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NFL Power Rankings: 30 best TE of all-time

By Jeffery Reynolds

Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85, left) speaks with San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) after the game at Levi
Dec 20, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis (85, left) speaks with San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates (85) after the game at Levi /
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No. 15 Todd Christensen, Dallas Cowboys / New York Giants / Los Angeles Raiders

Todd Christensen’s route to stardom could hardly have been more circuitous. Drafted in the second round in 1978 by the Cowboys, he started as a full back. He broke his foot before the regular season and spent his rookie season on IR. In year two, the Cowboys wanted to convert him to tight end, but Christensen refused – so he was waived. The Giants picked him up and then cut him two weeks later.

He languished until being picked up the following season by the Oakland Raiders, who also struggled to find a use for him. He finally agreed to the switch to tight end, and the rest is history.

Christensen embodied the full potential of the passing game as focused on the tight end. He became only the second tight end in history to lead the league in receptions with 92 in 1983 (Kellen Winslow was the first), along with over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Despite only having five and a half full seasons as a starting tight end (including the 1982 strike season), Christensen still ranks #10 in career receiving yards at the position. He led the league in receptions twice and set an NFL record with 392 receptions in a 4 year span.

Next: The No. 14 Tight End in NFL History

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