Fittingly, Zach Ertz made NFL history a day after “National Tight Ends Day” was celebrated throughout the league.
During the first quarter of Monday night’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, the Washington Commanders veteran became only the sixth tight end in NFL history with at least 800 career receptions. Ertz has joined pretty elite company that includes Hall of Famers Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, Shannon Sharpe, former Cowboys legend Jason Witten (who is eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame for the first time this year) and current Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Most Career Receptions for a Tight End
| Player | Catches | Games Played |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Tony Gonzalez** | 1,325 | 270 |
| 2. Jason Witten** | 1,228 | 271 |
| 3. Travis Kelce | 1,035 | 182 |
| 4. Antonio Gates** | 955 | 236 |
| 5. Shannon Sharpe** | 808 | 188 |
| 6. Zach Ertz | 800 | 176 |
| 7. Greg Olsen | 742 | 199 |
| 8. Jimmy Graham | 719 | 197 |
| 9. Ozzie Newsome** | 662 | 198 |
| 10. Rob Gronkowski | 621 | 143 |
** – Pro Football Hall of Fame member
A three-time Pro Bowler, Ertz will undoubtedly be considered for Hall of Fame enshrinement whenever he is eligible for induction. In addition to reaching 800 career receptions, the 34-year-old Ertz is also ninth in NFL history among tight ends with over 8,300 receiving yards. He is three touchdowns away from becoming only the ninth tight end in history with 60 career touchdown catches.
