Takes

Mike Ditka is the true revolutionary of the tight end position because he was the first to have 1,000 receiving yards and enter the Hall of Fame.

Mike Ditka came on the scene two years before John Mackey. Mike Ditka was the first tight end to ever have a thousand yards receiving in a season—John Mackey never did that. Mike Ditka was also the first tight end to be voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So I think if you want to do who revolutionized the position, he's the guy.