The argument over the best tight ends of all time never truly fades. In each era of NFL football, a new phenom emerges who completely changes the game at the position and makes comparing generations all but impossible.
Among the many active players who feel well-positioned to offer an opinion on the matter is San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle, one of the best tight ends currently in the NFL. Kittle was recently pressed to reveal his personal Mount Rushmore of tight ends on the New Heights podcast with Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce. Kittle provided an answer that will certainly have football fans talking.
George Kittle’s favorite tight ends may surprise you
“Two of my favorite tight ends. I got Travis (Kelce) and I got Gronk (Rob Gronkowski). And then I’m going to go Tony G (Gonzalez) because I thought he was just so sick and slippery and awesome. And then for my personal fourth, I’m going to go Dallas Clark.”
Three of these four names are what most people would expect in Kelce, Rob Gronkowski and Tony Gonzalez. Those names are hard to debate as a combination of them would likely end up on most people’s own Mount Rushmore of tight ends list. The one that stands out is former Indianapolis Colts tight end Dallas Clark. While Clark had an incredible career, he hardly posted the numbers players like Antonio Gates or Shannon Sharpe did in their respective careers, who regularly show up on Mount Rushmore lists of tight ends. When asked to expand upon Clark, Kittle had the following to say.
“Dallas Clark because he’s my Iowa guy. I remember he had a playoff stat where him and Peyton Manning had like 54 first downs in a row together or something crazy like that. And I was like that’s … that makes you a great football player, man. You’re reliable when your team needs to be reliable. And I’m also just … I’m a homer for Iowa tight ends. Sorry.”
Dallas Clark’s numbers do not support Mount Rushmore status for most
Kittle admitted his choice of Dallas Clark was influenced by his Iowa roots, but Gates and Sharpe have stronger statistical cases.
Gates retired with 955 receptions, 11,841 receiving yards, and an NFL-record 116 touchdown catches by a tight end, while earning eight Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro selections. Sharpe added 815 receptions, 10,060 yards, 62 touchdowns, eight Pro Bowls, four First-Team All-Pro honors, and three Super Bowl rings. Clark, meanwhile, finished with 505 receptions, 5,665 yards, and 53 touchdowns, along with one Pro Bowl and one First-Team All-Pro selection.
While Clark was one of the NFL’s most dependable tight ends during his era, his overall résumé simply does not match what Gates and Sharpe accomplished over their careers.
It is important to keep in mind that Mount Rushmore lists are designed to be individual, not factual evidence of greatness. Kittle never purported to be selecting his all-time Mount Rushmore solely on stats, awards, or resume. His selections are the players that meant the most to him in his life and throughout his career as a fan of the position. This opinion may not work for Gates or Sharpe fans who would have opted for them as No. 4, but this is what makes these types of discussions fun, as they are meant to be entirely subjective.