This Chiefs tight end who ‘does everything the right way’ is now finding end zone
Noah Gray allowed himself none of the good feelings normally associated with a superb outing.
Asked about scoring two touchdowns in a game for the first time in his four-year NFL career — which he did last weekend against the Buffalo Bills — Gray couldn’t even muster a smile.
“It doesn’t really matter,” Gray said. “The only thing I think that does matter is the win.”
That didn’t happen for the Chiefs, who lost last weekend for the first time this season. Gray said all the right things about the quality of the opponent, the wild atmosphere and the playoff intensity of the game.
But he said nothing about how he broke quickly, got to the goal line and turned around in time to snare Patrick Mahomes’ 2-yard pass for a touchdown that gave the Chiefs their final lead of the game.
Nor did mention how, on his second touchdown, he worked his way to the back corner of the end zone and tap-danced his feet to remain inbounds for a 1-yard TD. That one closed the deficit to two points early in the fourth quarter.
The two scoring receptions were among Gray’s four catches in the game, which matched a career best. The TDs were his first of the season and provided further evidence that he’s becoming a favored target in the Chiefs’ passing game.
With 23 receptions on 26 targets this season, Gray owns an 88.5% catch rate — the team’s best for a player with at least four catches.
Gray also has a 76.3% success rate on receptions. That’s at least 40% of required yards on first down, 60% on second down and 100% on third and fourth down. This, too, is tops for the Chiefs.
Gray’s production and snap counts have increased this year and he’s on pace to have his most productive season.
There’s a simple reason for this.
“He does everything the right way,” Mahomes said. “He’s learned a ton from (Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce) and so he knows how to work within the rules of the offense and get himself open.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy called Gray “Mr. Consistent, and probably one of the more underrated and underappreciated guys, from outside of this building.”
The Chiefs selected Gray as a fifth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He’d starred at Duke, carving out a steady career and becoming the program’s career leader for receptions by a tight end.
As a Chiefs rookie, Gray mostly played special teams. And he continues to see reps there, even subbing in at long-snapper for injured James Winchester in a preseason game.
But his value to the offense grows. The Chiefs rewarded Gray with a contract extension on the eve of the season opener, a three-year deal worth $18 million, perhaps putting the former Blue Devil in a position to succeed Kelce as the team’s premier tight end.
As it is, Gray is on track for a career year. Don’t be surprised if, as Kelce continues to draw most of opposing defenses’ attention, Gray’s production continues to climb.
“He’s just a guy that’s going to be in the right spot,” Mahomes said, “so as a quarterback you know if you’re going to give him the football, he’s going to make the play happen.”
This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 2:17 PM.