NFL History: 25 greatest quarterback-tight end duos of all time

A tight end is a quarterbacks best friend. They’re a dependable, big target, with strong hands, and double as a safety blanket. When a quarterback gets in trouble, he looks to his tight end to bail him out. Whether it’s a pivotal third-down, or a quick pass into the blitz, quarterbacks are looking to throw the ball up to their tight ends.

Throughout the history of the NFL, we have seen many of these reliable relationships dominate defenses. Some of the games’ greatest quarterbacks have linked with the greatest tight ends ever to create a special connection.

To acknowledge the rich history of quarterback-tight end duos, we have decided to rank the 25 greatest. From the start of the NFL to the games currently taking place, we have looked at the production of a number of tandems and ordered them from great to greatest.

As the tight end position has evolved, modern tight ends have become more prolific in their abilities as pass catchers. However, that does not mean that the trailblazers of the past have been left off the list. The duos represented, span across multiple decades, and the accomplishments and production of their eras have been accounted for in their ranking.

This list isn’t representative of where the individual players rank all time, but just the duos as a unit. With all of that in mind, let’s jump into the list of the 25 greatest quarterback-tight end duos of all time.