Shannon Sharpe Explains Why Travis Kelce Is the ‘GOAT’ NFL Tight End Over Rob Gronkowski

The Hall of Famer praised the Chiefs' go-to target.

Before he became one of television's most prolific talkers, Shannon Sharpe was a top-notch tight end for the Denver Broncos (and briefly the Baltimore Ravens). A favorite target of legendary quarterback John Elway, Sharpe recorded three 1,000-yard seasons and went to eight Pro Bowls over the course of a 14-year career.

It was the kind of career, in short, that gets one discussed as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history. Thus, Sharpe's effusive praise of Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce cannot be taken lightly.

“Right now, for me, he’s the GOAT,” Sharpe told Sports Illustrated‘s Brice Butler Wednesday ahead of Super Bowl LVIII between the Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. “When you base it on what he’s been able to do, the longevity that he’s enjoyed—he has the most playoff catches. He and [quarterback] Patrick [Mahomes] have the most touchdowns between a duo.”

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To Sharpe, Kelce’s consistency sets him apart from contemporaries such as former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski.

“It’s just hard for me to say somebody has done it as good for as long,” Sharpe said. “That’s no knock on any of the other greats, obviously. We know what [Gronkowski] has done … but Travis Kelce can match him stat-for-stat, number-for-number, yard-for-yard. For my money, I got Trav one and Gronk two.”