How KC Chiefs’ Travis Kelce measures up to Gronk in a star tight ends tale of the tape
Tight ends have become increasingly important to NFL teams. It’s not the extra offensive lineman position that’s so critical these days, but a weapon used to create mismatches and break down defenses.
One of the best of this new era of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski, announced his retirement for a second time in June. He originally retired in 2019 but returned a year later to reunite with his quarterback in New England, Tom Brady. The tandem teamed up in Tampa Bay and won another Super Bowl.
Who knows if this latest retirement will stick. But it’s a good time to measure the accomplished career of ‘Gronk’ with another of the game’s great tight ends: the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce.
Gronkowski, 33, played in 143 NFL games over 11 years. Kelce, 32, has appeared in 127 over nine seasons. As this tale of the tape reveals, their careers to this point have run on parallel tracks (except for Super Bowl appearances).
Regular season
Receptions
Kelce 704, Gronk 621
Yards
Kelce 9,006, Gronk 9,286
Touchdowns
Kelce 57, Gronk 92
Postseason
Receptions
Kelce 106, Gronk 98
Yards
Kelce 1,291, Gronk 1,389
Touchdowns
Kelce 12, Gronk 15
Super Bowl seasons
Kelce 2, Gronk 6
Career bests (season)
Receptions
Kelce 105, Gronk 90
Yards
Kelce 1,416, Gronk 1,327
Touchdowns
Kelce 11, Gronk 17
Honors
All-Pro seasons
Kelce 6, Gronk 4
Pro Bowl seasons
Kelce 7, Gronk 5
Career earnings (through 2021)
Kelce $54.3 million, Gronk $70.6 million