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
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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Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob GronkowskiMandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

The 2nd greatest quarterback-tight end duo in NFL history: Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski

Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, where to even start. We could start with why they are two instead of the usually presumed one, but we will get to that later.

Their relationship got started when Gronkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in 2010. By that time, Brady was already a three-time Super Bowl champion and had won a league MVP. With all of that already accomplished, Gronkowski was the prefect piece for Brady to be even more dominant in the second half of his career.

The chemistry was immediate as Gronkowski caught 42 passes for 546 yards and and 10 touchdowns in his rookie year, the same year Brady won another MVP. A year later, Gronkowski improved his stats to a career-high 1,327 receiving yards and a league leading 17 touchdowns. It was clear that Brady and Gronkowski had become a force that would do damage together for a long time.

A decade later, they both have been to numerous Pro bowls, played in six Super Bowls, winning four, and have moved the duo headquarters from New England to Tampa Bay joining the Buccaneers. They have played 132 games together and produced  581 catches, 8,657 yards and 91 touchdowns.

With that level of production and team success, how are they No. 2? The answer is, because they haven’t produced as much as the No. 1 duo. But, Brady and Gronkowski are still playing and looking as good as ever, so they still have a chance to catch the greatest quarterback-tight end duo of all-time.