Rob Gronkowski had a tremendous NFL career alongside Tom Brady, and now Travis Kelce is carving out a similar legacy with Patrick Mahomes.
Both tight ends have redefined the position, but when it comes to the title of greatest of all time, Gronk still sees a gap.
In his recent appearance on the Hot Ones, Gronk laid out three clear milestones Kelce needs to hit to surpass him as the GOAT TE. And spoiler alert: one of them includes winning another Super Bowl.
It’s the kind of challenge only a future Hall of Famer can throw down, and only a legend-in-the-making like Kelce can chase.
Rob Gronkowski Crowned Himself Best TE Ever
Rob Gronkowski’s résumé reads like myth-making. Four Super Bowl wins (three with New England, one with Tampa Bay), 621 receptions, 9,286 yards, and 93 touchdowns over 11 seasons.
He led the league in receiving TDs in 2011 (17), set tight‑end single‑season TD and total-TD records, earned five Pro Bowls, four First‑team All‑Pros, and made both the NFL 2010s All‑Decade and NFL 100th‑Anniversary Teams. He also holds the postseason record for tight‑end receiving yards (over 1,000) and topped all TEs in Super Bowl touchdowns (5).
Now, Patriots icon Rob Gronkowski isn’t shy: “I’m the greatest.” Those three words aren’t humble. He’s cementing a legacy he believes Travis Kelce hasn’t matched yet.
He laid down the gauntlet, asserting his peak legacy, championships, and record‑setting dominance place him atop NFL TE history. For Gronk, greatness isn’t an opinion, but a fact.
Three Milestones Travis Kelce Must Hit
So what does Travis Kelce need to do to truly pass Gronk as the greatest tight end of all time? Gronk didn’t hold back, he gave Kelce a three-step checklist, and it’s as Gronk-style as it gets.
First up, physical dominance: “You got to throw some [_] defenders out the club,” Gronk said, referring to his trademark way of bullying defenders after the catch. Second, it’s all about the silverware: “You need another Super Bowl ring.” Kelce has three, but Gronk finished with four; numbers matter.
And third? The wild card that only Gronk could come up with: “You got to party your face into the dirt with your fans.”
But Travis Kelce has already racked up some serious accomplishments in his 12-year NFL career.
He became the fastest player to hit 12,000 receiving yards, holds the record for the most 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end, and has made 10 straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2015 to 2024. He’s also a 7-time All-Pro and owns the record for the most consecutive 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end.
Kelce has 38 games with over 100 receiving yards, 15 postseason receiving touchdowns, and a record 20 postseason TDs by a tight end. Add 172 postseason receptions to that, and it’s clear he’s built for big moments. He also set the record for most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end, 1,416 in 2020.
Kelce won three Super Bowls in five appearances, with the most Super Bowl receptions (35), surpassing Jerry Rice.
So, has Kelce done enough to take the crown? The numbers are there. The rings are stacking up. And he just broke Jerry Rice’s Super Bowl receptions record. But if we’re talking greatest of all time, Gronk made it clear that it takes more than stats.
It’s legacy. It’s physical dominance. It’s wild energy. If Kelce wants that GOAT title, he’s got to bring the full Gronk package.
Until then, the throne still belongs to Gronk, or does it?
Also Read: Rob Gronkowski Hints He’s Planning a Baby With SI Swimsuit Model Girlfriend Camille Kostek
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