We all want to say it's Rob Gronkowski. But I want to make a distinction between "best" and "greatest". I think Christian Laettner was perhaps the "greatest" college basketball player I ever saw (I never saw Alcindor or Walton play in college). His achievements were just off the charts. But he wasn't the "best". Ewing was *better*. Jordan was *better*. Len Bias was *better*. A lot of college players were *better* players, but didn't have the kind of career that Laettner did.
So Gronk was, IMO, the *best* tight end to ever play the game. Utterly dominant as a run blocker and as a pass catcher. Healthy, there's never been a player who could do either like Gronk, never mind *both*. But because his career ended at age 29, I don't know if we can say that Gronk is the "greatest" TE ever.
Some candidates:
Tony Gonzalez
- 17 seasons
- 1325 rec, 15127 yds, 11.4 y/c, 111 td
- 14 time pro-bowl (82.4%)
- 6 time all-pro (35.3%)
- avg game: 4.9 rec, 56.0 yds, 0.41 td
- 0 championships
Rob Gronkowski
- 9 seasons
- 521 rec, 7861 yds, 15.1 y/c, 79 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (55.6%)
- 4 time all-pro (44.4%)
- avg game: 4.5 rec, 68.4 yds, 0.69 td (heh)
- 3 championships
Kellen Winslow
- 9 seasons
- 541 rec, 6741 yds, 12.5 y/c, 45 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (55.6%)
- 3 time all-pro (33.3%)
- avg game: 5.0 rec, 61.8 yds, 0.41 td
- 0 championships
John Mackey
- 10 seasons
- 331 rec, 5236 yds, 15.8 y/c, 38 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (50.0%)
- 3 time all-pro (30.0%)
- avg game: 2.4 rec, 37.7 yds, 0.27 td
- 2 championships
Jason Witten
- 15 seasons
- 1152 rec, 12448 yds, 10.8 y/c, 68 td
- 11 time pro-bowl (73.3%)
- 2 time all-pro (13.3%)
- avg game: 4.8 rec, 52.1 yds, 0.28 td
- 0 championships
Antonio Gates
- 16 seasons
- 955 rec, 11841 yds, 12.4 y/c, 116 td
- 8 time pro-bowl (50.0%)
- 3 time all-pro (18.8%)
- avg game: 4.0 rec, 50.2 yds, 0.49 td
There may be more, like Ditka or Casper. I'd say that Gronk is the BEST tight end ever, and certainly the most dominant. But I'd say that Gonzalez may have had the greater career. Longevity does matter. His counting stats are absurd. Still, there's no TE I'd rather have in all of NFL history more than Gronk.
So Gronk was, IMO, the *best* tight end to ever play the game. Utterly dominant as a run blocker and as a pass catcher. Healthy, there's never been a player who could do either like Gronk, never mind *both*. But because his career ended at age 29, I don't know if we can say that Gronk is the "greatest" TE ever.
Some candidates:
Tony Gonzalez
- 17 seasons
- 1325 rec, 15127 yds, 11.4 y/c, 111 td
- 14 time pro-bowl (82.4%)
- 6 time all-pro (35.3%)
- avg game: 4.9 rec, 56.0 yds, 0.41 td
- 0 championships
Rob Gronkowski
- 9 seasons
- 521 rec, 7861 yds, 15.1 y/c, 79 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (55.6%)
- 4 time all-pro (44.4%)
- avg game: 4.5 rec, 68.4 yds, 0.69 td (heh)
- 3 championships
Kellen Winslow
- 9 seasons
- 541 rec, 6741 yds, 12.5 y/c, 45 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (55.6%)
- 3 time all-pro (33.3%)
- avg game: 5.0 rec, 61.8 yds, 0.41 td
- 0 championships
John Mackey
- 10 seasons
- 331 rec, 5236 yds, 15.8 y/c, 38 td
- 5 time pro-bowl (50.0%)
- 3 time all-pro (30.0%)
- avg game: 2.4 rec, 37.7 yds, 0.27 td
- 2 championships
Jason Witten
- 15 seasons
- 1152 rec, 12448 yds, 10.8 y/c, 68 td
- 11 time pro-bowl (73.3%)
- 2 time all-pro (13.3%)
- avg game: 4.8 rec, 52.1 yds, 0.28 td
- 0 championships
Antonio Gates
- 16 seasons
- 955 rec, 11841 yds, 12.4 y/c, 116 td
- 8 time pro-bowl (50.0%)
- 3 time all-pro (18.8%)
- avg game: 4.0 rec, 50.2 yds, 0.49 td
There may be more, like Ditka or Casper. I'd say that Gronk is the BEST tight end ever, and certainly the most dominant. But I'd say that Gonzalez may have had the greater career. Longevity does matter. His counting stats are absurd. Still, there's no TE I'd rather have in all of NFL history more than Gronk.