Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

NFL's top two TEs finish with identical numbers on National Tight Ends Day

By Thomas Huitt-Johnson | Last updated 10/24/22

On National Tight Ends Day, a "holiday" on Sunday, Travis Kelce of the Chiefs and George Kittle of the 49ers went head-to-head. The heavyweight showdown was a draw.

Kelce and Kittle both finished with six catches for 98 yards. Kittle scored a touchdown, but Kelce came out with the win as the Chiefs beat the 49ers, 44-23.

The 49ers jumped to a 10-0 lead before Kelce got in on the action. He caught a pass on 3rd-and-1 and rumbled 27 yards before he was tackled. He immediately celebrated the first down in Kittle fashion.

Kelce hit Kittle’s first down celly pic.twitter.com/d1nDsmLdZt
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) October 23, 2022

Kittle scored a fourth-quarter touchdown to put the 49ers within one score.

Late in the game, when the Chiefs brought many backups in, Kelce stayed in to try to top 100 receiving yards, but he dropped a quick toss from quarterback Chad Henne that kept the tight ends tied.

Analyzing Sunday's game was a former top tight end himself, Greg Olsen, a two-time All-Pro. Olsen said late in the broadcast on Fox that he believes Kelce can go down as the greatest tight end of all time. Kelce, Kittle and Olsen created Tight End University, a three-day camp for NFL tight ends to attend over the summer.

National Tight Ends Day, started with the aid of 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, is "celebrated" every fourth Sunday in October.

More must-reads: