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Rob Gronkowski has more TD catches than any Hall of Fame tight end

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

DENVER — If Rob Gronkowski retired tomorrow — say he just wanted to leave the NFL behind and live the "Yo Soy Fiesta" life — would he be a Pro Football Hall of Famer?

Well, here's his argument: He has more touchdown catches than any tight end currently in the Hall. In less than six seasons.

Gronkowski passed Shannon Sharpe, who is the touchdown reception leader among all the tight ends in the Hall of Fame, with his 63rd career touchdown catch in the first quarter on Sunday night in an overtime loss to the  Denver Broncos. It was vintage Gronkowski too, breaking a tackle and barrelling into the end zone for a 23-yard score. Sharpe had 62 touchdown catches. It took him 14 seasons to do it.

Legends like Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have more touchdowns than Gronkowski and are certainly going to Canton soon, but that's not the point. This is: Gronkowski is having the start to his career that would put him in the Hall of Fame discussion even though he has played just 76 games. Those 76 games have been better than any comparable stretch for any tight end in history, especially when Gronkowski's fantastic blocking is factored in.

Gronkowski has nine touchdowns this season, and in each of his four full seasons he has reached double digits in touchdowns. Sharpe did it twice. Gonzalez did it three times in 17 years. Kellen Winslow did it once. Ozzie Newsome never did it. Gates has had at least 10 touchdowns in a season four times, in 13 seasons. With his next touchdown Gronkowski will be five-for-five in that category, if you exclude the season he played just seven games because of injuries.

Gronkowski might not have the longevity to reach the career numbers of Gonzalez or Gates — especially with how safeties have to tackle him low, as Denver's Darian Stewart did in the second quarter on Sunday night — but his peak is unmatched in NFL history among tight ends. Ernie Nevers made the Hall of Fame with just 54 games played. Gale Sayers famously made it after just 68 games. Gronkowski would have to be considered in that same mix.

But there's no sign Gronkowski is giving up football anytime soon, so it's a moot point. By the time he's done, there won't be any question about his Hall of Fame resume.

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!