Editing Tight end (section)

===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>