The NFL’s Top Ten Greatest Tight Ends of all Time

The Top Ten Greatest NFL Tight Ends of all Time Introduction 10.) Ozzie Newsome Played for the Cleveland Browns from 1978 to 1990 Three Time Pro Bowl Selection (1981, 1984, 1985) Two Time NFL First Team All Pro (1979, 1984) 9.) Charlie Sanders Played for the Detroit Lions from 1969...

April 16, 2026 • 7:22 AM

The Top Ten Greatest NFL Tight Ends of all Time

Introduction

10.) Ozzie Newsome

Played for the Cleveland Browns from 1978 to 1990

Three Time Pro Bowl Selection (1981, 1984, 1985)

Two Time NFL First Team All Pro (1979, 1984)

9.) Charlie Sanders

Played for the Detroit Lions from 1969 to 1977

Seven Time Pro Bowl Selection (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976)

Three Time NFL First Team All Pro (1969, 1970, 1971)

8.) Antonio Gates

Played for the San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers from 2003 to 2018

Eight Time Pro Bowl Selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011)

Three Time NFL First Team All Pro (2004, 2005, 2006)

7.) Mike Ditka

Played for the Chicago Bears, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys

Super Bowl VI Champion

NFL Champion in 1963

6.) Jason Witten

Played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2003 to Present

Eleven Time Pro Bowl Selection (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017)

Walter Payton Man of the Year Award Winner in 2012

5.) Dave Casper

Played for the Oakland Raiders, the Houston Oilers, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Los Angeles Raiders

Super Bowl XI Champion

Five Time Pro Bowl Selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980)

4.) Rob Gronkowski

Played for the New England Patriots from 2010 to 2018

Three Time Super Bowl Champion (XLIX, LI, LIII)

Four Time NFL First Team All Pro (2011, 2014, 2015, 2017)

3.) John Mackey

Played for the Baltimore Colts and the San Diego Chargers

Super Bowl V Champion

Five Time Pro Bowl Selection (1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968)

2.) Kellen Winslow

Played for the San Diego Chargers from 1979 to 1987

Five Time Pro Bowl Selection (1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987)

Three Time NFL First Team All Pro (1980, 1981, 1982)

1.) Tony Gonzalez

Played for the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons

Fourteen Time Pro Bowl Selection (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013)

Six Time NFL First Team All Pro (1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012)