The NFL just celebrated National Tight Ends Day, a celebration of one of the most difficult and demanding positions to play in American football. Tight ends have multiple roles in the NFL, needing to block like offensive linemen and run routes and catch the football like a wide receiver. Since 2019, every fourth weekend in October has been a day to celebrate this hard-working and vital position.
Because of the difficulty of playing tight end and the fact it can often be a thankless job, it’s a fun way to bring attention to these trench players. But even if you’re not invested in football, the essence of the tight end is something we can embrace in our own careers. What career lessons can we learn from National Tight Ends Day?
Embrace versatility
Tight end is one of the most notoriously difficult positions to transfer to the NFL from the collegiate level. Thanks to their dual role, tight ends need some of the deepest knowledge of the entire offensive playbook. Tight ends play a role in the receiving game needing to run routes and catch the football like a wide receiver, but they also need to block defenders to help their teammates make plays. This leads to a variety of tight end styles, including flex (who primarily play like a receiver), inline (big, blocking specialists), and true hybrids.
Because of this, tight ends need to excel in multiple ways to earn playing time. In today’s work culture, while it’s admirable to be the best at one particular skill, employers want versatile workers who can be self-sufficient. The rise in remote work means skills like adaptability, flexibility, and autonomy are in high demand. Like a tight end, even if you’re best at one skill, you want to elevate the floor of your other skills so employers view you as dependable and capable.
“We’re all the most relatable guys. We’re all the plumber, the utility guy, the landscaper, the electrician. You need a guy? We are the guy. And that’s why I love playing tight end.” -Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Keep refining your skills
Because tight ends play multiple roles on an offense, “complete” tight ends, ones that excel in both areas, are in high demand. But there are specialists most known for dominating in one particular area. Chicago Bears tight end Marcedes Lewis is known as one of the best blocking tight ends of all time. His blocking skills are so good that he’s often considered to be a sixth offensive lineman. But those skills aren’t perfected on day one, and it doesn’t mean Lewis is only good as a blocker—he’s a solid receiver as well.
Continuing your education is crucial for a fulfilling career. Whether it’s learning a completely new skill, training yourself to keep up with advancing knowledge, or taking a course to further hand your best traits, you never want to stop learning. Look for opportunities at work to start. They may offer or pay for additional skill training, or you may be able to find a new project to take part in.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
The best players aren’t born that way. Even the generational, “can’t miss” prospects need to learn from those more experience and find the right situation to live their dream. Former Las Vegas Raider tight end Darren Waller credited a lot of his success to learning from former Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten, who spent his final season with the Raiders.
“It was very helpful, just very smart. His brain for the game was through the roof.” -Darren Waller, former Las Vegas Raider
Waller learned better ways to take care of his body, break down film, and become a better locker room leader by watching the experienced tight end and asking him questions. In your own career, you can always benefit from learning from experienced coworkers, but you may have to seek out that knowledge yourself. Don’t assume you’ll figure it all out on your own or that asking for help is a weakness. Finding a mentor is one of the most rewarding and impactful ways to grow in your career.
Put in the work and good things will come
It’s rare to see a rookie tight end truly break out on the national level. The nuances of the game are hard for any rookie, and tight ends have tons of responsibility. But by following the above advice, a hardworking tight end can earn a big role in the offense and make a name for themselves, even if it isn’t with the team that drafted them.
Some of the league’s best tight ends weren’t early picks, including George Kittle, a fifth-round selection who developed into a star player and is the one who popularized National Tight Ends Day. Others like Evan Engram, who was drafted by the New York Giants and now plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, will find even more success after joining a new team in free agency.
If you put in good work, you should earn more opportunities to advance your career as managers and coworkers take notice. Even if your current employer isn’t taking notice or doesn’t have chances for advancement, building an impressive resume will make it easier to find a bigger role in a new “home field.”
Wrap up
Even if you’re not pancaking defenders or scoring touchdowns, the versatile, hard-working tight ends of the NFL can provide us with many eye-opening career lessons. By refining a diverse set of skills, soaking up knowledge like a sponge, and putting in the work, your work can get noticed and take your career to new heights.
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