Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Shannon Sharpe weighs in on the GOAT tight end debate

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/13/23

The debate as to which athlete is the greatest of all time in their respective field will always remain a topic of discussion.

Despite being in the conversation for the G.O.A.T tight end title, Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe believes another candidate deserves the honor. Appearing on the latest "New Heights" episode, Sharpe claimed that the podcast's host and Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce is the greatest tight end of all time.

Some may consider Tony Gonzalez, a former Chief, or four-time Super Bowl champion Rob Gronkowski to be the greatest tight end of all time. Sharpe, however, believes Kelce elevates his game to a higher level and is more productive during the playoffs than any other tight end, giving him the edge in the debate.

"The thing that I love most about [Kelce], you look at the regular season numbers and he's better in the postseason than he is in the regular season," Sharpe said. "What we call him is a big game. The bigger the moment, the bigger he plays..."

"When it's all said and done, I don't know how you make an argument that Trav isn't the greatest tight end."

Unc Shannon sharpe speaks on Travis kelce pic.twitter.com/LXXXd2URYb
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) April 12, 2023

Although Sharpe was talking to Kelce, he wasn't praising him because he was on the podcast. Before Kansas City's Super Bowl LVII win, Sharpe told Sports Illustrated that if the Chiefs beat the Eagles, he'd crown Kelce as the greatest player at the position. Given his latest argument in Kelce's favor, it's hard to dispute Sharpe's reasoning.

For his regular season career, Kelce has averaged 5.7 receptions and 71.8 receiving yards per game, each the highest for a tight end with at least 15 career games played. In the playoffs, his averages climb to 7.4 receptions and 86 receiving yards per game.

Tight ends aside, in playoff history, the eight-time Pro Bowler is second to Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice in catches, receiving yards and touchdown receptions. In 18 career postseason games, Kelce has recorded 133 receptions for 1,548 yards and 16 touchdowns.

According to Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor, which weighs statistics and accolades, with a score of 100 being the Hall of Fame benchmark, Kelce already boasts a 107.21. That ranks sixth all-time for a tight end, and if Kelce and the Chiefs continue their winning ways, Sharpe's claim will carry even more validity.

More must-reads: