Editing Tight end (section)

==History==
===Origins===
[[File:GA VS LSU E101318 85.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[LSU Tigers football|LSU Tigers]] tight end [[Foster Moreau]] (''right'') lining up on the end of the [[offensive line]] before a snap during a game in 2018]]
The advent of the tight end position is closely tied to the decline of the [[one-platoon system]] during the 1940s and '50s. Originally, substitutions were limited by rule, forcing players to be adept on both sides of the ball, with most offensive linemen doubling as defensive linemen or linebackers, and running backs and receivers doubling as defensive backs.

With the relaxation of substitution rules in professional football from the 1940s and after 1964 in the college game, a [[two-platoon system]] of offense and defense became the norm, with most players active on only one side of the ball. With the advent of the [[T-formation]], double [[Halfback (American football)|halfback]] sets quickly became a thing of the past, with a hybrid running back–receiver known as the "flanker back" positioned outside The halfback and fullback, "flanking" them. The receivers on each end of the line of scrimmage retained their historic name, [[End (American football)|"ends"]].

[[File:Rob Gronkowski 20131201.jpg|thumb|left|At 6'6" and 265 lbs., [[New England Patriots]] tight end [[Rob Gronkowski]], a four-time first-team [[All-Pro]], was large even by contemporary standards.]]

By the start of the 1960s many pro clubs had begun to position the flanker back far to the outside, just behind the line of scrimmage, part of what [[Washington Redskins]] coach [[Bill McPeak]] characterized as a "three ends" system.<ref name=Skins>"Washington Redskins: All Will Be Bright and Shiny — Except After Kickoffs," ''Pro Football 1961.'' New York: Fawcett Publications, 1961; p. 35.</ref> The receiver spread out on numerically inferior "weak" side of the formation was commonly known as the "split end"; the end lining up to the same side as the flanker, positioned close to the blocking linemen, became known as the "tight end".<ref name=Skins /> This tight end position, developed in the 1950s, embraced both blocking and receiving functions and flourished as part of the specialization of the two-platoon era.

Greater use of the tight end as a receiver in the cutting edge offenses of the 1960s led to the emergence of the first stars at the position, including [[Mike Ditka]] of the [[Chicago Bears]], [[Jackie Smith]] of the [[St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)|St. Louis Cardinals]], and [[John Mackey (American football)|John Mackey]] of the [[Baltimore Colts]].

===The modern position===
Even with the emergence of star tight ends as receivers, the rush-heavy offenses of the 1960s through the early 1980s NFL saw tight ends continue to remain primarily blockers lined up next to an offensive tackle and given short to medium [[drag route]]s.<ref name=jaworski2010p92>{{cite book |last=Jaworski |first=Ron |title=The Games That Changed the Game: The Evolution of the NFL in Seven Sundays |page=92 |year=2010 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-0-345-51795-1 |ref=Jaworski |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/gamesthatchanged00jawo/page/92 }}</ref>  Starting in 1980, the [[Air Coryell]] offense began using tight end [[Kellen Winslow]] in wide receiver-type routes.  Winslow was lined up wide, in the slot against a smaller [[cornerback]], or put in motion to avoid being jammed at the line.<ref>[[#Jaworski|Jaworski 2010]], p.81.</ref>  Defenses would cover him with either a [[strong safety]] or a [[linebacker]], because [[Zone defense in American football|zone defense]]s were less popular.<ref>[[#Jaworski|Jaworski 2010]], p.93</ref> Strong safeties in those times also were favored for their run defense over coverage speed. Providing them another defender to help cover Winslow opened up holes for other receivers.<ref>[[#Jaworski|Jaworski 2010]], pp.93–94</ref> Winslow would line up unpredictably in any formation, variously in a [[three-point stance|three point]] blocking stance, [[two-point stance|two point]] receiver's stance, or put in motion like a flanker or offensive back.<ref name=jaworski2010p112/> 2000s Head coach [[Jon Gruden]] referred to such multi-dimensional tight ends as "jokers", calling Winslow the first ever in the NFL.<ref name="jaworski2010p112" /><ref>{{cite news|last=George|first=Thomas|title=The Indispensable Tight End Is Making His Presence Felt|date=September 29, 2002|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/sports/pro-football-inside-nfl-indispensable-tight-end-making-his-presence-felt.html?pagewanted=all|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130112718/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/09/29/sports/pro-football-inside-nfl-indispensable-tight-end-making-his-presence-felt.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm|archive-date=January 30, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> Patriots head coach [[Bill Belichick]] notes that the pass-catching tight ends that get paid the most are "all direct descendants of Kellen Winslow", and there are fewer tight ends now that can block on the line.<ref name=jaworski2010p112>[[#Jaworski|Jaworski 2010]], p.112</ref>

In the 1990s, [[Shannon Sharpe]]'s athletic prowess as a route-runner helped change the way tight ends were used by teams. Consistently double-covered as a receiver, he became the first tight end in NFL history to rack up over 10,000 career receiving yards. [[Tony Gonzalez]] and [[Antonio Gates]], who both played basketball in college, pushed the position toward wide receiver speed and [[power forward (basketball)|power forward]] strength and wingspan.<ref>{{cite news |last=Battista |first=Judy |title=New Breed of Tight End Is Unchecked So Far |date=January 17, 2012 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=B9 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/sports/football/rise-of-new-breed-of-tight-end-goes-unchecked-so-far.html?pagewanted=all |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120911032956/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/17/sports/football/rise-of-new-breed-of-tight-end-goes-unchecked-so-far.html?_r=2&ref=football&pagewanted=all |archive-date=September 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> At 6'6" [[Rob Gronkowski]] brought height, setting single-season tight end records in 2011 with 17&nbsp;touchdowns—breaking Gates's and [[Vernon Davis]]'s record of 13—and 1,327 receiving yards, surpassing Winslow's record of 1,290.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ridenour |first=Marla |title=Playoffs showcase Browns' lack of big-play tight end |date=January 16, 2012 |newspaper=Akron Beacon Journal |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/4192152/playoffs-showcase-browns-lack.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120120221231/http://www.sacbee.com/2012/01/16/4192152/playoffs-showcase-browns-lack.html |archive-date=January 20, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Jimmy Graham]] that season also passed Winslow with 1,310 yards.<ref>{{cite news |last=Flori |first=Mike |title=Graham, Gronkowski go back and forth with tight end yardage mark |publisher=NBC Sports |date=January 1, 2012 |url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/01/graham-gronkowski-go-back-and-forth-with-tight-end-yardage-mark/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108000200/http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/01/01/graham-gronkowski-go-back-and-forth-with-tight-end-yardage-mark/ |archive-date=January 8, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Six of the NFL's 15 players with the most receptions that year were tight ends, the most in NFL history. Previous seasons usually had at most one or two ranked in the top.<ref>{{cite news |last=Darlington |first=Jeff |title=Ever-evolving tight end position truly changing the game |date=February 2, 2012 |work=NFL.com |url=http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/09000d5d8268ceee/article/everevolving-tight-end-position-truly-changing-the-game?module=HP11_cp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205191745/http://www.nfl.com/superbowl/story/09000d5d8268ceee/article/everevolving-tight-end-position-truly-changing-the-game?module=HP11_cp |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Tight ends generally hit their peak between the ages of 25 and 30.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Peak Age For an NFL Tight End |url=https://apexfantasyleagues.com/peak-age-nfl-tight-end/|website=Apex Fantasy Leagues|date=April 10, 2023 }} A study conducted by Apex Fantasy Leagues indicated 69.1 percent of peak seasons fall within that range.</ref>

===Tight ends in other leagues===
In the [[Arena Football League]] the tight end serves as the 3rd offensive lineman (along with the center and guard). Although they are eligible receivers they rarely go out for passes and are usually only used for screen passes when they do.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

However, in Canadian football, tight ends are, in general, no longer used professionally in the [[Canadian Football League|CFL]], but are still used at the college level in [[U Sports]].{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} [[Tony Gabriel]] is a former tight end in Canadian football. There remain some tight ends in use at [[U Sports football|university level football]]; [[Antony Auclair]], formerly a tight end for the [[Laval Rouge et Or]], was a contender to be selected in the [[2017 CFL Draft]] or possibly receive a tryout in the NFL.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2017/04/03/mock-2-0-ankou-senior-jump-charts/|title=Mock 2.0: Ankou, Senior jump up the charts - CFL.ca|date=April 3, 2017|website=cfl.ca}}</ref> He was drafted by the CFL's [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] in 2017, but instead signed with the NFL's [[Tampa Bay Buccaneers]] as an undrafted free agent that same year.

===National Tight Ends Day===
Since 2019, the NFL celebrates National Tight Ends Day on the fourth weekend of October to highlight tight ends in the league.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Molski |first1=Max |title=What is National Tight Ends Day? History of NFL holiday |url=https://www.nbcsportsbayarea.com/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/what-is-national-tight-ends-day-history-of-nfl-holiday/1437451/ |publisher=NBC Sports Bay Area |access-date=October 28, 2023 |date=October 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=McCarriston |first1=Shanna |title=NFL celebrates National Tight Ends Day with rap song, custom shirts, celebrity shoutouts |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-celebrates-national-tight-ends-day-with-rap-song-custom-shirts-celebrity-shoutouts/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=October 28, 2023 |date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>