The 5 Best Quarterback-Tight End Combos Ever
The Top Quarterback-tight end Combos in NFL history
In the last 30-40 years of the NFL, it is no secret that while the tight end has traditionally been more of a blocking position, it has emerged as a more prominent position on the passing front.
Travis Kelce - A major force
A lot of times the reasons why tight ends are dominant on the receiving front is because they are usually fast enough to play receiver, but strong enough to also play on the line in either running situations or formations when there aren’t as many receivers.
In this article, we are going to talk about some of the greatest combinations of tight ends and quarterbacks at their current positions.
More specifically, Tom Brady, the Greatest QB of all-time, along with Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez, Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, and lastly Peyton Manning and Dallas Clark.
1. Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez
Tony Gonzalez was the first player in NFL history to make the tight end primarily a receiving position.
It is widely believed that the basic thinking at the time was that he could establish position on the field, much like a big man can establish a position in the post in basketball.
He made lots of receptions as Gonzalez played college basketball for Cal, a team who made the sweet 16 where he was scouted by the Kansas City Chiefs and eventually made his way over to the Atlanta Falcons with Matt Ryan.
At the time Gonzalez joined Ryan, Ryan was in his second year with the Falcons. He stayed there until the 2021 season, when he went to Indianapolis.
Unfortunately, the two did not win a Super Bowl together. However, that does not mean they didn’t have an impact on each other’s lives.
2. Tom Brady, Rob Grownkowski and Aaron Hernandez
The breed of this combination is extremely rare, in that the team has two dominant tight ends. This leaves all sorts of possibilities open when it comes to the x’s and o’s, and it can also make it much harder on defenses.
The two tight ends weren’t exactly a slouch when it comes to body mass either, which made them much harder to tackle.
Gronkowski is 6’6 and weighs 264 pounds, while Hernandez was not quite as tall at 6' 2, but he still weighed a massive 245 pounds.
Although Gronkowski and Hernandez have suffered far different destinies in the long run, they were an almost unstoppable combination when they played together from 2010-2013.
Gronkowski retired after the 2021 season and even played two additional seasons with Brady after he left the Patriots for Tampa Bay. However, Hernandez was accused of murder and later hung himself in jail.
During their years together, Gronkowski and Hernandez averaged well over 100 yards a season combined, with an average of 11.2 touchdowns per season.
For the peak seasons for both, Gronkowski recorded 1,327 and 17 touchdowns during the 2011 season and Hernandez’s best season was the same year when he recorded 910 yards and seven touchdowns.
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3. Patrick Mahomes andTravis Kelce
The major advantage in this duo versus the others is that Patrick Mahomes is much more versatile and he can scramble, meaning the offense can produce a lot more against various types of schemes.
Much like Gronkowski and Hernandez, Kelce’s size almost matches Gronkowski’s at 6 '5 tall and he weighs 256 pounds, which makes him hard to tackle and also a good option on the line during running plays.
Kelce and Mahomes have played together for the last five years and have amassed 1,000 yard seasons every year they have been together.
His best season was 2020 when he amassed 1,416 yards and 11 touchdowns. The two are still playing together as of the writing of this article, and they should be dominant for years to come.
4. Lamar Jackson Mark Andrews
Just like Mahomes and Kelce the full book on Lamar Jackson and Mark Andrews is still being written.
Andrews is a tight end who is not often talked about but he statistically has made a name for himself and this season has accounted for over 30 percent of their passing offense through October 21, 2022.
The 86th pick of the 2018 draft has amassed over 4,000 yards through week 14 of the 2022 NFL season, including 1,317 in 2021.
5. Peyton Manning-Dallas Clark
Although it is common for players to switch teams a lot, this combination of quarterback and tight end is one that still stayed true to their team for a long time, as the duo played together from 2003-2011.
This combo are one of the two on this list that never won a Super Bowl together.
However, that does not mean they didn’t show some dominance over the years.
Their best year was 2009, the only season he actually played all 16 regular season games with the Colts when he recorded 100 receptions for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.
