The Top 10 Most Single-Season Receptions For a Tight End in NFL History

By Jason Bolton July 24, 2024 09:41

Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The tight end position in the NFL has changed quite a bit over time, from being used mostly as blockers to now one of the more significant weapons in a team's passing game. In a pass-happy league, this has helped create the era of some of the most productive weapons on offense in terms of receiving from tight ends. Keeping tabs on the tight end single-season receptions records allows us to gauge how this particular spot in an offense has shifted over time and which players have come along with it.

Examining where the top 10 single-season reception totals for tight ends reside not only acknowledges that individual's achievements but provides a nice prism through which to review movements at large and how the position has developed. It's a great portrait of the NFL and how today's tight end came to be.

Top 10 Single-Season Reception Records for Tight Ends

1. Tony Gonzalez - 102 receptions (2004)

As we know, Tony Gonzalez set the single-season reception record for a tight end at 102 catches in 2004 with the Kansas City Chiefs. Something to note was that this set the record for a tight end in a season with over 100 receptions. It established a new baseline for what we can expect at that spot and truly helped usher in the tight-end revolution.

2. Todd Christensen - 92 receptions (1983)

Todd Christensen of the Los Angeles Raiders set a single-season record for tight ends in 1983 with his amazing year as he caught an NFL-high 92 passes. This was the first time a tight end has made a share of 90 catches in one season. His record-setting campaign reinvented the tight-end position and heralded a wave of pass-catching from the spot.

3. Kellen Winslow - 89 receptions (1980)

In 1980, Kellen Winslow broke the record for receptions in a single season by tight end. Winslow's final tally paced all players in receptions, regardless of position. He also gained 1,290 receiving yards and scored nine touchdowns on receptions.

Winslow's 1980 season was generational for the tight end position. He showed how tight ends could take control as pass catchers, upping the ante for what they should be doing compared to everyone else. Winslow was a matchup nightmare to defenses because of his size and athleticism, coupled with the skill normally expected from top receivers.

4. Ben Coates - 96 receptions (1994)

The record for the most single-season receptions by a tight end was established in 1994 when Ben Coates of New England caught 96 passes. He also caught 1,174 yards and seven touchdowns for arguably his best year as a reliable pass-catcher.

In his 1994 season, he proved how Coates could act as a reliable and multi-functional tight end. He was a key figure in the Patriots' passing attack, serving as both quarterback Drew Bledsoe's safety valve and playmaker. Coates' historic season underscored the increasing significance of tight end in today's ever-changing offensive setting among NFL programs.

5. Jason Witten - 96 receptions (2007)

Dallas Cowboys Jason Witten tied Ben Coates for most receptions in a single season by a tight end in 96, 2007. Another feather in Witten's all-around pass-catching cap was 1,145 receiving yards and the seven touchdowns he caught during his banner day.

6. Rob Gronkowski - 90 receptions (2011)

Rob Gronkowski didn't break the receptions mark, but that 90 grabs was still a testament to how good of a pass-catching weapon Gronkowski is at tight end. He also set a single-season record for the position with 17 receiving touchdowns that year.

His 2011 campaign is one of the best seasons a tight end has ever had when you combine size, athleticism, and skill. He was a matchup nightmare for defenders with his ability to make plays down the field and in the red zone. Gronk's historic day would solidify him as one of the all-time great tight ends in NFL history and pave the way for a new era in his position.

7. Shannon Sharpe - 80 receptions (1996)

The record for most receptions in a season by a tight end was 80 catches, set by Shannon Sharpe of the Denver Broncos until Gonzalez tied him. In addition to his work as a return specialist, Sharpe contributed 1,062 receiving yards and ten touchdowns throughout two seasons, displaying an ability to be productive downfield.

Sharpe's 1996 campaign was significant because it showed that a tight end could be the centerpiece of an aerial attack. He was consistent at getting open and making plays down the field in the passing game, which is why he was so integral to this mile-high offense.

8. Antonio Gates - 89 receptions (2005)

Antonio Gates recorded 89 receptions in 2005, the third-highest total for a single season by any TE until then. Gates had 1,101 reception yards and scored ten touchdowns in the year, which gave him another section of his distinction as one of the league's best receiving tight ends.

2005 was a testament to Gates' exceptional TE skills and versatility. He was starting to become a big weapon in the passing game, threatening defenses deep and especially near the goal line. Gates' ability to get open and make plays for the Chargers offense was a key part of their success in 2004.

9. Timmy Graham - 86 receptions (2013)

Jimmy Graham had one of his monster all-time great receiving years in New Orleans when he caught 86 passes and scored an NFL tight end record 16 touchdowns in 2013. Graham also posted 1,215 receiving yards that season and displayed the type of production typically reserved for wide receivers.

Graham's 2013 season represented a perfect example of his abilities and how much he changed the tight end position. With his combination of size, athleticism, and receiving skills, he was a mismatch nightmare for defenses.

10. Darren Waller - 107 receptions (2020)

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Darren Waller broke through to establish a new high-water mark for catches by a tight end in one year with 107 and tied the single-game record. The ways Waller impacted the game were varied and showed why he is PFF's highest-graded tight end this season, along with his 1,196 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.

The NFL's single-season reception records for tight ends reveal just how much the position has changed over time. These records also exemplify the tight end's expanded role in the passing game, from an era where Hall of Famers like Mike Ditka and John Mackey stood out to unstoppable pass catchers such as Tony Gonzalez, Rob Gronkowski, and Darren Waller.