National Tight Ends Day is all about celebrating the position’s best players, and in 2024, they absolutely delivered. NFL tight ends recorded a historic 177 catches and 16 touchdowns on the day, marking the most receptions ever for tight ends in a single day.
Since 49ers’ George Kittle established the unofficial holiday in 2018, it’s become a favorite for fans and players alike. This year, they marked the occasion with some memorable performances — especially in Week 8’s Sunday matchups.
Let’s dive into the tight ends who found the end zone this year!
Tight Ends with Two Touchdowns
Several tight ends stole the show with not just one, but two touchdowns each in Week 8, putting their names on the scoresheet twice in celebration of their position.
- Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons: Pitts had a stellar day, racking up two touchdowns, four catches, and 91 yards. The highlight? His second TD was a close call, with Bucs’ Antoine Winfield Jr. attempting to knock the ball out right at the goal line. After a review, it was ruled that Pitts had indeed crossed the line in time, giving him the score.
- Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Otton answered right back for the Bucs in the same game, catching two touchdowns with nine receptions for 81 yards. Though his efforts weren’t enough to get the Bucs a win, Otton’s performance added serious excitement to the high-scoring affair.
TEs Scoring One Touchdown Each
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A host of other tight ends also shined in the red zone on Tight Ends Day, each putting one in the end zone for their respective teams.
- David Njoku, Cleveland Browns: Njoku tallied five receptions for 61 yards, helping the Browns’ offense stay competitive in their matchup.
- Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills: Kincaid added four catches for 31 yards, showing promise as a scoring threat for Buffalo.
- Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: Kelce, one of the league’s best-known tight ends, turned in his best game of the season with 10 catches for 90 yards in the Chiefs’ 27–20 victory over the Raiders. Kelce’s touchdown also boosted him into fifth place on the NFL’s all-time TD list for tight ends — a fitting achievement on Tight Ends Day!
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Teams with Multiple TEs Scoring Touchdowns
Some teams got creative and utilized more than one tight end in their scoring strategies. Both the Lions and Broncos had two different tight ends reach the end zone.
Detroit Lions
In a dominating 52–14 win over the Titans, the Lions showcased a two-tight-end approach.
- Sam LaPorta: With six receptions for 48 yards, LaPorta also scored on a unique trick play, catching a pass from running back David Montgomery.
- Brock Wright: Wright joined the fun with a single catch for eight yards, turning his lone reception into a touchdown.
Denver Broncos
In their 28–14 victory over the Panthers, Denver’s offense got major contributions from their tight ends.
- Nate Adkins: Adkins snagged a short pass for a three-yard touchdown, putting points on the board early.
- Adam Trautman: Trautman took it a step further with three catches for 73 yards, including a touchdown.
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Standout Plays and Game-Changing Catches
Some tight ends made especially big plays on their way to the end zone, including key moments in tight games.
- Tyler Conklin, New York Jets: Conklin’s 42-yard performance included a touchdown, helping the Jets maintain momentum in their clash.
- Mark Andrews, Baltimore Ravens: Andrews, a reliable red-zone target, contributed five catches for 36 yards and a touchdown, boosting the Ravens’ efforts.
Green Bay Packers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars Showdown
The Packers edged out a 30–27 victory over the Jaguars in a thrilling game that saw both teams’ tight ends score.
- Tucker Kraft, Packers: Kraft recorded 78 yards on three receptions, including a critical touchdown catch.
- Evan Engram, Jaguars: Engram’s clutch touchdown, where he managed to grab the ball among three defenders, tied the game at 27–27 with under two minutes remaining.
George Kittle’s Standout Performance
The man who started it all, George Kittle, didn’t disappoint in his own Tight Ends Day outing. He caught six passes for a whopping 128 yards, including a game-changing touchdown that put the 49ers up by 10 points in their matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. Kittle’s performance was instrumental in San Francisco’s 30-24 win.
NFL Tight Ends with Impressive Stats, Even Without Touchdowns
A few tight ends may not have reached the end zone, but their contributions were noteworthy:
- Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals: McBride had the best yardage total for any tight end in Week 8, hauling in nine catches for 124 yards in the Cardinals’ tight 28–27 win over the Dolphins.
- Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals: Gesicki added seven catches for 73 yards, while Washington’s Zach Ertz notched six receptions for 66 yards.
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