the big play. During his current 8-year career, Gates is posting a 13-yard per reception average - to go along with 65 touchdowns. In total, Gates has already surpassed the 500-reception mark and posted two 1,000-yard seasons. At 30, Gates shows no signs of slowing down, as he continues to improve his game and pass coverage recognition.
8: Ozzie Newsome
After Paul Brown and Art Modell, Ozzie Newsome is arguably the greatest contributor to the Cleveland Browns - Baltimore Ravens organization. After performing as one of the game's all-time great tight ends, Newsome is now one of the game's most respected general managers. During a in a career that spanned from 1978 until 1990, Newsome rivaled Kellen Winslow for the title of greatest pass-catching tight end of his era. Newsome retired atop the tight end receptions list - with 662 catches.
From tight end, The Wizard of Oz finished second in the League in receptions in 1983 and 1984 - with 89 catches in both years. Newsome also went over 1,000 yards twice in his career, which was unheard of for any tight end outside of San Diego (Winslow) and Los Angeles (Todd Christensen) at the time. Despite his Hall of Fame credentials, Jason Lisk and Pro-Football-Reference.com describe the 6-2 230 pound Newsome as a reluctant blocker, who was unlikely to get down and dirty at the line of scrimmage.
7: Todd Christensen
As a former star BYU running back, Todd Christensen may be described as the precursor to the NFL H-Back, or tight end / fullback hybrid. In the 1980s, the H-Back was to be popularized by Joe Gibbs and his Hogs - with Terry Orr, Clint Didier, and ultimately, Chris Cooley filling this role. For a versatile attack, an H-Back may either appear in the backfield or at the line of scrimmage, as a lead blocker or pass-catching receiver.
For his career, Christensen parlayed his ability to make quick cuts into 461 catches and 5,872 receiving yards. In fact, Christensen actually led the NFL in receptions in 1983 and 1986 - with 92 and 95 catches, respectively. Christensen went to five straight Pro Bowls between 1983 and 1987, and also won two Super Bowls. As an offbeat intellectual, Christensen was one out of the many casts of characters to don the Silver and Black.
6: Dave Casper
Dave "The Ghost" Casper is best known for his quirky sideline antics and masked grin as an Oakland Raider. Behind The Ghost smiles, however, Casper was a devastating blocker within the run-oriented schemes of Oakland and Houston. In terms of physicality, the former Notre Dame offensive tackle rivals Mark Bavaro for the belt as the game's greatest goon at tight end. As a pass protector, Casper often dominated larger defensive ends and outside linebackers. In the running game, Casper plowed holes for the likes of both Mark van Eeghan and Earl Campbell at the point of attack.
Beyond punishing defenses at the line, Casper also found time to get open. In the Raiders' vertical offense, Casper often worked the intermediate routes on curl and seam patterns. Dave Casper finished his 13-year Hall of Fame career with 378 catches, 5,216 receiving yards and two Super Bowl rings.
5: Kellen Winslow
Kellen Winslow being carried off the field in Miami remains as one of the epic scenes in all of sports. In "The Epic in Miami," Winslow turned in one of the greatest individual performances of all time, with 13 catches, 166 yards receiving, and one blocked field goal for a 41-38 San Diego win over Miami.
Kellen Winslow revolutionized the modern passing game, as a member of the Air Coryell attack in San Diego. These 80s San Diego clubs featured a trio of Hall of Famers that teamed together Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner alongside Winslow. In 1980, Winslow put together the greatest statistical season of all-time for a tight end, as he amassed 89 catches for 1,290 yards.
At 6'5 and 251 pounds, Winslow used his long strides to consistently burn opposing defenses for big plays. Still, his body of work is somewhat marred by a lack of Super Bowl titles and prime longevity. At 30, Kellen Winslow retired in 1987 with 541 total catches for 6,741 receiving yards.
4: Shannon Sharpe
Shannon Sharpe is one of the few NFL athletes that could match Big Talk with Big Game. As a backdrop to his intense motor and smack talk, Sharpe also represents one of the greatest NFL rags-to-riches stories of all time. On his Georgia upbringing:
"We were so poor, a robber once broke into our house and we ended up robbing the robber."
In 1990, the Denver Broncos drafted Shannon Sharpe in the 7th round, as a wide receiver. Shortly thereafter, Coach Dan Reeves moved Sharpe over to tight end to serve as another weapon for John Elway. Through his insatiable hunger and work ethic, Sharpe steadily improved into the complete package of size and strength at the position. Shannon Sharpe's 14-year totals of 815 catches for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns compare favorably to any man that has ever caught a football. As a winner, Sharpe lays claim to three Lombardi trophies with the Denver Broncos (2) and Baltimore Ravens (1).
3: Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez will finish his NFL career as the owner of every significant record applicable to the tight end position. As of October 2010, Gonzalez has recorded 1,023 catches for 12,053 yards and 83 touchdowns. These numbers include individual seasons of 93, 102, 99 and 96 catches in 2000, 2004, 2007, and 2008, respectively. In 2004, Gonzalez actually led the NFL in catches - with 102 receptions for 1,258 yards as a Kansas City Chief.
Gonzalez' numbers, longevity and consistency are Peyton Manning-esque. Yes, Gonzalez has been so good for so long - it's almost boring. Despite operating as the focal point of defensive game plans, Gonzalez seems to always be open - through a combination of head fakes, feints and shifts. Once open, Tony Gonzalez has the softest hands in the business to snag anything thrown his way.
Although Gonzalez is often associated with finesse play, he is a willing blocker. At tight end, he has thrown his weight around to pave the way for 1,000-yard rushers in Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson and Michael Turner. According to Chiefs great Len Dawson, Tony Gonzalez is the greatest tight end of all time.
2: Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka means football. Before he was "Da Coach," Iron Mike simply ran over and through people for the Chicago Bears as a crew cut kid from Pennsylvania. For the first time, a tight end proved that he could maul people at the line of scrimmage and also transition into pass patterns as a viable threat within the passing game. As a rookie in 1961, Ditka hauled in 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns over only 14 games. These numbers translate into an unreal 19 yards-per-catch average.
For his career, Mike Ditka caught 427 balls for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns. In comparison, these numbers look pedestrian against today's high-powered offenses. As a basis of comparison, Ditka finished as a top-10 NFL pass catcher for four straight years between 1961 and 1964. This production is unprecedented for a tight end of any era.
1: John Mackey
Between 1963 and 1972, John Mackey added an element of speed to the Ditka formula of raw toughness. In fact, John Mackey actually put in spot duty on special teams for the Baltimore Colts - as a kick returner. A man among boys, Mackey destroyed the competition for 331 catches, 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns during his ten-year career. Most impressive, would be his gaudy 15.8 yards per catch average, which trumps the abilities of many speedster wide receivers.
On November 20, 1966, John Mackey caught a five-yard out pass in the flat. From there, vintage Mackey turned up field to juke, spin around, ran over, and glide past eight different Detroit Lions - en route to a 64-yard touchdown completion. ESPN Classic describes this sequence as "arguably the greatest play in pro football history."
John Mackey is my greatest NFL tight end of all time.
Greatest NFL Tight Ends of All Time: Top Ten List, Sources:
Pro Football Hall of Fame: Hall of Famers by Position
Pro-Football-Reference.com: Top Ten Tight Ends of All-Time
Pro-Football-Reference.com: NFL Career Receptions Leaders
More From Associated Content and Kofi Bofah:
The Top Ten Greatest NFL Quarterbacks of All Time
The Greatest NFL Running Backs of All Time: Top Ten List
The Greatest NFL Wide Receivers of All Time: Top Ten List
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