Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is considered by many to be the best tight end in the league and some think he’s the best to ever play the position. Kelce said this week that he believes San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL.
Kittle and Kelce were both named to the Pro Bowl this season but were replaced because their teams reached the Super Bowl.
George Kittle Praised by Travis Kelce
After Kelce said Kittle is the best tight end in the NFL, he added, “He’s been playing lights out, playing the best football of his career, and really catapulting that San Fran team through the playoffs, man.”
Kelce’s respect includes how the 49ers’ tight end is as a person off the field. Kelce said, “Can’t say enough things about who he is as a guy, who his family is, can’t say a bad thing about him.”
Kelce and Kittle have made the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams almost every season in their careers. Kelce has been in the league four years longer than Kittle but Kelce was limited to one game as a rookie because of a knee injury.
In Super Bowl LIV, Kelce had six catches for 43 yards and a touchdown, while Kittle had four receptions for 36 yards in the Chiefs win over the 49ers. Kelce added this week, “And I couldn’t be more proud of him and couldn’t be more honored to go up against George in another Super Bowl.”
Kelce and Kittle Set Records
In his last game of 2018, Kelce set a record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a season with 1,377 yards.
The 49ers played later that day, and Kittle broke Kelce’s short-lived record with 149 receiving yards in his last game. Kittle set the season record with 1,336 receiving yards.
Kelce took the tight end record back with 1,416 receiving yards in 2020, even without playing in the last game of the season. Kittle told the Sacramento Bee after Kelce broke the record, “I’m happy that he broke my record because it gives me something else to go after again next year.”
Kittle added, “That’s what I’m looking forward to. I think he’s going to continue to break records; he’s going to continue to set the bar. It gives all of us other tight ends something else to chase.”
Kittle’s career statistics are on the same track as Kelce’s. Kittle just completed his age-30 regular season with 460 receptions, 6,274 yards, and 37 touchdowns in seven seasons.
Kelce had 507 catches for 6,465 yards and 37 touchdowns through his age-30 season.
MORE: Brock Purdy Defended by Steve Spagnuolo Ahead of Super Bowl 58
In his career, Kelce, 34, has had 907 receptions, 11,328 yards and 74 touchdowns. He has been named to nine Pro Bowls and received first- or second-team All-Pro honors seven times. Kittle, 30, has made five Pro Bowls and has been named first- or second-team All-Pro four times.
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!
Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast
Listen to the PFN Fantasy Podcast! Click the embedded player below to listen, or you can find the PFN Fantasy Podcast on iTunes, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms. Be sure to subscribe and leave us a five-star review! Rather watch instead? Check out the PFN Fantasy Podcast on our Fantasy YouTube channel.
