Only eight tight ends in NFL history have gone over 1,000 yards in a season at least three times, and two of those guys could be looking for new teams. Jason Witten concedes he might not be back in Dallas, and Greg Olsen says he’s done with Carolina.
Olsen posted on social media today that he spoke with management, with both sides agreeing he won’t be back with the team. Ian Thomas has had some success filling in in recent years; he could be their starter (but they also could obtain another tight end during the offseason).
Both are overloaded with veteran smarts – they’ve been around forever, but they’re also older guys. Olsen turns 35 in March; Witten turns 38 in May. Neither one is a good candidate to go over 800 yards again in their career. Olsen in particular has been plagued by injuries in recent years.
Both have tried their hand at broadcasting – Olsen some during bye weeks, while Witten was on ESPN’s Monday Night Football crew in 2018.
If they’re done, both would be in the conversation to be among the 10 best to ever play their position. There have been 47 seasons with 1,000 yards by tight ends in NFL history, and these guys have had seven of them.
1,000-YARD TIGHT ENDS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Player | No | Yards | Avg | TD |
2018 | George Kittle, S.F. | 88 | 1,377 | 15.6 | 5 |
2018 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 103 | 1,336 | 13.0 | 10 |
2011 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 90 | 1,327 | 14.7 | 17 |
2011 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 99 | 1,310 | 13.2 | 11 |
1980 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 89 | 1,290 | 14.5 | 9 |
2004 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 102 | 1,258 | 12.3 | 7 |
1983 | Todd Christensen, Rai. | 92 | 1,247 | 13.6 | 12 |
2019 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 97 | 1,229 | 12.7 | 5 |
2013 | Jimmy Graham, N.O. | 86 | 1,215 | 14.1 | 16 |
1967 | Jackie Smith, St.L. | 56 | 1,205 | 21.5 | 9 |
2000 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 93 | 1,203 | 12.9 | 9 |
2015 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 72 | 1,176 | 16.3 | 11 |
1994 | Ben Coates, N.E. | 96 | 1,174 | 12.2 | 7 |
1983 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 88 | 1,172 | 13.3 | 8 |
2007 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 99 | 1,172 | 11.8 | 5 |
2018 | Zach Ertz, Phil. | 116 | 1,163 | 10.0 | 8 |
2009 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 79 | 1,157 | 14.6 | 8 |
1986 | Todd Christensen, Rai. | 95 | 1,153 | 12.1 | 8 |
2019 | Darren Waller, Oak. | 90 | 1,145 | 12.7 | 3 |
2007 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 96 | 1,145 | 11.9 | 7 |
2016 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 85 | 1,125 | 13.2 | 4 |
2014 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 82 | 1,124 | 13.7 | 12 |
1997 | Shannon Sharpe, Den. | 72 | 1,107 | 15.4 | 3 |
2009 | Dallas Clark, Ind. | 100 | 1,106 | 11.1 | 10 |
2007 | Kellen Winslow, Cle. | 82 | 1,106 | 13.5 | 5 |
2015 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 77 | 1,104 | 14.3 | 7 |
2005 | Antonio Gates, S.D. | 89 | 1,101 | 12.4 | 10 |
2015 | Delanie Walker, Ten. | 94 | 1,088 | 11.6 | 6 |
2017 | Rob Gronkowski, N.E. | 69 | 1,084 | 15.7 | 8 |
1961 | Mike Ditka, Chi. | 56 | 1,076 | 19.2 | 12 |
1981 | Kellen Winslow, S.D. | 88 | 1,075 | 12.2 | 10 |
2016 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 80 | 1,073 | 13.4 | 3 |
1996 | Shannon Sharpe, Den. | 80 | 1,062 | 13.3 | 10 |
2008 | Tony Gonzalez, K.C. | 96 | 1,058 | 11.0 | 10 |
2019 | George Kittle, S.F. | 85 | 1,053 | 12.4 | 5 |
2015 | Gary Barnidge, Cle. | 79 | 1,043 | 13.2 | 9 |
2012 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 110 | 1,039 | 9.4 | 3 |
2017 | Travis Kelce, K.C. | 83 | 1,038 | 12.5 | 8 |
2009 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 94 | 1,030 | 11.0 | 2 |
1994 | Shannon Sharpe, Den. | 87 | 1,010 | 11.6 | 4 |
2014 | Greg Olsen, Car. | 84 | 1,008 | 12.0 | 6 |
1984 | Todd Christensen, Rai. | 80 | 1,007 | 12.6 | 7 |
1981 | Joe Senser, Min. | 79 | 1,004 | 12.7 | 8 |
2010 | • Jason Witten, Dall. | 94 | 1,002 | 10.7 | 9 |
1981 | Ozzie Newsome, Cle. | 69 | 1,002 | 14.5 | 6 |
1986 | Mark Bavaro, NYG | 66 | 1,001 | 15.2 | 4 |
1984 | Ozzie Newsome, Cle. | 89 | 1,001 | 11.2 | 5 |
—Ian Allan