Hallelujah!! Zach Ertz is a Philadelphia Eagle once again.
He signed on to the practice squad this week, and I am sure we’ll see him on turf soon (especially with the saddening Dallas Goedert injury.) Of course, he is one of the greatest tight ends in franchise history, and maybe my favorite tight end in Eagles history.
So, to celebrate the return of Ertz, I’m ranking my top seven favorite Eagles tight ends. To clarify, this list isn’t the best tight ends in franchise history, but specifically my favorites.
L.J. Smith
L.J. Smith was the Eagles’ starting tight end when I was first learning to love football. Philadelphia selected the Rutgers product in the 2003 NFL Draft, and he remained with the team through 2008, appearing in 86 games and catching 231 passes for 2,525 yards and 18 touchdowns.
Smith was a good athlete for the position and a legitimate receiving threat in the middle of the field. He gave Donovan McNabb an option in an offense built around Brian Westbrook and a rotating cast of receivers.
Importantly, Smith caught the Eagles’ first touchdown in Super Bowl XXXIX. On third-and-goal, McNabb escaped pressure and found Smith diving across the back of the end zone. Smith finished the game with six catches for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Smith should probably occupy a higher place on this list, But, unfortunately, he became the target of one of my earliest irrational sports grudges. I just a weird negative association with him. Not his fault, but as a little kid watch The Birds, I just never was a real L.J. Smith guy.
6. Clay Harbor
Clay Harbor never had a massive role in Philadelphia’s offense. In three seasons with the Eagles, he caught 47 passes for 421 yards and four touchdowns.
Still, I always really liked him as Brent Celek’s primary backup. Plus, I just loved his athleticism, special teams play, and his general vibe.
His role in the Miracle at the New Meadowlands is a perfect example. The Eagles trailed the Giants by 21 points during the fourth quarter before producing one of the most amazing comebacks in NFL history. We all know the classic story, with the score tied and only seconds remaining, New York punter Matt Dodge inexplicably kicked the ball to DeSean Jackson. Jackson scored and Harbor had key blocks that made it happen.
Harbor initially tried to block Chase Blackburn, who legally threw him to the ground. Harbor got back up, found another Giant and helped keep the return alive. Harbor later recalled dumping Gatorade on Reid during the celebration and understanding that he had just participated in something historic.
Harbor’s first NFL touchdown came one week later under extremely unusual circumstances. The Eagles December 2010 matchup against Minnesota was postponed because of a severe winter storm, forcing the Eagles to play on a Tuesday night, which almost never happens in the NFL.
The night itself became a disappointment, with the Vikings upsetting the Eagles 24-14, but Harbor caught a three-yard touchdown pass from Michael Vick in the back of the end zone. Two years later, he also caught a late game-winning touchdown from Vick in the 2012 opener against Cleveland.
Harbor’s path to the NFL makes his career even more impressive. He has spoken about growing up with limited resources and living in a trailer with 10 family members. Once he reached Philadelphia, he looked to Celek as the example of how an NFL player should operate. Harbor said Celek taught him “what it really meant to be a pro.” Full story about his background here:
Clay Harbor reflects on his Eagles career
Harbor was also one of the more distinctive personalities to pass through Philadelphia. He later appeared on The Bachelorette. He has been open about his dyslexia, continued his education, and even earned an MBA.
But, my favorite Harbor story is a simple one. Years after leaving the Eagles, he visited a coffee shop in South Philly and was surprised when someone immediately recognized him. Harbor was never a superstar, but Eagles fans remembered him anyway. He described Philadelphia fandom perfectly: “It’s not just a fan thing, it’s the culture.”
5. James Casey
When the Eagles signed James Casey to a three-year deal back in 2013, I expected a lot from him.
Casey seemed to be perfectly designed for Chip Kelly’s system (which at point, I was very excited for before it all fell apart.) But, he finished his two seasons with the Eagles with just six receptions for 90 yards and two touchdowns.
That was disappointing. However, Casey is ranked pretty on this list because I loved him for his special teams play.
