As is naturally the case when it comes to the Super Bowl, a lot of the talk is going to center around the quarterbacks. And, sure – we’ve got the greatest to ever play the position, Tom Brady, on one side. The future of the position, a guy who has accomplished so much in just three seasons as a starter, Patrick Mahomes, is on the other. But, let’s forget about those quarterbacks for a minute. There’s a similar comparison to be made at the tight end position. Super Bowl LV will feature Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce – two of the very best in the game.
Gronk is arguably the greatest tight end to ever play in the NFL from a talent perspective. He’s one of the most complete tight ends – able to physically dominate as a blocker, and serve as a major mismatch running routes. His 2011 season was specifically spectacular, catching 90 balls for 1,327 yards and a whopping 17 touchdowns. If the dude could’ve stayed healthy for the entirety of his 10 seasons in the NFL, who knows what kind of stats we’d be looking at? Tony Gonzalez probably wouldn’t be as comfortable holding the NFL record for receiving yards by a tight end. But, Gronk has only played a full 16-game schedule three times – 2010, 2011, and oddly enough, 2020. He’s currently sitting at third in NFL history among tight ends in receiving touchdowns with 86.
That sort of greatness isn’t lost on Kelce, who is blazing a trail of his own since entering the league in 2013. He’s starting to crack the top 10 in a couple of statistical categories among tight ends (8th in receptions with 612, 10th in receiving yards with 7,881, 10th in touchdowns with 48). But, in posting 1,416 yards in 2020, the Chiefs tight end has done something that no other tight end in NFL history has done – put together five consecutive thousand-yard seasons.
If you factor in longevity, and look at average receiving yards per game, these two are the top two in NFL history (Gronk with 64.8 YPG, Kelce with 71.0). By the time it’s all said and done, we could be having a ‘1A vs. 1B’ type of conversation with these two.
Gronk changed the way the NFL scouted the tight end position, though. He was a back-breaking weapon, whether he was the 6th offensive lineman or the 3rd wide receiver. Coaches all over the league saw how the New England Patriots used him, and they all wanted to find their Gronk. But, Kelce is the first guy to come along, built and used the same way, that’s really seen sustained success doing it. The way each of these guys plays the game forces opposing defenses to account for them on every single snap.
“Everywhere he goes, he wins.” -Travis Kelce on Rob Gronkowski
During Monday’s media availability, Kelce pointed out how Gronk has sort of transcended the position. When asked about what exactly it is that makes Gronk so special, Kelce cited Gronk’s tempo in his routes, how he creates separation, and how hard he is to defend because of his size and athleticism.
Kelce noted that he does keep an eye out for where he can take bits and pieces of Gronk’s game and add it to his, adding, “I’ve been doing that for awhile.” He actually acknowledged ‘rivalry’ between the two, saying he wants to get “a tally on the board” in his favor on Sunday.
It’s clear that these two are built different – a rare breed compared to the days of Mike Ditka, for sure. Both will have the opposing defensive coordinator losing sleep at night, and both will have scouts scrambling to find the next great player in their mold. That’s rarefied air in the NFL.
MORE SUPER BOWL LV COVERAGE
- Byron Leftwich Talks Offensive Philosophy, Working With Brady, Head Coaching Opportunities
- If The Bucs Win, Mike Evans Will Get A Lombardi Trophy Tattoo
- Steve Spagnuolo on Tom Brady: “He’s a Step Ahead of Everything”
- This Bucs-Chiefs Super Bowl Is All About ‘Greatness’
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network, and a Dogs Playing Poker on velvet connoisseur. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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