6 years in, tight end’s time is now
Garrett Celek is a former high school offensive lineman who was largely an extension of the offensive line as a tight end at Michigan State: He had 14 catches in college and has been known mainly for his blocking ability since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012.
That background helps explain an unexpected recent phenomenon: Celek Time.
On Nov. 12, in a win over the Giants, the 49ers’ tight end, all 6-foot-5 and 252 pounds of him, morphed into a titanic playmaker. On a three-play sequence, Celek had three catches — matching his reception total from the previous three games — and
capped the flurry with a 47yard touchdown reception on which he juked cornerback Janoris Jenkins.
Later, as the 49ers reviewed video, head coach Kyle Shanahan told his team the Giants weren’t prepared for the oneman offensive avalanche.
“We just started joking that they didn’t realize that it was Celek Time,” Shanahan said. “And it just kind of stuck. We thought it was a one-time deal, but it came up again last week, so now we’re getting used to it and guys enjoy it.”
Indeed, Celek added a 61yard catch in Sunday’s win at Houston, a career-long reception that was followed by his 6-yard touchdown grab five plays later. In the locker room, Shanahan again referenced Celek Time, which inspired a roar from his teammates.
Asked about the meaning of Celek Time, the tight end, who now counts the label as his nickname, laughed: “Honestly,” he said, “I don’t even know.”
And he’s hardly alone. On Sunday, wide receiver Marquise Goodwin struggled to explain it. (“When it’s Celek Time, you know what time it is — whatever that means,” he said.) And even the member of the Texans’ public-relations staff who transcribed Goodwin’s postgame interview was clearly in uncharted territory, writing “Celek Time” as “silly time.”
On Thursday, however, left tackle Joe Staley confidently offered to explain what has confounded others.
“Here’s what I think the main point is: Celek is not known to be a super athletic, flashy, big-play tight end,” Staley said. “And it seems like he’s made a couple of huge, really athletic, breaking tackles, sprinting away from people, juke moves on DBs (plays), so everyone gets excited when something unexpected happens.”
Here’s some more of the unexpected: Celek has two plays of 45-plus yards in the past month, which is two more than Pro Bowl wide receivers DeSean Jackson, Demaryius Thomas and Mike Evans have combined for this season.
Before his outburst, Celek had not had a catch longer than 35 yards, or a touchdown reception longer than 16 yards.
He clearly hasn’t been known as a game-breaker, but the good-natured joking about his big plays obscures his value. He’s the team’s thirdlongest-tenured member and he has carved out a six-year career partly because he’s recently added pass-catching ability to his solid blocking. After he had 27 catches in his first four seasons, Celek has had 46 catches, 595 yards and a team-best six touchdowns the past two.
Still, the player who has inspired Celek Time appeared to have run out of time with the 49ers in the offseason. The new regime drafted tight end George Kittle in the fifth round and spoke highly of undrafted rookie Cole Hikutini. In addition, the 49ers signed another blocking tight end, Logan Paulsen, who had played for Shanahan. The team also had 2013 secondround pick Vance McDonald on the roster.
Celek was asked if he felt his roster spot was more tenuous this summer.
“To me, it’s just the same thing every year,” Celek said. “I just show up, try to do my job to the best of my ability and if it’s what they want, it’s what they want. If it’s not, it’s not. I don’t get more stressed out from different years. I don’t think I’ve got it made. I attack every day like my job depends on it.”
Celek has kept his job. McDonald has been traded, Hikutini has landed on injured reserve and Kittle recently has been slowed by injuries.
In the past four games, Celek has picked up 10 catches, 171 yards, two touchdowns and, of course, a nickname.
“I think it’s here to stay,” Staley said. “If he keeps on making these big plays for us, I think (Celek Time) is here to stay.”