When is National Tight Ends Day?

It is observed on the fourth Sunday of October each year. In 2026 that is Sunday, October 25.

Who started National Tight Ends Day?

George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers, during a 2018 game against the Detroit Lions.

How do people celebrate National Tight Ends Day?

Watch the Week 8 games, start your tight ends in fantasy, and count how many of them find the end zone.

National Tight Ends Day — Obscure Holiday Calendar

Overview

National Tight Ends Day is the NFL's annual celebration of the tight end, the player who has to block like a lineman on one snap and catch passes like a receiver on the next. It started as a joke on the 49ers sideline in 2018, and the NFL made it official in 2019. It is now observed every year on the fourth Sunday of October, which usually lines up with Week 8 of the season. In 2026 it falls on Sunday, October 25.

Origin and story

In Week 2 of the 2018 season, the San Francisco 49ers played the Detroit Lions. On the sideline, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was trying to fire up his teammates. George Kittle remembers Garoppolo asking, "What is it, like National Tight Ends Day?" and answering, "Yeah, it's National Tight Ends Day. It's a holiday."

Then tight end Garrett Celek caught an 11-yard touchdown and dragged two defenders into the end zone. "I was just trying to get them fired up," Garoppolo said later. "Then Celek goes and scores the first touchdown, so it worked pretty well."

Kittle kept the joke going, and the NFL made it official in 2019 on the fourth Sunday of October, starting with Week 8 that year. Teams now mark the day with throwback jerseys, custom cleats and mic'd-up tight ends. Proceeds from National Tight Ends Day merchandise have gone to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, a cause close to Kittle from his college days at Iowa.

Quick facts

DateFourth Sunday of October
TypeGames & Fun
Great forFootball fans, Fantasy players, Watch parties

Also on this date

Ways to celebrate

National Tight Ends Day honors the players who block on one snap and run routes on the next.

Watch the tight ends

Celebrate by:

Watching the Sunday games and keeping a count of every tight end touchdown. In 2024, 14 different tight ends scored on National Tight Ends Day.
Catching Sunday Night Football on October 25, 2026: Kansas City Chiefs at Seattle Seahawks on NBC and Peacock.
Paying attention to the blocking, not just the catches. A tight end's best play often never shows up in the box score.

Play the fantasy angle

Start your tight ends with confidence. The position set a single-day NFL record with 177 catches on the 2024 edition.
Run a tight-ends-only pick'em with friends: whoever picks the top receiving tight end of the day wins.

Wear the gear

Wear a tight end's jersey for the day, or throw it back with an old-school one like the players do.
Look for official National Tight Ends Day merchandise. Proceeds have supported the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

Learn the story

Helpful resources:

Did you know?

National Tight Ends Day inspired a sequel. In 2025, NBC's Sunday Night Football created National Running Backs Day after Christian McCaffrey and Bijan Robinson asked for a day of their own.

Fun facts

It began in Week 2 of 2018, after Garrett Celek dragged two Lions defenders into the end zone on an 11-yard touchdown.
Jimmy Garoppolo asked on the sideline, "What is it, like National Tight Ends Day?" and George Kittle answered, "It's a holiday."
The NFL made it official in 2019, putting it on the fourth Sunday of October, which usually falls in Week 8.
On National Tight Ends Day 2024, tight ends combined for 177 catches, a single-day NFL record, and 14 different tight ends scored touchdowns.
Kittle celebrated that record day with 6 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown.

Sources and attribution

George Kittle and the evolution of National Tight Ends Day (49ers.com)

What is National Tight Ends Day? Here's the history of the NFL holiday (Yahoo Sports)

National Tight Ends Day: position sets single-day NFL record (CBS Sports)

2026 NFL Sunday Night Football schedule (FBSchedules)

External links may lead to third-party websites.

Continue your streak

Open one more holiday before you go to build daily momentum.

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Related holidays

National Running Backs DayThe running backs got a day of their own too.
American Football DayCelebrate the whole sport.
National Nachos DayThe game-day snack, with its own holiday.

FAQ

When is National Tight Ends Day?: It is observed on the fourth Sunday of October each year. In 2026 that is Sunday, October 25.
What is National Tight Ends Day?: National Tight Ends Day is the NFL's annual celebration of tight ends. It started as a sideline joke during the 49ers' win over the Detroit Lions in 2018, and the NFL made it official in 2019 on the fourth Sunday of October.
Who started National Tight Ends Day?: George Kittle and Jimmy Garoppolo of the San Francisco 49ers, during a 2018 game against the Detroit Lions.
How do people celebrate National Tight Ends Day?: Watch the Week 8 games, start your tight ends in fantasy, and count how many of them find the end zone.

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