Against the Rams in 2014, Casey burst through the punt-protection and blocked a punt, which was returned for a touchdown (as seen at the link below.)
https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/video/maragos-recovers-blocked-punt-for-td-13921592
Casey struck again in the season finale against the Giants. Philadelphia trailed 16-14 early in the third quarter when he broke through and blocked another punt. This time, Trey Burton recovered the ball and returned it 27 yards for a touchdown (as seen a the link below.)
https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/video/wk-17-can-t-miss-play-giant-mistake-14675031
I love electric special teams plays and that is exactly what Casey brought to The Birds. But, I am also a fan of his for his unique story and athletic background. The Chicago White Sox selected him in the seventh round of the 2003 MLB Draft, and he spent three years pitching in the minor leagues before returning to football.
4. Trey Burton
Trey Burton’s regular-season Eagles statistics were merely ok: 63 catches, 629 yards and six receiving touchdowns over four seasons.
But he is a key part of an immortal moment in Eagles history. That’s why he is ranked so high on this list.
Burton joined the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2014 after playing all over the field at Florida. He had experience at quarterback, running back, fullback, wide receiver and tight end. In one college game against Kentucky, he scored six touchdowns, breaking Tim Tebow’s Florida single-game record.
That versatile background gave Burton what he need to throw the Philly Special.
You all remember it. Late in the second quarter of Super Bowl LII, Philadelphia faced fourth-and-goal from New England’s 1-yard line. The Eagles led 15-12, and simply adding another field goal would not get the job done in the shootout that was Super Bowl LII. Instead, Nick Foles walked toward the sideline and suggested the play to Doug Pederson.
“Philly Philly?”
“Yeah, let’s do it.”
Foles moved away from center and pretended to call an audible. Corey Clement took the direct snap and pitched the ball to Burton, who rolled to his right. New England completely ignored Foles, and Burton delivered a perfect pass to his quarterback for a touchdown.
Burton later said the Eagles had practiced the play for weeks and felt extraordinarily confident it would work because the defense had to account for so much misdirection.
Burton reflects on Philadelphia and the Philly Special
Trey Burton helped create the greatest play in Eagles history. That is enough to place him fourth on this list.
3. Dallas Goedert
I think you all knew this list would end with Dallas Goedert, Brent Celek and Zach Ertz. But, in what order? Let’s put Goedert at 3!
Remarkably, Philadelphia has not gone a single season without at least one of those three on the roster since 2007. Celek played from 2007 through 2017. Ertz arrived in 2013, giving the Eagles five seasons of overlap between the two. Goedert arrived in 2018 and played alongside Ertz through the middle of 2021.
Goedert’s arrival to Philly was particularly memorable. Philadelphia entered the 2018 draft holding the 52nd pick, but traded ahead of Dallas, who owned No. 50 and had just lost Jason Witten to retirement (and were expected to take a tight end.)
The draft was being held in Dallas. Former Eagles legend David Akers walked onto the stage, mercilessly mocked Cowboys fans and then announced that Philadelphia had selected a player named Dallas.
David Akers relishes trolling Cowboys fans
The irony goes even deeper because Goedert was actually named Dallas because his father was a Cowboys fan. Goedert admitted that Eagles fans initially wanted him to change his name and that hearing “Dallas sucks” required an adjustment.
So far, Goedert has caught 414 passes for 4,757 yards and 37 touchdowns. He produced a career-high 830 receiving yards in 2021, then caught 60 passes for 591 yards and a franchise-record 11 touchdowns by a tight end in 2025.
His signature play might be the 24-yard touchdown against Green Bay in the 2024 Wild Card round. Goedert caught a short pass, turned upfield and repeatedly stiff-armed cornerback Carrington Valentine before powering his way into the end zone. I love a good stiff-arm.
Goedert’s best regular-season game came against New Orleans in September 2024. He caught 10 passes for a career-high 170 yards, including an amazing one-handed catch that became a 30-yard gain.
Watch Goedert’s one-handed catch against New Orleans
That game demonstrated everything that makes Goedert special: toughness at the catch point, yards after contact, and the ability to transform a routine completion into a game-altering play.
