I was very pleased with one online list of the ten greatest tight ends in NFL history. It is particularly to compare tight ends of different eras due to changing offensive trends. But to be a productive standout tight end in any era is significant. Smart head coaches and offensive coordinators know a talented tight end is a weapon to exploit in any offensive system. Now I can’t find the link so I’m not sure of the order (except for 10 and 1).
(10) Charlie Sanders, Lions, Shannon Sharpe (Broncos), Mark Bavaro (Giants), Kellen Winslow (Chargers, Jackie Smith (Cardinals & Cowboys), Ozzie Newsome (Browns), Mike Ditka (Bears & Cowboys), Dave Casper (Raiders), Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs & Falcons), (1) John Mackey (Colts, above left).
Cheatsheet.com’s list isn’t quite as old school: (10) Ben Coates (9) Antonio Gates (8) Ozzie Newsome (7) Todd Christiansen (6) Dave Casper (5) Kellen Winslow (4) Shannon Sharpe (3) Tony Gonzalez (2) Mike Ditka (1) John Mackey.
FootballNation.com might have the best list: (10) Pete Retzlaff (9) Ozzie Newsome (8) Jason Witten (7) Jackie Smith (6) Kellen Winslow (5) Antonio Gates (4) Mike Ditka (3) Shannon Sharpe (2) John Mackey (1) Tony Gonzalez. Having watched Tony G play for the Falcons in his later years as well as watching Mackey in person back in the day, I have to rank TG slightly ahead of Mackey, who was a beast in his own right.
Honorable Mentions: Heath Miller (Steelers). Ron Gronkowski (Patriots) could be on the lists except for his injury-riddled career. Take Shannon Sharpe off the list – he was not a prototypical tight end, and only flourished alongside John Elway. At his hall of fame induction Sharpe admitted that Elway taught him what to do and made him into the player he was.
For a kid from a small black college in the 1960’s, Mitchell’s Wiki page is impressive: James Robert "Jim" Mitchell (October 19, 1947 – October 20, 2007) was a professional American football player. A 6'2", 234 lbs. tight end from Prairie View A&M University, Mitchell played 11 seasons from 1969-1979 for the Atlanta Falcons and was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1969 and 1972 seasons. After leaving the NFL, Jim Mitchell coached football at Morehouse College and Morris Brown College. Mitchell has three sons and a daughter: Damian Mitchell, Brandon Hodges, a football player at Bethune-Cookman University who has a major in Pre-med Chemistry, Davin Mitchell, a Duke University trained anesthesiologist and Chanee Lee, a N.C Central graduate with a masters in Business. And two grandchildren, including Justin Mitchell who is a scholar at Lakeside High School in Atlanta.
Know who would’ve made a great tight end? Two of the greatest high school football players the state of Georgia ever produced. Jeff Francoeur and Herschel Walker.
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