New England Patriots: Top 5 pass catching tight ends of all time
Russ Francis (1975-80, ’87-88)
A three-time Pro Bowl tight end, Russ Francis would probably rank a bit higher had he spent his entire career with the New England Patriots.
Drafted by the team in 1975, Francis spent his first six seasons with the Patriots before joining the San Francisco 49ers during their dynasty period in the 1980s. Known as a complex character off the field, Francis was pretty much the first pass-catching tight end to make a name for himself in New England.
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Following a successful rookie season in which he had 35 receptions for 636 yards and 4 touchdowns, Russ Francis transcended into a reliable target for a New England Patriots franchise that was stuck in the middle of mediocracy at the time.
At the conclusion of what was the best season in his NFL career with the Patriots, Francis called it quits following his sixth season. However, he was convinced to come out of retirement by 49ers head coach Bill Walsh and joined the team in 1982.
Not only did he win a Super Bowl (SB XIX) while with San Francisco, he finished third all-time in 49ers history for most receiving yards with2,105 and 12 touchdowns by a tight end. While his career turned out to be successful, one has to wonder how great Russ Francis would’ve been if he was entirely dedicated to football and played his entire career in New England.
After returned to finish his career with the Patriots, Russ Francis totaled 270 catches, 3,157 yards and 28 TDs in total while playing in a New England Patriots uniform.