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Is Travis Kelce the greatest tight end in NFL history? If not, it's only a matter of time | Opinion
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- Is Travis Kelce the greatest tight end in NFL history? If not, it's only a matter of time | Opinion
GLENDALE, Ariz. – It hasn't even been four years since I opined that Rob Gronkowski was the greatest tight end in NFL history following his (first) retirement.
He had it all: The regular-season stats, the playoff numbers, multiple rings, amazing postseason performances – including the key catch that set up Super Bowl 53's only touchdown in the New England Patriots' 13-3 win over the Los Angeles Rams . (And then he came back and added to the résumé after coming back to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.)
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But now here we are in 2023, and you can make a very similar argument for Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce – with at least one fundamental difference. Kelce hasn't retired yet and said Sunday night following K.C.'s 38-35 win in Super Bowl 57 that he doesn't plan on walking away any time soon.
But he heard the "GOAT" talk as it pertained to his position and tried to slough it off.
"I consider myself a very valuable weapon for the Kansas City Chiefs," he said. "And I put a lot of pride and a lot of honor making those plays for this organization and my teammates."
And boy has he done that.
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Travis Kelce scored a touchdown in the Chiefs' Super Bowl 57 victory over the Eagles.
No other tight end can come close to matching his seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, including a positional record 1,416 yards in 2020. He's surpassed 100 catches three times. Only Hall of Famer Jerry Rice has more receptions, receiving yards and touchdown grabs in the postseason than Kelce, who caught his 16th playoff touchdown Sunday night against the Philadelphia Eagles .
Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe recently told "The Sporting News" that, "Gronk was the GOAT tight end, but about four years ago, but I didn't see Travis coming on like he did. ... You look up the numbers he puts up every single year, so it's hard to say, if he wins this Super Bowl, that Travis is not the GOAT tight end, considering he has two to three more years in this wheelhouse. He's playing with a great quarterback and great play-caller that puts him in position to make plays every game."
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Kelce again demurred.
"I've still got a lot of catching up to do," he said. "I've got so much respect for (Sharpe), Tony Gonzalez, a guy like Rob Gronkowski , Antonio Gates, Jason Witten. There's so many tight ends that I have such a great appreciation for. When it comes to the best, I'll say I definitely have one of the best situations out of any tight end in the National Football League, being able to be here with that quarterback and this offense."
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No one will ever confuse Kelce with the type of blocker Gronkowski or Mike Ditka was. But he's also a product of the modern game, where that isn't one of his primary responsibilities. And his ability to run slippery routes, line up anywhere and constantly come wide open against defenses desperate to stop him – especially at a time when they no longer have to worry about departed wideout Tyreek Hill – distinguish Kelce.
And with another three, four or five years with Mahomes? Kelce could make a run at owning all of the significant receiving records for his position.
"Travis is right now the best ever. He shows it week after week," Kansas City left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports.
"What he does with ball in his hands, with the ball out of his hands, the way that he understands coverages and attacks zones, I mean you couldn't ask for a guy to show up more often."
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And if he keeps showing up, there's going to be no debating Kelce's place in the tight end pantheon for very much longer.
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Follow USA TODAY Sports' Nate Davis on Twitter @ByNateDavis .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Is Travis Kelce the GOAT? Super Bowl 57 helps Chiefs tight end's case
