The Washington Commanders got much more than they bargained for with Zach Ertz. Adam Peters took a flier on the veteran tight end despite the signs pointing to his career fizzling out. He was rewarded with supreme leadership in the locker room and outstanding on-field production.
And now, Ertz's name is among the game's greats at the tight end position after reaching a significant milestone on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ertz is widely regarded as one of the most prolific pass-catching tight ends of the modern era. He's a three-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl winner, and is deeply respected by his peers around the league. His impact on the Commanders was immediate, providing a security blanket for rookie sensation Jayden Daniels last time around en route to securing 66 catches for 654 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Commanders' Zach Ertz is now in the 800-catch club for tight ends
The Commanders deservedly gave Ertz a new one-year deal and a pay increase in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments. Things haven't gone according to plan in Washington so far this time around, as Father Time is starting to catch up to the NFL's oldest roster. But regardless of how things go from here on, the former Stanford standout has already cemented his legacy that will last long after he hangs up his cleats.
With his second reception of Washington's prime-time showdown with the Chiefs, Ertz became only the sixth tight end in NFL history to secure 800 career receptions. He joins Tony Gonzalez, Jason Witten, Travis Kelce, Antonio Gates, and Shannon Sharpe as the only tight ends to achieve this remarkable feat, which is a testament to his longevity and consistency in equal measure.
Ertz is all about putting the team first. He was the perfect fit for head coach Dan Quinn's culture shift, and reuniting with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury — his old head coach in Arizona — gave his career one more lease of life. But when he gets time to rest and reflect, he can look back on this exceptional achievement with an enormous sense of pride.
It would have been easy for Ertz to call time on his playing days. Nobody came calling after his release from the Cardinals until the Detroit Lions needed an emergency tight end for the playoffs. He still felt there was something left to give, and the Commanders agreed. To say this was a mutually beneficial arrangement would be a massive understatement.
Now, Ertz is in the 800-catch club for tight ends. And it is highly exclusive.