The race for the greatest tight end in Chiefs history comes down to two names: Travis Kelce and Tony Gonzalez. The pair have dominated the position in KC during the 21st century.

But who else has shined in between the sticks for Kansas City? Keep reading this Betway Insider ranker to find out the 10 best Chiefs tight ends of all time.

As usual, all stats are courtesy of Pro-Football-Focus.com and are accurate through the end of the 2023 NFL regular season.

Who is the Kansas City Chiefs starting Tight End for the 2023 season?

The Kansas City Chiefs' starting tight end for the 2023 NFL season is Travis Kelce, who’s been with the team since 2013.

Kansas City Chiefs Tight Ends History

 Chiefs’ tight end history is primarily fixated on two men: Tony Gonzalez and Travis Kelce. The pair rank first and second in every major Chiefs receiving record.

Famous Kansas City Chiefs Tight Ends

Other famous tight ends for the Chiefs include Fred Arbanas and Walter White, stars before the 1980s.

Ranking the Top 10 Greatest Kansas City Chiefs Tight Ends of all time

  1. Morris Stroud, 1969-1974

Former Chiefs TE Morris Stroud was not a world-beater in Kansas City, but he was a dependable threat in the passing game for a handful of seasons. He peaked with 454 yards in 1971 and accumulated the eighth-most receiving yards of all Kansas City tight ends.

Stroud has two other claims to fame:

  1. Willie Scott, 1981-1985

Former Kansas City TE Willie Scott was a key red-zone threat for the Chiefs in the early 1980s. Despite playing with a rotating cast of quarterbacks, Scott tallied the sixth-most receiving touchdowns amongst all KC tight ends.

Scott peaked with six receiving touchdowns in 1983, though it wasn’t enough as the Chiefs struggled through a 6-10 campaign.

  1. Keith Cash, 1992-1998

Former Chiefs tight end Keith Cash was a hit in Kansas City when QB Joe Montana shockingly moved to Arrowhead Stadium. While never remarkable, Cash did accumulate the sixth most receptions, sixth most receiving yards and the seventh most receiving touchdowns in franchise history.

  1. Noah Gray, 2021-Present

Current Kansas City TE Noah Grey would likely be the starting tight end for a handful of other NFL teams. Instead, he has to settle for being TE Travis Kelce’s understudy.

Gray chipped in with around 300 receiving yards in both the 2022 and 2023 seasons despite not running nearly as many routes as Kelce. The talented third-year TE out of Duke University looks poised to take a leap in the future, whether following a reduced role for Kelce or on another team altogether.

  1. Tony Moeaki, 2010-2012

Former Chiefs TE Tony Moeaki’s career could’ve gone in an entirely different direction had he not suffered a season-ending injury that ruled him out for the entire 2011 campaign. Before, he was fresh off a 2010 rookie campaign that saw him post 556 yards and three scores. Kansas City went 10-6 and made the playoffs, and Moeaki seemed to be building chemistry with QB Matt Cassel.

Moeaki split reps when healthy with TE Kevin Boss. He didn’t reach the same heights as his rookie campaign and was a Buffalo Bill by 2013.

  1. Jonathan Hayes, 1985-1993

Former Chiefs TE Jonathan Hayes was the starter in Kansas City for the better part of a decade. He was never a world-beater: Hayes never topped 350+ receiving yards or 3+ receiving touchdowns in a single season.

However, Hayes still lasted 95 games in Kansas City. He has the fifth-most receptions, fifth-most receiving yards, and fifth-most receiving touchdowns amongst all Chiefs tight ends in franchise history.

  1. Walter White, 1975-1979

Former Chiefs TE Walter White (not that one) wasn’t in Kansas City for the longest time -- he only played four full seasons at Arrowhead. Nonetheless, White was still one of the best TEs of his era: White went for 808 yards and seven scores in 1976.

White followed that up with another 674 yards and five scores in 1977 before his production began to drop in 1978. He ranks fourth in most major TE-receiving categories in Chiefs history.

  1. Fred Arbanas, 1962-1970

Former KC tight end Fred Arbanas would take the top TE spot on just about any other franchise list. He was a 5x AFL All-Star and 6x All-AFL selection, helping Kansas City win 3 AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV (Arbanas also featured for the Dallas Texans before they changed their names to the Chiefs).

Arbanas totaled 3,101 yards and 34 receiving touchdowns as a Chief -- both the third-most amongst Chiefs tight ends. His efforts earned him a spot on the AFL All-Time Team.

Chiefs fans shouldn’t forget this man!

  1. Tony Gonzalez, 1997-2008

Pro Football Hall of Fame TE Tony Gonzalez is the best Atlanta Falcons TE of all time… and the second-best in Kansas City history. The first part of Gonzalez’s career -- from 1997-2008 in KC, after the Chiefs made him a first-round pick -- often gets overlooked.

It shouldn’t: Gonzalez was a 5x First-team All-Pro and 10x Pro Bowler, doing enough to earn a spot on the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade team.

  1. Travis Kelce, 2013-Present

Why does current Kansas City TE Travis Kelce edge Tony Gonzalez by the narrowest of margins for the title of the best tight end in Chiefs history? Here’s his CV:

The difference between Kelce and Gonzalez: playoff success.

Parameters of Rankings

Rankings are made based on a combination of 1) individual accomplishments, 2) team success, 3) franchise legacy, and 4) personal accolades.

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