When Greg Olsen went to Miami in 2003, the Hurricanes put the freshman on their scout team. They already had plenty of tight ends, including Kellen Winslow II, who was a first-team All-America that season.
13 years later, Winslow’s out of football and Olsen’s inching up the record books.
With 115 more receiving yards, he’ll pass Kellen Winslow for eighth-most by a tight end in NFL history. And not former college teammate Kellen Winslow, but the original one.
“Obviously I have a lot of respect for what Kellen Sr. accomplished,” Olsen said this week. “A Hall of Famer who revolutionized the tight end position.”
In Week One, Olsen passed Steve Jordan for 10th on the all-time list, and last week, Olsen jumped ahead of Heath Miller at No. 9. But that next name is much bigger.
Before Winslow Sr., tight ends were mostly blockers who lined up on the offensive line. But Chargers coach Don Coryell turned Winslow into an innovative weapon that could go in motion or line up wide and in the slot. In 1980 — the first of two straight years Winslow led the NFL in receptions — he caught 89 passes for 1,290 yards, both single-season records for a tight end.
Now Olsen is one big Monday Night game away from passing one of the greatest to play the position.
“I’ve seen it. I know where I stand. It's not something that's a huge priority to me. But any time you start finding yourself in position with names like that, for sure you take pride in it,” said Olsen, who hasn’t missed a start since early in his 2007 rookie year with the Bears.
“I think it's more about being consistent, being durable, playing a lot of games. Not always being the flashiest guy, not always being the loudest guy, but just a guy you can rely on to show up and play.”
ALL-TIME NFL RECEIVING YARDS LEADERS, TIGHT ENDS
| Player | Rec. | Yds | TD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tony Gonzalez | 1,325 | 15,127 | 111 |
| Jason Witten | 1,041 | 11,404 | 60 |
| Antonio Gates | 850 | 10,679 | 105 |
| Shannon Sharpe | 815 | 10,060 | 62 |
| Ozzie Newsome | 662 | 7,980 | 47 |
| Jackie Smith | 480 | 7,918 | 40 |
| Pete Retzlaff | 452 | 7,412 | 47 |
| Kellen Winslow | 541 | 6,741 | 45 |
| Greg Olsen | 566 | 6,627 | 51 |
| Heath Miller | 592 | 6,569 | 45 |