Syracuse Football Top 25 Players of All-Time: No. 17 Chris Gedney

Syracuse Football has had a long history of success. We look back at some of the best players to play at Syracuse University. Up next, No. 17: Chris Gedney.

Syracuse football tight end Chris Gedney, a local kid from Liverpool, NY, was one heck of a tight end for Syracuse from 1989-1992. Right up there with John Mackey, also on this list, but coming later, Gedney was a heck of an athlete and set multiple SU records in his time on the Hill.

Though tight ends don’t always get the attention other offensive players usually get, Gedney was one of the few that drew attention to that position. During his time with Syracuse Football, he helped lead Syracuse to four consecutive bowl wins and an impressive 35-12-2 record overall, according to Cuse.com.

He would have 91 catches in his four-year career on the Hill totaling 1,334 yards receiving and seven touchdowns (14.7 yard average), according to Sports-Reference.com. In other words, Gedney was about as consistent as they come for a tight end, and he had a knack for getting first downs when he caught the football.

In his first year with Syracuse football, Gedney had only eight catches for 93 yards (11.6 yard average) and no scores. That’s not unusual though for a freshman. Those numbers sprung up to 24 receptions for 332 yards and one touchdown his sophomore year (13.8 yard average) showing he would be a force to be reckoned with in the passing game going forward.

In 1991, his junior year with Syracuse, Gedney stayed consistent, catching 25 passes for 322 yards and one score, almost identical to his sophomore year numbers. Though those numbers are all well and good, Gedney knew he could do better and did so in his final year with the Orangemen.

In his final campaign in 1992, Gedney was a beast from the tight end position. He had 34 receptions for 587 yards and five touchdowns (17.3 yard average). His 587 yards receiving is still a Syracuse single-season record for a tight end, and his 1,334 yards receiving for his career is also a SU tight end record as well, according to Cuse.com. His receiving numbers in 1992 earned him All-American honors at season’s end and drew the attention of NFL scouts. As a result of his excellent play, this kid from Liverpool, NY heard his name called 61st overall in the 3rd round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears.

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Gedney would go on to play in the NFL for six years, splitting his time with the Bears and Arizona Cardinals. His career was relatively unspectacular as he only appeared in 73 games and started 21 of them, according to Pro-Football Reference.com. The good news is that when he was targeted he consistently made the most of those receptions, much like he did with Syracuse. He would be targeted 119 times, catching it 83 times (69% catch rate) for 914 yards (11.8 yard average) and eight touchdowns. Gedney would later be selected to the Syracuse All-Century team in 1999 and be inducted into the Greater Syracuse Sports Hall of Fame in 2011.

Though his NFL career was mostly a bust by most fans’ standards, Gedney will be forever known for his excellent play for Syracuse Football. Though he didn’t pave the way for tight ends like John Mackey did before him, he was another example of how good tight ends can be when given the opportunity.

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He was as reliable as they come while on the Hill, and his ability to make plays and catch the football consistently gave quarterback Marvin Graves another weapon to throw to or be accountable for downfield. That in turn led Syracuse football to much success. It is for that reason, we have him on this list of the best Syracuse football players of All-Time.

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