Top 10 Bears tight ends of all time

The 2024 NFL season is creeping closer, and as Chicago Bears fans get excited for what should be an exciting season, it’s always fun to take a trip down memory lane.

Over the next few weeks, I will be highlighting the top 10 players at each position in franchise history. This will ideally serve as a fun look back at some of the most impactful players Chicago has seen over the years, as well as a nice way to spark some debate in what’s admittedly the slow part of the offseason.

This time around, we’ll be looking at the top tight ends in Bears history. There’s a clear-cut answer for No. 1, but there have still been plenty of quality contributors at the position over the years. Let’s take a look at my top 10 tight ends to ever put on a uniform for Chicago.

1. Mike Ditka (1961-66)

Ditka ranks sixth in receptions, fifth in receiving yards and fourth in receiving touchdowns for all positions in Bears history, and he leads all tight ends by a considerable margin. A five-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro, he’s one of the best tight ends in NFL history and made a massive impact as the first tight end to top 1,000 yards in a single season.

2. Emery Moorehead (1981-88)

Moorehead was a primary starter for the Bears in 6 of his 8 seasons with the franchise, and he ranks second in receiving yards and games played in a Chicago uniform among tight ends. He was a starter for their Super Bowl XX run, and he was an athletic pass-catching weapon in an era where those were not necessarily the norm.

3. Martellus Bennett (2013-15)

The only other Pro Bowler the Bears have had at tight end besides Ditka, Bennett was an impact player on some of the best offenses the franchise ever had. His best season came in that Pro Bowl campaign in 2014, when he had 90 receptions for 916 yards and 6 touchdowns. He didn’t last long in Chicago, but he goes down as easily one of the best tight ends they’ve ever had.

4. Greg Olsen (2007-10)

He wouldn’t reach his prime until the Bears foolishly traded him to fit a Mike Martz offense that would be shipped out of town the following offseason. However, Olsen was a tremendous talent, even before his Pro Bowl appearances in Carolina. Despite only ranking 11th in games played at tight end for Chicago, he finished second in receiving touchdowns and sixth in receptions and receiving yards.

5. Cole Kmet (2020-present)

Kmet already has the third-most receptions for a tight end in Bears history, and seeing as though he’s 106 catches away from first place, it’s not unreasonable to think he’ll lead the franchise in that category before his second contract expires. A solid blocker with a big body and good hands, he’s been a rock-solid contributor with the potential to end up even higher on this list.

6. Desmond Clark (2003-10)

Clark started 99 games and played in 110 for the Bears, the latter of which being the most of any tight ends in team history. He was a reliable short-yardage receiving option who could score in the red zone. His best year came in their 2006 NFC Championship season, when he had 45 receptions for 626 yards and 6 touchdowns.

7. Ryan Wetnight (1993-99)

Wetnight gets the nod here for his longevity, having played for the Bears in 7 seasons and 91 games in total, making him the third-most tenured tight end the team has ever had. He was a steady complementary weapon, most notably reaching 464 yards in 1997.

8. Zach Miller (2015-17)

Had it not been for his horrific career-ending injury — the touchdown should’ve counted, by the way — there’s no telling where Miller could’ve ended up on this list. A late bloomer who didn’t step into a starting role until he was 31 years old, he topped 400 receiving yards in both 2015 and 2016 and combined for 9 touchdowns in that span.

9. Keith Jennings (1991-97)

Jennings spent 7 seasons in Chicago, serving primarily as a blocking tight end. His best season came when he finished with 25 catches, 217 yards and 6 receiving touchdowns in 1995. A reliable hand who started 61 games with the team, he is now an area scout with the Bills.

10. Greg Latta (1975-79)

Latta spent all 5 of his NFL seasons with the Bears, tallying a total of 90 catches, 1,081 yards and 7 touchdowns in that time. He was never the focal point of the offense in his time with the Monsters of the Midway, but he did lead the team in receiving touchdowns in 1977.