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

The 5th greatest quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history: Dan Fouts & Kellen Winslow

Dan Fouts is a Hall of Fame quarterback and Kellen Winslow is a Hall of Fame tight end and the truth is, they probably couldn’t have got to Canton without each other.

Fouts was drafted to the San Diego Chargers in 1973 and was playing mediocre football the six seasons before Winslow showed up. When Winslow was drafted by the Chargers in 1979, something clicked for Fouts and the two begin to do something special in San Diego.

Starting in 1979, Fouts would lead the NFL in passing yards for four years straight. Two of those years he also led in passing touchdowns. That led to him going to five straight Pro Bowls.

While doing that, Winslow was one of his favorite targets. In 1980 and 1981, Winslow led the league with receptions while putting together back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. From 1980-1983, Winslow went to four straight Pro bowls.

From 1979-1982, the Chargers were one of the league’s best teams going to four straight postseasons, with back-to-back Conference Championship appearances. While they were unable to get over the hump and make a Super Bowl, the duo is responsible for one of the most memorable playoff moments in NFL history by winning the “Epic in Miami.” A long, hot, back-and-forth playoff game, that is sometimes referred to as “Kellen Winslow Game”, Winslow willed the Chargers to a victory with 13 receptions, 166 yards, a touchdown and a blocked field goal.

Fouts and Winslow played together from Winslow’s rookie year in 1979 until they both retired after the 1987 season. In total, they played 98 games and connected 492 times for 6,156 yards and 44 touchdowns.