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There is no shortage of talent at the tight end position in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs standout Travis Kelce and San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle are now considered the elder statesmen at the position. Each is expected to end up in Canton, with gold Hall of Fame jackets awaiting them soon after they decide to walk away from the game.
Tyler Warren made an immediate impact in his rookie season with the Indianapolis Colts. The position also has young players who had very productive first seasons, including Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts, Arizona tight end Trey McBride and emerging star Brock Bowers.
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Indianapolis Colts tight end Tyler Warren (84) runs during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Robert Goddin/Image Images)
Brent Jones knows what it takes to be successful as a tight end. Jones, a three-time Super Bowl champion during his 11 years with the 49ers, said he is impressed by the talent at the position in today’s NFL.
Several tight ends had productive seasons in 2025, with five players at the position racking up at least 800 receiving yards during the regular season.
TRAVIS KELCE REACHES A HISTORIC MILESTONE IN POSSIBLE FINAL GAME OF HIS NFL CAREER, WITHOUT COMMITMENT TO THE FUTURE
“I think it’s really exciting to see the position,” Jones said. “And then you have the Kelces, kind of the old studs… (players like) Zach Ertz (who) have been around a long time. And then you have the middle-aged guys. I think George Kittle is as good as anyone. Then two of the up-and-comers… (Tyler Warren and) and Brock Bowers, he’s been a little banged up, but when he’s healthy, he’s as good as anyone.”
Pitts surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in his rookie campaign, but followed up with an uneven sophomore season that ended early due to injury. Pitts then had consecutive years plagued by inconsistency. While he had some ups and downs in 2025, he put together a series of dominant performances en route to arguably his best performance since his first year in the league.
Jones praised Pitts’ talent and believes the 25-year-old is about to unleash his full potential.
Kyle Pitts (8) of the Atlanta Falcons runs the ball to score a touchdown during the second quarter of the NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on December 11, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
“Kyle Pitts… I’ve had him on my fantasy team for a couple of years, and I’m like, ‘This is going to be the year… he’s going to blow up!’ I’ve seen him in games where he’s dominant, and then I’ve seen games where he’s just not used. I think I would have to be close to him and the team, but I still feel like he is at the top. He’s going to explode somewhere. It would be very difficult if he left Atlanta and suddenly exploded.
“I don’t know if it’s the scheme. I’m not sure if it’s the design or the offensive coordinators (who) haven’t used tight ends in their overall scheme. But that kid is too athletic, too much of a specimen to not stand out in some way, shape or form.”
McBride was the designated starter on this year’s NFC Pro Bowl roster, while Kittle was the second player chosen to represent the conference. Kittle injured his Achilles tendon in the Niners’ wild-card round win over the Philadelphia Eagles. Kittle was replaced by Dallas Cowboys tight end Jake Ferguson.
George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass against Coby Bryant (8) of the Seattle Seahawks during the first quarter of the game at Lumen Field on September 7, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
On the AFC side, Bowers and Kelce received Pro Bowl honors. Warren, the Pro Bowl alternate, has been chosen to replace Bowers, who was placed on injured reserve in December. Kelce withdrew from the Pro Bowl and the Buffalo Bills were announced as an alternate.
The New England Patriots will face the Seattle Seahawks on February 8 in Super Bowl LX. The game will mark a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX and the infamous late-game interception that Russell Wilson threw at the goal line.
Patriots tight end Hunter Henry finished the regular season with 768 receiving yards. New England backup tight end Austin Hooper played in the big game during his rookie year. He appeared in 16 regular season games in 2025, scoring two touchdowns.
Seattle tight end AJ Barner had 519 receiving yards and six touchdowns.
Jones believes the Seahawks could end up winning the franchise’s second Super Bowl title.
“Seattle… has the best defense in the league. I think Sam Darnold has been a great story. I’ve seen him week in and week out in the NFC West and my perspective is that the Seahawks will be this year’s champions. But the Patriots might have something to say about that.”
