The Lions' best tight ends since 1966
Charlie Sanders has the most receiving yards of the 87 tight ends who played with the Lions since 1966, 4,817 in 127 games. David Hill is 2nd with 3,054. Sam LaPorta is 4th, with 2,471; 501 more passes Brandon Pettigrew for 3rd.
The Lions' tight ends this season
- Sam LaPorta7 games, 52.4 a game2,471 with the Lions, the 4th-most since 1966.367receiving yards
By decade: 2020s · 2010s · 2000s · 1990s · 1980s · 1970s · 1968–69
Compare with in · side by side
| Place | Player | receiving yards | receptions | receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlie Sanders1968 – 1977 · 127 games | 4,817 | 336 | 31 |
| 2 | David Hill1976 – 1982 · 100 games | 3,054 | 245 | 23 |
| 3 | Brandon Pettigrew2009 – 2015 · 86 games | 2,971 | 302 | 17 |
| 4 | Sam LaPorta2023 – 2026 · still playing | 2,471 | 217 | 23 |
| +367 this season · passes Brandon Pettigrew for 3rd in 10 games at his pace | ||||
| 5 | Eric Ebron2014 – 2017 · 55 games | 2,070 | 186 | 11 |
| 6 | T.J. Hockenson2019 – 2022 · 47 games | 2,068 | 186 | 15 |
| 7 | David Sloan1995 – 2001 · 88 games | 2,024 | 180 | 15 |
| 8 | Tony Scheffler2010 – 2013 · 49 games | 1,311 | 120 | 8 |
| 9 | Mikhael Ricks2002 – 2003 · 27 games | 773 | 64 | 5 |
| 10 | David Lewis1984 – 1986 · 42 games | 678 | 54 | 7 |
| 11 | Casey Fitzsimmons2003 – 2009 · 77 games | 677 | 88 | 5 |
| 12 | Brock Wright2021 – 2026 · still playing | 663 | 75 | 11 |
| +31 this season | ||||
| 13 | Marcus Pollard2005 – 2006 · 25 games | 616 | 59 | 3 |
| 14 | Will Heller2009 – 2012 · 42 games | 525 | 56 | 5 |
| 15 | Rob Rubick1982 – 1988 · 88 games | 511 | 44 | 3 |
| 16 | Ulysses Norris1979 – 1983 · 68 games | 510 | 41 | 8 |
| 17 | Rodney Holman1993 – 1995 · 47 games | 442 | 47 | 2 |
| 18 | Stephen Alexander2004 · 15 games | 377 | 41 | 1 |
| 19 | Dan Campbell2006 – 2008 · 16 games | 330 | 23 | 4 |
| 20 | Pete Metzelaars1996 – 1997 · 31 games | 290 | 34 | 0 |
| 21 | Joseph Fauria2013 – 2014 · 19 games | 281 | 24 | 8 |
| 22 | Sean McHugh2005 – 2007 · 18 games | 277 | 20 | 0 |
| 23 | Jesse James2019 – 2020 · 26 games | 271 | 30 | 2 |
| 24 | Levine Toilolo2018 · 11 games | 263 | 21 | 1 |
| T25 | Jimmie Giles1986 – 1987 · 13 games | 260 | 25 | 3 |
receiving yards by decade
2020s
- › Sam LaPorta2023 – 2026 · 49 games2,471
- T.J. Hockenson2020 – 2022 · 35 games1,701
- › Brock Wright2021 – 2026 · 55 games663
- James Mitchell2022 – 2023 · 10 games141
- Shane Zylstra2021 – 2025 · 14 games136
2010s
- Brandon Pettigrew2010 – 2015 · 76 games2,619
- Eric Ebron2014 – 2017 · 55 games2,070
- Tony Scheffler2010 – 2013 · 49 games1,311
- T.J. Hockenson2019 · 12 games367
- Joseph Fauria2013 – 2014 · 19 games281
2000s
- David Sloan2000 – 2001 · 28 games788
- Mikhael Ricks2002 – 2003 · 27 games773
- Casey Fitzsimmons2003 – 2009 · 77 games677
- Marcus Pollard2005 – 2006 · 25 games616
- Stephen Alexander2004 · 15 games377
1990s
- David Sloan1995 – 1999 · 60 games1,236
- Rodney Holman1993 – 1995 · 47 games442
- Pete Metzelaars1996 – 1997 · 31 games290
- Ron Hall1994 – 1995 · 19 games187
- Walter Rasby1998 – 1999 · 20 games138
1980s
- David Hill1980 – 1982 · 40 games1,138
- David Lewis1984 – 1986 · 42 games678
- Rob Rubick1982 – 1988 · 88 games511
- Ulysses Norris1980 – 1983 · 52 games467
- Jimmie Giles1986 – 1987 · 13 games260
1970s
- Charlie Sanders1970 – 1977 · 100 games3,628
- David Hill1976 – 1979 · 60 games1,916
- Craig Cotton1970 – 1972 · 42 games223
- John Hilton1972 – 1973 · 19 games203
- John McMakin1975 · 11 games43
1968–69
- Charlie Sanders1968 – 1969 · 27 games1,189
Also with the Lions: quarterbacks · running backs · receivers · Detroit Lions record book
Method
- Every tight end who played with the Lions since 1966, ranked by receiving yards over his games there. Regular-season games only.
- The numbers here start in 1966, so a tight end who played with the Lions before then isn't here.
- A decade counts his receiving yards with the Lions in its seasons.