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

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

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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Drew Bledsoe and Ben Coates of the New England Patriots

Drew Bledsoe #11 and Ben Coates #87 of the New England Patriots /

The 12th greatest quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history: Drew Bledsoe & Ben Coates

A great New England Patriots quarterback-tight end duo and it’s not the one you’re thinking of. Often times, Drew Bledsoe’s career is reduced to the quarterback who got hurt and opened the door for Tom Brady, but it was so much more. Bledsoe had his own good career and his own elite tight end in Ben Coates.

When Bledsoe was drafted as the No. 1 overall pick in 1993, Coates was entering his third season and hadn’t quite figured out how to excel at the NFL game yet. Pairing with Bledsoe, the duo quickly learned how to dominate. By their second season together, 1994, both had developed into stars.

Bledsoe led the league in passing with 4,555 yards while Coates hauled in 96 passes for 1,174 yards and seven touchdowns. More importantly for New England, they took a franchise that had won only two games two seasons ago, to the playoffs. That was the Patriots first playoff appearance in eight years. Two years later in 1996, the duo of Bledsoe and Coates led New England to a Super Bowl appearance.

Bledsoe and Coates were just special together. In 104 games, they connected for 441 catches, 4,962 yards and 46 touchdowns, helping to get the Patriots franchise back on track.

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