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Detroit Lions

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The Detroit Lions have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise&rsquo;s history. This list of past Lions tight ends features former greats, current impact players, and even future stars.&nbsp;As the tight end position increasingly becomes more of a focal point in the offensive schemes of today, one can only imagine what this list could look like in years down the road. No matter what happens in the evolution of this position, these Detroit tight ends have left a legacy for this that can&rsquo;t be taken away.&nbsp;

Great <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-detroit-lions-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Detroit Lions players</a> such as Charlie Sanders, Jim Gibbons, and Brandon Pettigrew have gone down as some of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/top-25-greatest-tight-ends-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best tight ends</a> in franchise history.

So who is the greatest tight end in Detroit Lions history? Which of these tight ends has left a lasting legacy in the Motor City? Vote below for who you think is the best Detroit Lions tight end of all time!

Every Tight End In Detroit Lions History, Ranked By Fans

The Best Detroit Lions Tight Ends Of All Time

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Michael Gaines

Michael J. Gaines (born March 30, 1980 in Tallahassee, Florida) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the seventh round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Central Florida.
Gaines has also played for the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns.



Tim Wright

Timothy Wright is an American football tight end for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He played college football at Rutgers.
He grew up in Neptune, New Jersey and played high school football at Wall High School.

Pete Chryplewicz

Jimmie Giles

Jimmie Giles, Jr. (born November 8, 1954) is a former professional American football player who was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the third round of the 1977 NFL Draft.  A 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), 238 lb tight end from Alcorn State University, Giles played in 13 NFL seasons from 1977 to 1989.  A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Giles's career flourished as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the early and mid-1980s, despite being used mainly as a blocker during several seasons in which he fell into disfavor with the coaching staff. Giles' benching coincided with a training-camp holdout, the first in Buccaneers history by a player under contract, and the difficult Doug Williams negotiations that resulted in his departure for the USFL. Giles' four touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins on October 20, 1985, tied Earl Campbell's record for the most touchdowns by a Dolphins opponent, and is still (as of 2017) the Buccaneers' single-game record; despite this, the Dolphins would win 41-38. Dolphins coach Don Shula said of the performance, "I can't remember any tight end dominating us that way". Buccaneer teammate Gerald Carter said that Giles could have been "one of the best all-time tight ends, if they'd used him more". In 1988 with the Philadelphia Eagles, he caught a touchdown on one of the most memorable plays in Monday Night Football. Quarterback Randall Cunningham escaped a tackle from Giants linebacker Carl Banks and threw a touchdown to Giles.
On July 13, 2011, the Buccaneers officially announced that Jimmie Giles would be inducted into the team's Ring of Honor on December 4, 2011, when the Buccaneers hosted the Carolina Panthers.



Luke Willson

Luke Michael Willson is a Canadian football tight end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of Rice.
Willson played with the Canadian Junior National baseball team in 2008. In 2011 he signed with the Toronto Blue Jays organization but decided to return to football.

Alfred Pupunu

Alfred Sione Pupunu (born October 16, 1969) is a former professional American football tight end who played nine seasons in the National Football League from 1992 to 2000.



Rodney Holman

Rodney Holman (born April 20, 1960) is an American former professional American football player who played tight end for the Cincinnati Bengals (1982–1992), and the Detroit Lions (1993–1995).

Stephen Alexander

Stephen or Steven Alexander may refer to:

Stephen Alexander (American football) (born 1975), American football tight end
Steven Alexander (born 1970), American filmmaker
Steven Alexander (singer), on The Voice UK
Stephen Alexander (astronomer) (1806–1883), astronomer and educator

John McMakin

John Garvin McMakin (born September 24, 1950) is a former professional American football player who played in 5 NFL seasons from 1972–1976 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Lions and the Seattle Seahawks. He was a member of the Steelers first World Championship, Super Bowl IX over the Minnesota Vikings.

Craig Cotton

John Hilton

John Hilton (March 12, 1942 – February 2, 2017) was a tight end in the National Football League who played from 1965 to 1973 for four teams, most notably the Pittsburgh Steelers (1965-1969).

Marcus Pollard

Marcus LaJuan Pollard (born February 8, 1972) is a former American football tight end and current Director of Player Development and Youth Football for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Ulysses Norris

Ulysses Norris, Jr. (born January 15, 1957) is a former professional American football player who played tight end for seven seasons for the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills.

John Owens

John Owens (born January 10, 1980) is a former American football tight end. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fifth round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.
Owens has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks, and Oakland Raiders .



Derek Tennell

Derek Wayne Tennell (born February 12, 1964 in Los Angeles, California) is a former American football tight end in the National Football League for the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at UCLA.

The Detroit Lions have had some great tight ends throughout the franchise’s history. This list of past Lions tight ends features former greats, current impact ... (Page 2)