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Gil Brandt's 14 greatest NFL tight ends of all time
NFL Media senior analyst and personnel guru Gil Brandt ranks the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Take a look at how they stack up.
![St. Louis Cardinlas, 1963-1977; Dallas Cowboys, 1978
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times
» Finished career with 480 receptions for 7,918 yards (most ever by tight end at time of retirement) and 40 touchdowns
» Played in 210 NFL games
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/wwfvorqqgdjdborltleq.jpg)
St. Louis Cardinlas, 1963-1977; Dallas Cowboys, 1978
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, First Team All-Pro four times
» Finished career with 480 receptions for 7,918 yards (most ever by tight end at time of retirement) and 40 touchdowns
» Played in 210 NFL games
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame
![Chicago Bears, 2007-2010; Carolina Panthers, 2011-present
» Voted to Pro Bowl three times
» Has 662 career receptions for 7,365 yards and 52 touchdowns in 10 NFL seasons
» Only tight end in NFL history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/oc47a5gqxp4huio0mnyo.jpg)
Chicago Bears, 2007-2010; Carolina Panthers, 2011-present
» Voted to Pro Bowl three times
» Has 662 career receptions for 7,365 yards and 52 touchdowns in 10 NFL seasons
» Only tight end in NFL history with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons
![New England Patriots, 1975-1980, 1987-1988; San Francisco 49ers, 1982-1987
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to three Pro Bowls
» Finished career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/kl9gcdmpaac86z84mzku.jpg)
New England Patriots, 1975-1980, 1987-1988; San Francisco 49ers, 1982-1987
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to three Pro Bowls
» Finished career with 393 receptions for 5,262 yards and 40 touchdowns
![Denver Broncos, 1990-1999, 2002-2003; Baltimore Ravens, 2000-2001
» Three-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl eight times, First Team All-Pro three times
» NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 815 receptions for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/mnldq1ddo9ddveihmqbg.jpg)
Denver Broncos, 1990-1999, 2002-2003; Baltimore Ravens, 2000-2001
» Three-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl eight times, First Team All-Pro three times
» NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 815 receptions for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
![Cleveland Browns, 1978-1990
» Voted to Pro Bowl three times, First Team All-Pro once
» NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
» Finshed career with 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/tyxpmcuathwug19hdsay.jpg)
Cleveland Browns, 1978-1990
» Voted to Pro Bowl three times, First Team All-Pro once
» NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
» Finshed career with 662 receptions for 7,980 yards and 47 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame
![Detroit Lions, 1968-1977
» Voted to Pro Bowl seven times, First Team All-Pro twice
» NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 336 receptions for 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/k4b4lauxzkmpoaluuoez.jpg)
Detroit Lions, 1968-1977
» Voted to Pro Bowl seven times, First Team All-Pro twice
» NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 336 receptions for 4,817 yards and 31 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame
![San Diego/L.A. Chargers, 2003-present
» Voted to Pro Bowl eight times, First Team All-Pro three times
» NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
» Has 897 career receptions for 11,192 yards and 111 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/thpps8xjjhjavoszmffm.jpg)
San Diego/L.A. Chargers, 2003-present
» Voted to Pro Bowl eight times, First Team All-Pro three times
» NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
» Has 897 career receptions for 11,192 yards and 111 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons
![Chicago Bears, 1961-1966; Philadelphia Eagles, 1967-1968; Dallas Cowboys, 1969-1972
» One-time NFL champion and one-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro five times
» NFL 7th Anniversary All-Time Team
» Finished career with 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/d63jzegfgfqxj1ivqfdk.jpg)
Chicago Bears, 1961-1966; Philadelphia Eagles, 1967-1968; Dallas Cowboys, 1969-1972
» One-time NFL champion and one-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, First Team All-Pro five times
» NFL 7th Anniversary All-Time Team
» Finished career with 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
![New England Patriots, 2010-present
» Two-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl four times, four-time First Team All-Pro
» Led league in touchdown receptions in 2011
» Has 405 receptions for 6,095 yards and 68 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/gt7s0mqrqe8tfxnr5rvu.jpg)
New England Patriots, 2010-present
» Two-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl four times, four-time First Team All-Pro
» Led league in touchdown receptions in 2011
» Has 405 receptions for 6,095 yards and 68 touchdowns in seven NFL seasons
![Oakland/L.A. Raiders, 1974–1980, 1984; Houston Oilers, 1980–1983; Minnesota Vikings, 1983
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, five-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 378 receptions for 5,216 yards and 52 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/kdltqb24bt5pnh9msn0k.jpg)
Oakland/L.A. Raiders, 1974–1980, 1984; Houston Oilers, 1980–1983; Minnesota Vikings, 1983
» One-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, five-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 1970s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 378 receptions for 5,216 yards and 52 touchdowns
» Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame
![Dallas Cowboys, 2003-2018
» Voted to Pro Bowl 10 times, First Team All-Pro twice
» Has 1,089 receptions for 11,388 yards and 63 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons
» Has four 1,000-yard seasons](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/wauoxbiijwg85losq0hd.jpg)
Dallas Cowboys, 2003-2018
» Voted to Pro Bowl 10 times, First Team All-Pro twice
» Has 1,089 receptions for 11,388 yards and 63 touchdowns in 14 NFL seasons
» Has four 1,000-yard seasons
![Baltimore Colts, 1963-1971; San Diego Chargers, 1972
» One-time NFL champion and one-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, three-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 331 receptions for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns.
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/lq0xxfccwn7ekzhgeig5.jpg)
Baltimore Colts, 1963-1971; San Diego Chargers, 1972
» One-time NFL champion and one-time Super Bowl champion
» Voted to Pro Bowl five times, three-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 1960s All-Decade Team
» Finished career with 331 receptions for 5,236 yards and 38 touchdowns.
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
![San Diego Chargers, 1979-1987
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, three-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
» Started 94 of 109 NFL games played
» Finished career with 541 receptions for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/y8ungaruhejcoiyid6x9.jpg)
San Diego Chargers, 1979-1987
» Voted to five Pro Bowls, three-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
» Started 94 of 109 NFL games played
» Finished career with 541 receptions for 6,741 yards and 45 touchdowns
» Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
![Kansas City Chiefs, 1997-2008; Atlanta Falcons, 2009-2013
» Voted to NFL-record 14 Pro Bowls, six-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
» Holds NFL records for career receiving yards (15,127), receptions (1,325) and touchdowns (111) for tight end
» Started 120 NFL games, second-most for tight end](https://static.www.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/league/rwjkmzmjrku135jetrbw.jpg)
Kansas City Chiefs, 1997-2008; Atlanta Falcons, 2009-2013
» Voted to NFL-record 14 Pro Bowls, six-time First Team All-Pro
» NFL 2000s All-Decade Team
» Holds NFL records for career receiving yards (15,127), receptions (1,325) and touchdowns (111) for tight end
» Started 120 NFL games, second-most for tight end