While Travis Kelce has been one of the most dominant tight ends ever to play in the NFL, it's no secret that his time with the Kansas City Chiefs is nearing an end. And with a new addition to the roster this offseason, the Chiefs could have found his replacement.
Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool may have gone undrafted, but Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid valued him enough as a player to call him personally and convince him to sign with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.
"That was pretty unique to hear, which kind of really stood out to me, just showing how much they valued me, how much they cared," Briningstool said according to the U.S. Sun. "So I think that's really what stuck out about here."
Obviously, Briningstool went undrafted, but he had a strong career at Clemson, catching 124 passes for 1,313 yards and 16 touchdowns. At 6-foot-6 and 240 pounds, he is a physically impressive player, and he now has a chance to learn from one of the best tight ends in league history.
Bringingstool had a pretty clear message about what it meant to learn under Kelce.
"Yeah, I mean, obviously, you know what Travis has been able to do. I think it's very appealing to somebody that plays tight end," Briningstool said.
"I think just being able to come in here and learn from him, learn from the other guys that really play at a high level, and just be able to, come in here and use my skill set and, see how I can make an impact."
Kelce, of course, is returning to the Chiefs this season after briefly considering retirement. He made it clear that one of the biggest reasons he is returning this season is to fulfill the contract he signed with the team, that runs through this upcoming 2025 season.
While Kelce has not given a formal timeline for his eventual retirement, his comments would logically indicate that this could be his final season in the NFL. If that is the case, that could provide an excellent opportunity for Briningstool.
Briningstool is fighting to make the roster this offseason, but he has already impressed Chiefs reporters with a pair of diving catches during practice. If he continues that trajectory and makes the 53-man roster, he could be in a good position to replace Kelce in the not-so-distant future.
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This story was originally published May 15, 2025 at 11:28 AM.