How KC Chiefs’ Travis Kelce measures up to Gronk in a star tight ends tale of the tape

Tight ends have become increasingly important to NFL teams. It’s not the extra offensive lineman position that’s so critical these days, but a weapon used to create mismatches and break down defenses.

One of the best of this new era of tight ends, Rob Gronkowski, announced his retirement for a second time in June. He originally retired in 2019 but returned a year later to reunite with his quarterback in New England, Tom Brady. The tandem teamed up in Tampa Bay and won another Super Bowl.

Who knows if this latest retirement will stick. But it’s a good time to measure the accomplished career of ‘Gronk’ with another of the game’s great tight ends: the Chiefs’ Travis Kelce.

Gronkowski, 33, played in 143 NFL games over 11 years. Kelce, 32, has appeared in 127 over nine seasons. As this tale of the tape reveals, their careers to this point have run on parallel tracks (except for Super Bowl appearances).

Regular season

Receptions

Kelce 704, Gronk 621

Yards

Kelce 9,006, Gronk 9,286

Touchdowns

Kelce 57, Gronk 92

Postseason

Receptions

Kelce 106, Gronk 98

Yards

Kelce 1,291, Gronk 1,389

Touchdowns

Kelce 12, Gronk 15

Super Bowl seasons

Kelce 2, Gronk 6

Career bests (season)

Receptions

Kelce 105, Gronk 90

Yards

Kelce 1,416, Gronk 1,327

Touchdowns

Kelce 11, Gronk 17

Honors

All-Pro seasons

Kelce 6, Gronk 4

Pro Bowl seasons

Kelce 7, Gronk 5

Career earnings (through 2021)

Kelce $54.3 million, Gronk $70.6 million