Jonnu Smith sets 2 Dolphins records in one drive

Jonnu Smith is officially having the best season any tight end has ever had with the Miami Dolphins.

With a 22-yard reception in the third quarter Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, Smith set a single-season franchise record for a tight end. The reception was his 74th of the year, eclipsing the previous record of 73 that was set by Randy McMichael in 2004 and tied by Mike Gesicki in 2021.

Two plays later, Smith caught his 75th pass for a gain of nine that moved him to 797 yards on the year, surpassing McMichael’s record of 791 yards that was also set in 2004.

All that’s left is one more franchise record for touchdowns in a season, which is very much in reach too. Smith entered Week 16 with five touchdown grabs, two behind Keith Jackson’s record of seven, which was set in 1994.

There’s a caveat to these records, though. During the team’s early seasons in the American Football League, it had some prolific numbers put up by players listed at the “left end” position rather than wide receiver or tight end. Jack Clancy racked up 868 yards from the “LE” spot in 1967 and Karl Noonan had 11 touchdowns at that spot in 1968.