Zach Ertz made NFL history on Sunday Night Football in Week 13 during the game between the Washington Commanders and the Denver Broncos. Entering the matchup, Ertz needed just two receptions to surpass Shannon Sharpe for fifth place on the all-time tight end receptions list.
Ertz quickly passed Sharpe by catching three passes in the first quarter alone. This achievement places Ertz behind only Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Travis Kelce, and Antonio Gates on the career receptions leaderboard for tight ends. Notably, Gonzalez and Gates are Hall of Famers, while Witten and Kelce are expected to receive induction in the future. Gonzalez leads in all-time yards by a margin exceeding 2,000 yards and is among the few tight ends with over 1,000 receptions along with Witten and Kelce.
Throughout the night, Ertz recorded 10 catches for 106 yards, marking his best game of the season and his first time surpassing 100 receiving yards in 2025. Despite his outstanding performance, the Commanders lost in overtime by a slim margin of 27-26. Washington now holds a disappointing 3-9 record this season.
This marks Ertz’s second season with the Commanders after spending the first nine years of his career with the Philadelphia Eagles. During his time in Philadelphia, Ertz surpassed 70 receptions in five seasons and earned three Pro Bowl selections. He was also instrumental in the Eagles’ Super Bowl LII victory.
After three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, Ertz joined Washington and developed chemistry with quarterback Jayden Daniels. Unfortunately, injuries have affected Daniels in 2025, hindering the offense’s overall production. Ertz’s recent milestone solidifies his status as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history and adds to his legacy on the field.
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