Now that Travis Kelce will be back for another three years, he has a newcomer he may guide to take up his role for the franchise’s future (whenever he decides to leave…).His parent team, the Kansas City Chiefs, not only welcomed him back for three more years but also signed a probable successor to his unfollowable (unparalleled) legacy.Enter 2026 undrafted free agent: John Michael Gyllenborg.
John Michael Gyllenborg could learn under Travis Kelce’s guidance in Kansas City Chiefs
At the rookie minicamp, Kansas City Chiefs’ newfound tight end John Michael Gyllenborg spoke to reporters. He revealed his reason for choosing Kansas City after he went undrafted on Day 3 of the 2026 NFL Draft.“This is football. It’s the most competitive sport ever, so you can’t let your feelings get to you; you have to remember we’re still out here playing ball,” Gyllenborg said. “We had to make a decision quick after the draft, and at that point, knowing that the Chiefs were on the table is like, ‘Well, yeah, I’m going to go to the Chiefs.’But I also have to separate my bias at that point and understand that I have to do what’s best for me. Even while separating that, the Chiefs were always the best option for me. The offense loves tight ends, and they wanted me really bad, and obviously, I wanted to be here. It was pretty much a no-brainer for me.”Head coach Andy Reid usually uses two or three tight ends simultaneously during a game to create flexibility and versatility (mismatch nightmares for defenses); to enhance the run game and provide reliable targets for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The three-time Super Bowl champion Travis Kelce is the Chiefs’ star TE, which would give rookie TE John Michael Gyllenborg an opportunity to learn from the best.
John Michael Gyllenborg draft profile
Gyllenborg recorded 24 receptions on 35 targets for 212 receiving yards and 1 touchdown playing for the Wyoming Cowboys in 2025. He earned a 54.1 overall PFF grade in 2025, ranking 159th among 199 qualified tight ends. His overall stats are: 80 passes caught for 1,023 yards and 7 touchdowns in 43 games (with 19 starts).He ran a 4.6-second 40-yard dash. His RAS (Relative Athletic Score) is 9.72ranking 39th among 1372 tight ends between 1987 and 2026.The 6-foot-6, 249-pounder has the athleticism to challenge defenses. His production does not always match his physical tools, but his size and movement give him potential for the next level, according to Heavy Sports’ Perry Miller Carpenter.According to the PFF Scouting Report, the Rockhurst alum is a high-percentile athlete with a strong route-running ability and explosive play potentiall. He best fits as a receiving tight end who can align in the slot or backfield, though his blocking impact will be limited due to inconsistent leverage.As per NFL Draft Buzz, Gyllenborg’s strengths are: He stacks linebackers on seam routes before they can recover their leverage, and he is a natural hands catcher who completes grabs through contact at the second level.The Wyoming alum’s weaknesses include wavering ball tracking and focus near the catch point, which can lead to avoidable drops, and an unreliable pass-protection technique.
Chiefs new tight end John Michael Gyllenborg’s background
Gyllenborg is a Kansas City native, and his Rockhurst head coach, Kelly Donohoe, was the one who told him to pursue football.“I grew up here in KC and played every sport growing up, except football, cause my grandpa didn’t want me to,” Gyllenborg said via Arrowhead Addict. “And then got to Rockhurst, and when coach Kelly Donohoe came in my senior year, it was also COVID, he was just basically like, ‘Come out and have fun with the boys. You’ll love it.’I just went out thinking, ‘Okay, this is for fun.’ I’m still focused on basketball or baseball or whatever and ended up playing three games and got hurt. But Wyoming stuck around and offered me, and, you know, that’s how that all kind of happened.”“Coach (Craig) Bohl, who was the coach at the time, was really tight with Donohoe. And I think they just liked the upside I provided. I wasn’t very good or anything like that, but they liked the upside that I provided as a tall, lengthy, fast guy,” Gyllenborg said. “(Kelly) Donohoe, through his encouragement, was like, ‘You should go do this. You have the upside.’ And here we are today.”The bizarre path that led Gyllenborg to the Kansas City Chiefs is a story worth telling. But will his future be shaped by legendary Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce? That remains to be seen…
