Channeling the Spirit of Bavaro: Tucker Kraft’s Rise in the NFL
GREEN BAY, Wis. — In the world of professional football, connections between players from different eras are rare, but when they happen, they can be truly inspiring. Such is the case with Mark Bavaro and Tucker Kraft, two tight ends who, until recently, had never heard of each other. Bavaro, a 61-year-old Bostonian, ended his NFL career six years before Kraft was even born. Meanwhile, Kraft, a 24-year-old from Timber Lake, South Dakota, is just beginning to make his mark in the league.
Enter Rich Bisaccia, the Green Bay Packers’ assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. Bisaccia, a New Yorker, admired Bavaro’s playing style during his time with the Giants in the 1980s. One day, Bisaccia mentioned Bavaro to Kraft, suggesting he take a look at the former All-Pro’s highlights. Kraft did just that and was amazed by what he saw.
“[Bisaccia] said you’ve got to give this guy a look,” Kraft recalled. “I did, and I was amazed.”
After watching Bavaro’s highlights on YouTube, Kraft realized that he and the Packers’ coaches shared a vision for his career. “Just being physical, being tough,” Kraft said. “YAC, that’s really all that guy was worried about … So just trying to channel my inner Bavaro.”
Fast forward three months, and Kraft has put together a Bavaro-like season. Entering Week 16, he led all NFL tight ends in both YAC categories, with 8.9 yards after catch and 4.44 yards after contact per catch, more than two full yards ahead of the second best in each category. Less than two full seasons into his NFL career, Kraft is making a name for himself as one of the league’s most ferocious tight ends.
“That tells me the kid likes contact, he likes to hit,” Bavaro said in an interview with ESPN last week. “That’s the way I was brought up.”
Kraft’s Humble Beginnings
Kraft’s journey to the NFL didn’t scream stardom. He played at Timber Lake High, a small school in South Dakota, on its nine-man football team. As a high school freshman, Kraft was barely 5-11, but he eventually grew to 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds. His high school coach, Ryan Gimbel, recalls Kraft’s rapid development and versatility on the field.
- Freshman: Tight end and defensive end
- Sophomore: Quarterback and defensive end
- Junior: Running back, receiver, and defensive end
- Senior: Middle linebacker, running back, and receiver
Despite his talent, Kraft was lightly recruited out of high school and ended up at South Dakota State, where he had a stellar career. The Packers selected him in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and he quickly began to prove his worth.
The Hurdle and Beyond
Although Kraft appeared in every game as a rookie, his role in the passing game was limited at first. That changed in Week 15 against the Buccaneers when he attempted a daring hurdle over Tampa Bay defensive back Dee Delaney. Despite taking a hit to a sensitive area, Kraft’s mantra remained: “Always [go] forward. Sometimes over, but always forward.”
The following week, Kraft attempted another hurdle, this time over Panthers linebacker Brian Burns. His fearless playing style has become a hallmark of his game, as seen in a Week 5 win over the Rams when he stiff-armed two defenders on his way to a 66-yard touchdown.
Even when Kraft goes down, it’s dramatic. In a Week 14 game against the Lions, he executed a WWE-style “Kip-up” to get back on his feet after being tackled.
“He is a little crazy, but I love it,” Packers running back Josh Jacobs said. “Crazy in all the good ways. You see the way that he plays, man.”
Off the Field and Into the Spotlight
Kraft’s style and personality have drawn comparisons to Rob Gronkowski, both on and off the field. His penchant for trash talk and his willingness to put his body on the line for his team have endeared him to fans and teammates alike.
During the offseason, Kraft attended Tight End University, where he focused on improving his blocking skills. “One of my major goals, beginning of this season, was to be one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL,” Kraft said.
Looking Ahead
While Kraft’s game has evolved significantly since his high school days, he still draws on those experiences. Earlier this season, he suggested a play to the Packers coaches that he had run in high school, resulting in successful short-yardage conversions.
Mark Bavaro, who had never heard of Kraft before, is now a fan. “Everybody looks good on the highlight films, but he looks really good,” Bavaro said. “I’m surprised I had not heard of him. I don’t watch much football anymore. People tell me stuff, but I had never heard of him before.”
With his tough-guy reputation and impressive stats, Kraft is well on his way to becoming one of the NFL’s next great tight ends. As Bavaro put it, “I look at Tucker Kraft, and I see the game of football the way I was brought up to play it.”
Originally Written by: Rob Demovsky
