National Tight Ends Day works because it was never meant to.
In a 2018 game against the Lions, Jimmy Garoppolo threw a touchdown pass to Garrett Celek. Afterward, Garoppolo quipped, “What is it, National Tight Ends Day?” George Kittle, always in for a good time, jumped in with “Yeah, it’s a holiday, man!”
Authentic. Organic.
A day to recognize the hard work of the skill position usually forgotten.
Of course, we are pushing it to the limit.
NBC has spent the last two seasons in a cringe attempt to create “National Running Backs Day”, first with Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey playing on Sunday Night Football in 2025, then again when Robinson played Derrick Henry earlier this season. Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth teased their slapped-together marketing attempt late in the 2025 broadcast.
Tight ends had a massive day on National Tight Ends Day in 2024. Sportsbooks felt it. They leaned in with promotions in 2025. Fitting with a growing narrative, tight ends scored the fewest touchdowns of any week between Weeks 4 and 9 during the Week 8 holiday.
Coming up with ideas is hard. Often, when a layup is presented, especially during a long season, we take it. Niche fantasy football articles talk about National Tight End Day in their intros. It’s a layup.
A difficult line in life separates pointing out ironic situations from becoming a hardened cynic. We point out people trying too hard in an uncomfortable manner instead of realizing they should be praised for trying. Tight ends are cool because they put in the work without reminding us. No stopping the game to signal a first down while you're down by three touchdowns. Here is the ball, let me hit them again.
National Tight Ends Day is a cool idea because it organically recognizes an unpopular craft. When the event itself becomes too popular, it becomes uncool. When irony becomes cynicism.
Things can be a thing without being a thing.
Number Watch
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Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh
1 Passing Touchdown - Peyton Manning, 539 passing touchdowns, 3rd All-Time
Rodgers tied Manning after a four-week hot streak. He should have a great chance to break the tie in Week 7; the Saints have a bottom-10 pass defense. Rodgers' pursuit of Manning has been filled with Easter eggs. He threw 3 touchdowns against the Colts, the team Manning is most closely linked to, in Week 4 and now faces Manning’s childhood franchise, after his dad, Arch, starred with the Saints.
Drew Brees has 571, while Tom Brady holds the record of 649.
Matthew Stafford, LA Rams
2 Touchdown Passes - Roman Gabriel, 154 Touchdown Passes, 1st in Rams History
Stafford stands just two touchdown passes from tying Gabriel’s Rams franchise record. He would become the only player to hold the franchise touchdown-pass record with two different franchises.
Travis Kelce, Kansas City
2 Receptions - Cris Carter, 1,101 Receptions, 6th All-time / Marvin Harrison Jr., 1,102 Receptions, 5th All-Time
35 Receiving Yards - Tony Gonzalez, 15,413 Yards, most by a tight end
Welcome to National Tight Ends Day! Kelce needs two receivers to move into the Top 5 in NFL history. With 35 yards, he would pass Gonzalez for the most yards by a tight end, regular season and postseason combined.
Derrick Henry, Baltimore
1 Touchdown - Marshall Faulk, 136 Touchdowns, 7th All-Time
110 Rushing Yards - Jerome Bettis, 13,662 Rushing Yards, 8th / LaDainian Tomlinson, 13,684 Rushing Yards, 7th
Henry can move up the touchdown and yardage lists this weekend. He was held out of the endzone for the first time in 2026 in Week 6 and is looking to get back on track against an exploitable Cincinnati defense. Interestingly, Bettis’s 1,794 rushing yards against Cincinnati were easily the most against any franchise. Next is 969 yards against Baltimore.
Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco
1 Receiving Touchdown - Marshall Faulk, 36 Receiving Touchdowns, most by a running back
Week 7 of this nugget. McCaffrey is still hunting his first receiving touchdown of the season.
Any touchdown will most past Tim Brown for the 22nd most in NFL history.
McCaffrey is 61 rushing yards from 8,000. He would become the 58th player in NFL history to cross that threshold.
Ken Walker III vs. Seattle Seahawks - 35 Games Without Allowing a 100-Yard Rush
Walker is off to one of the hottest starts in NFL history, with the seventh most rushing yards through the first five games of a season. The Seahawks have the longest active streak of preventing a 100-yard rusher. As if this revenge matchup needed more intrigue.
The Chiefs have never had a 1,000-yard rusher play with Patrick Mahomes II. Walker needs 335 yards over the final 12 games.
The Saints have the longest recognized streak without allowing a 100-yard game, covering 55 games between 2017 and 2020. The 1951-1955 Cleveland Browns went 59 games, though that era lacked standardized game tracking.
George Kittle, San Francisco
227 Receiving Yards - Terrell Owens, 8,572 Receiving Yards, 2nd in 49ers’ History
2 Receiving Touchdowns - Gene Washington, 2 Receiving Touchdowns, 3rd in 49ers’ History
Kittle could move up the 49ers record book in two significant categories, though it would take a massive game. National Tight Ends Day would be a fitting backdrop for this level of performance; Kittle helped create the holiday.
Revenge!
Do revenge games matter? For some players, absolutely. For others, it’s a fun side story. Each week, we look at players who have something extra.
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- RB Ken Walker III, Kansas City vs. Seattle
- QB Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay vs. Carolina
- RB Devin Singletary, NY Giants vs. Houston
- RB Brian Robinson Jr., Atlanta vs. San Francisco
- QB Joe Flacco, Cincinnati vs. Baltimore
- QB Carson Wentz, Minnesota vs. Indianapolis
- WR KhaDarel Hodge, San Francisco vs. Atlanta
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Pittsburgh vs. New Orleans
- WR David Moore, Carolina vs. Tampa Bay
- WR Davante Adams, LA Rams vs. Las Vegas
Last Week
- RB Kenny Gainwell, Tampa Bay vs. Pittsburgh, Lost 26-19, 2-17-0 / 1-7-0
- QB Jameis Winston, NY Giants vs. New Orleans, Lost 34-27, 152-1-2 / 3-4-0
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, LA Chargers vs. Kansas City, Lost 22-6
- WR Deebo Samuel Sr., San Francisco vs. Washington, Won 23-17, DNP
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus, Atlanta vs. Chicago, Lost 31-23
- RB Dare Ogunbowale, Houston vs. Jacksonville, Won 34-31
- RB AJ Dillon, Carolina vs. Philadelphia, Won 25-14
- WR John Metchie III, Carolina vs. Philadelphia, Won 25-14, 2-24-0
- QB Kenny Pickett, Carolina vs. Philadelphia, Won 25-14
- TE Hunter Long, Arizona vs. LA Rams, Won 18-16
Revenge Touchdown Tally
- J.K. Dobbins, vs. LA Chargers, Week 5
- Samaje Perine, vs. Miami, Week 5
- Mike Gesicki, vs. Miami, Week 5
- Derrick Henry, vs. Tennessee, Week 4
- Wan'Dale Robinson, vs. NY Giants, Week 3
- Jakobi Meyers, vs. New England, Week 3
- Demarcus Robinson, vs. LA Rams, Week 1
- Aaron Jones Sr., vs. Green Bay, Week 1