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

By Jaleel Grandberry

Sep 9, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrate after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 9, 2021; Tampa, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) and tight end Rob Gronkowski (87) celebrate after a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baltimore Colts
Baltimore Colts wide receiver Willie Richardson (87), tight end John Mackey (88), wide receiver Raymond Berry (82), and quarterback Johnny Unitas (wearing jacket)(Photo by Vic Stein/Getty Images) /

The 17th greatest quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history: Johnny Unitas & John Mackey

Another duo of two current Pro Football Hall of Famers, Johnny Unitas and John Mackey dominated the 1960s for the Baltimore Colts.

Unitas had already won two NFL championships and established himself as one of the best quarterbacks ever when Mackey was drafted by Baltimore in 1963. In the middle of an 11-year run of making either a Pro bowl or the All-Pro team, Unitas welcomed Mackey and quickly showed him the ropes to success.

In Mackey’s rookie season, he was selected to the Pro bowl after catching 35 passes for 726 yards and seven touchdowns. He would go on to play in four more Pro bowls and made three All-Pro teams during his time with Unitas.

The Colts were on of the leagues best teams year in and year out. The duo of Unitas and Mackey led Baltimore to an NFL Championship in 1968 as well as a victory in Super Bowl V for the 1970 season. In total, they played nine years together and connected 280 times for 4,554 yards and 35 touchdowns in 111 games.

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