When tight end Robert Tonyan was signed to the Chiefs’ practice squad two days before Christmas, there was at least one familiar face with the franchise.
Fellow tight end Travis Kelce. Tonyan has taken part in Tight End University each year since Kelce started the annual teaching camp with George Kittle and Greg Olsen. Despite that prior knowledge, seeing Kelce on an everyday basis has been an eye-opening experience for Tonyan.
“Being here and like seeing how he practices and how he prepares, and maintaining his body, he probably has the most snaps of any tight end in the last 10-12 years,” Tonyan said. “How far the Chiefs go in the playoffs every year, and obviously the Andy Reid camps, he’s taken a lot of wear and tear. But the way he’s able to rejuvenate and get ready for the next day, how much he did the day before, it’s pretty incredible.
“He practices hard. I love, like, just learning from him over the years. I was in Green Bay, you see his film, and you don’t really get it. And then you get to ask him questions, and then you see where his mind’s at, and it’s awesome.”
Tonyan, 31, played for the Packers from 2018-2022, then spent a year with the Bears and part of last season with the Vikings before he was released and joined the Chiefs.
The 2020 season was Tonyan’s best in the NFL as he caught 52 passes for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Aaron Rodgers, a future Hall of Famer, was the Packers quarterback that season. Now Tonyan is catching passes from the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes, another quarterback certain to be enshrined in Canton.
“They can each make every single throw imaginable on the field,” Tonyan said. “It’s kind of funny, just seeing Pat getting better every day as well, like in seven(-on-seven) or something like that. He’s making those hard throws look easy, but he’s consistent with them.
“Pat’s incredible. It’s great to be in the huddle and see his command and see him control the line and make plays and extend plays, and I’m happy to be a part of that.”
While Kelce has been a big help, Tonyan also praised tight end Noah Gray. Tonyan, who is 6-5 and 240 pounds, is focused on honing his game during his first Chiefs training camp. That’s also his mindset heading into Saturday’s preseason game against the Cardinals.
It will be his first time suiting up for a game with the Chiefs.
“I want to get better every day, and those games are a great opportunity to do so,” Tonyan said. “Just keep grinding it out. Like I said, this is an Andy Reid camp. And just keep on grinding. Make full-speed mistakes and don’t make them twice, and then just make plays and keep grinding.”
Tonyan had an opportunity to join another team following last season because the Chiefs cut him in January days before their first playoff game.
But Tonyan signed with the Chiefs in March, and it was a no-brainer.
“I just wanted to be in a functional spot to give me an opportunity to play my game,” he said. “They brought me in (for) the last bit of the season last year, kind of battling something with (an) injury last year, but not fully healthy, and they wanted me to come back. And they’re very eager early on in free agency. So I was just excited to take the opportunity, learn from Trav and Noah.
“This offense is incredible. You get the tight ends involved. You’re pushing the ball down the field. Great run scheme. So I’m excited to be a part of it. A Super Bowl opportunity every year.”