Off the field, I have always enjoyed Goedert’s unique friendship with former Eagle Avonte Maddox. The two were roommates and later rehabilitated serious injuries together during the 2022 season.
Read about Maddox and Goedert’s shared rehabilitation
One other fun fact about Goedert: his unicycle talent.
Goedert began riding when he was approximately eight or nine years old after his grandfather offered $50 to the first grandchild who learned. Unicycling was already something of a family tradition, and Goedert eventually learned to ride a six-foot version in local parades.
Dallas Goedert and his six-foot unicycle
2. Brent Celek
Brent Celek was built to be an Eagle.
Celek appeared in 175 regular-season games for the Eagles and started 132 of them. He caught 398 passes for 4,998 yards and 31 touchdowns.
Celek could produce as a receiver, particularly up the seam and after play-action, but his blocking made him special. He was powerful enough to handle defensive ends and completely willing to sacrifice receiving opportunities for the offense.
NFL analyst Brian Baldinger once called Celek “the whole package,” praising him as the rare tight end who could legitimately block and threaten defenses as a receiver.
Why Celek was a perfect fit for the Eagles
His toughness was almost absurd. Celek missed only one regular-season game during his entire career. After the 2011 season, he underwent surgery for a sports hernia and a torn labrum in his left hip. Despite playing through both injuries, he still caught 62 passes for 811 yards and five touchdowns.
Celek’s final season completed his story in the best possible way. By 2017, Ertz had become the primary receiving tight end, and Celek caught only 13 passes, but he remained important as a blocker and locker-room leader.
The final game of his NFL career was Super Bowl LII.
After 11 seasons, countless blocks, nearly 5,000 receiving yards and years spent playing through pain, Celek finally lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
“My career began, and ended, with the Philadelphia Eagles, and man, did we go out in style,” Celek later wrote.
Read Celek’s letter to Eagles fans
1. Zach Ertz
1. Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz is my favorite Eagles tight end ever.
Philadelphia selected Ertz with the 35th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. During his first Eagles tenure, he played 123 regular-season games, caught 579 passes for 6,267 yards and scored 38 touchdowns. In 2018, he caught 116 passes, breaking Jason Witten’s NFL single-season record for receptions by a tight end (a record since broken.)
He possessed an exceptional understanding of leverage, spacing, and timing. He could manipulate zone coverage, separate at the top of a route and consistently present quarterbacks with a reliable target in the middle of the field.
He became a security blanket for both Carson Wentz and Nick Foles. When the Eagles needed a completion on third down, Ertz often seemed to understand the available space before the defense did.
His greatest catch came with Philadelphia’s entire season hanging in the balance.
The Eagles trailed New England 33-32 late in Super Bowl LII when Foles found Ertz on a quick route over the middle. Ertz caught the pass, turned toward the end zone and dove across the goal line as two defenders converged. It became the winning touchdown in the first Super Bowl championship in Eagles history.
Brandon Graham’s iconic strip-sack and the previously mentioned Philly Special are the two most frequently replayed moments from that night, but Ertz scored the points that put Philadelphia ahead for good.
His departure in 2021 was emotional because Ertz’s connection to Philadelphia extended beyond football. He and his wife, former United States women’s national team star Julie Ertz, established the Ertz Family Foundation in 2018.
Julie is a two-time World Cup champion and former U.S. Soccer Player of the Year. Together, the couple made Philadelphia a central part of their charitable mission.
Their signature local initiative is the House of Hope in Hunting Park, which was developed to provide tutoring, meals, workforce development, financial education and other resources for children and families in North Philadelphia. Zach and Julie personally pledged $100,000 to the project, and their foundation committed to matching that contribution.
Learn about the Ertz Family Foundation’s House of Hope
That affection for Philadelphia continued even after Ertz left. His time in Arizona and Washington did not erase what he had accomplished here, nor did it weaken his relationship with the city.
And, now he is back.
We’ll wait and see what he is able to do for The Birds this year, but I am hopeful he will be impactful. During the years I grew up with the Eagles and truly became a die-hard fan, Ertz was the TE1. He is the first player I think of when I think of an Eagles tight end. A true Philly Legend.
Leave a comment