Gronkowski vs. Kelce: Who is the Greatest Tight End in NFL History?

This is probably one of those arguments that's never going to be set in stone: the greatest tight end in NFL history. Then again, perhaps it could be two of them: Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce. Each guy has changed the position in a lot of different directions. But in all the comparisons that get written about these two, significant time and ink are spent to compare those two guys, with both very different from each other-playing within and for different teams and circumstances, respectively. Gronkowski was an on-field enforcer with the personality to boot, while Kelce has been one of the most consistent, productive receiving tight ends in league annals. It's not a question of who outplayed whom but an appreciation of how both players, each as different as night from day, changed the game in his own particular way.

He's become so much more than a tight end; an indestructible force of nature was impossible at 6'6" and 265 pounds. Gronk just was that-forced all different kinds of improbable combinations where his size with speed and strength became just about impossible to handle. What really is unique to Gronkowski is that he could fit every package. He isn't just a pass catcher; he's a punishing blocker who can wipe out elite edge rushers and create running lanes for teammates. Dominant in the running and passing games, he is a hell of a weapon for one's teammates. As another described him aptly: "Gronk was like having JJ Watt on offense." With Gronkowski on the field, the game called upon defenders being conscious of his whereabouts every single play-until he stopped running through or catching passes, whatever it might have been.

As physical as Gronkowski was, he had an infectiously inviting personality; every time he spikes the ball onto the ground or goes into some crazy dance, the fans are in his pocket the whole time. But inside this fun-loving exterior was a fierce competitor who played with an intensity few could match. There are legends of him dragging multiple defenders down the field while laughing. Those were much more than fun moments-they were testimonies of his will and determination in their most subtle forms. As one fan remembered, "Watching him drag three defenders downfield while laughing the entire time was peak Gronk." What may have been spectacular with Gronk was, as a fact, business as usual with him.

Against that backdrop, greatness for Travis Kelce was built on one thing: consistency and production. While not the freak that is Rob Gronkowski-second to none in route running, hands, and football IQ-Kelce has often been the security blanket-offensive centerpiece of the Kansas City Chiefs a fair amount when Patrick Mahomes is looking to release from pressure in vital situations. That ability, particularly to find open space when plays break down, has been a key ingredient to the Chiefs' success. As one commenter astutely observed, "When plays break down, the Chiefs just make stuff up, and Kelce always seems to find a way to get open." His rapport with Mahomes has been one of the biggest reasons for Kansas City's juggernaut offense.

But the largest disparity between the two, however, has come in terms of the differing ways each man has been used by his offense. Gronkowski is much more of the traditional in-line tight end, asked to block as much or perhaps even more than pass catchers, guys who line up almost exclusively in the slot positions or outside. He's a Kelce out wide type who's asked to block because he has blocked well when tasked. A result has been that some have labeled Kelce as nothing more than a "glorified wide receiver" rather than a traditional tight end. That's fair to a certain degree, maybe, but it doesn't take away from the kind of game he does impact. Much like Gronkowski at his best, Kelce can stretch a field and create mismatches that forces a defense to adjust. In all reality, the real debate as to who is considered better at tight end really boils down to a matter of personal preference: Do you like Gronkowski's all-around dominance and physicality or Kelce's consistency and production as a receiver? Both can pretty much claim valid rights to being considered the greatest ever, with both really attaining that status in different ways. Gronkowski was that rare, game-changing talent-the block/receiving threat-to have graced the field, while Kelce reinvented what exactly one thinks about being a tight-end receiver by putting up statistics comparable with several of the very best wide receivers in NFL annals.

Another aspect in which both did well is the contextual scope in which each succeeded. Gronkowski was a product of-and an integral cog within-an offense that was wired to precision and timing. Which in turn meant Tom Brady was a guy who got the ball out quick and on target, which helped Gronk go into a system where efficiency outweighed improvisation. Add that to the fact that he has Patrick Mahomes at quarterback, extending plays with the capability of making something out of nothing-really reaching his ceiling in more free-flowing schemes. As one commenter astutely put it, "The Patriots never had to improvise because Brady got the ball out before the play broke down. Where the Patriots have tried to minimize chaos, the Chiefs seem to embrace it." The dissimilar offensive ideologies have helped define the perception of and how each has been utilized.

Injuries also play into the large debate on Gronkowski versus Kelce. That kind of punishing style of play caught up with Gronk with multiple surgeries and shortened seasons, but even amidst those injuries, he compiled a Hall of Fame career and filled key roles during three Super Bowl championships. Kelce has been incredibly durable, playing every game over the past eight years. That longevity and consistency have helped him rack up some great statistics, but it also begs questions as to how his career might have looked had Rob Gronkowski not been hurt for a large stretch of his career.

 Wholesomely, the whole reason why discussion about Gronk versus Kelce exists is not really to declare any winner but more so to appreciate two players who etched their legacy into the game. Gronkowski combined the most physically imposing combination of size, strength, and charisma to become one of the most exciting and dominating individuals who have ever taken the position in NFL history. In the case of Kelce, route running, hands, and consistency combined to make him one of the most consistently productive tight ends to this point. But both of them have been in a position to change it their way and rightly due for celebration concerning the contribution they made towards the sport. We, as fans, are just lucky to see both Rob Gronkowski and Travis Kelce throughout their careers.

They had so many moments-endless to remember-telling us what a tight end would look like in today's NFL. Man, we should just be grateful instead of looking at either against the other, showing great qualities each brought to the game. Whether it was the physical dominance of Gronk or the receiving ability of Kelce, little can deny both these players feature in the top ranks of best to ever don the position, which all said and done is what really matters.