The Chiefs may have gotten their ‘replacement’ for Travis Kelce on Tuesday as Kansas City added tight end Robert Tonyan in free agency.
Kelce, 35, weighed up retirement after his team’s loss in the Super Bowl before deciding to return for a 13th season.
But Kansas City has bolstered their tight ends room with the signing of Tonyan, 30, as reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who has 17 career touchdowns.
The tight end’s best season came in 2020 for the Packers, as he hauled in 586 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns.
He’s since played for the Bears and Vikings, and appeared in just five games for Minnesota last year. He also spent time on the Chiefs’ practice squad last season.
In response to the news, some fans suggested that Tonyan could wind up being the Chiefs’ starter at tight end.
Travis Kelce is returning for a 13th season, but it could be his farewell year in the NFL
Robert Tonyan was on the Vikings last year before spending time on the Chiefs’ practice squad
Tonyan previously starred for the Green Bay Packers, scoring 11 touchdowns in 2020
‘Travis Kelce better watch out his job gonna be taken,’ one wrote on X.
‘Kelce’s replacement – Big Bob Tonyan,’ another added.
A third fan suggested Kelce was past his best, writing, ‘Nice signing to replace Kelce. Kelce washed up anyways.’
And a fourth said, ‘Great addition for the Chiefs.’
The Chiefs also have backup tight end Noah Gray on the roster, and the former fifth-round pick could be ready for extended action after being Kelce’s deputy for the last four seasons.
He had a career-high 40 receptions, 437 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.
Kelce was below his brilliant best in 2024 for the Chiefs, as he posted his fewest receiving yards (823) and touchdowns (984) since his sophomore NFL season in 2014.
He later proved to be rather anonymous in the Super Bowl as he caught just four balls against the Eagles.
He later admitted on his New Heights podcast with his brother Jason that he was lacking focus during the game.
‘I feel like I owe the guys that I come into that building with a whole lot more effort and focus,’ he later said on his New Heights podcast, referring to the game itself. ‘I just don’t know what it was during that game man, I wasn’t at my best.
‘The more that I see clips or watch the film and put myself back into those moments, man, I’m just like ‘what the f**k.”
