This KU player was featured on ESPN. Now, he’s getting a tryout with the Chiefs
Jared Casey understands that he faces long odds while trying out for the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the team’s rookie minicamp over the weekend.
The former Kansas tight end and fullback also knows this, though: He’s thrived as an underdog before.
“Obviously, I’m shorter than most guys. I may not be as big as some guys,” said Casey, who’s listed on the Chiefs’ roster at 6 feet and 245 pounds. “But obviously, that’s been like that my whole life. I’ve been told that my whole life.
“And I don’t really care what anybody else says. I know what I bring to the table.”
Casey’s football journey took another improbable step in the last few days, as the former KU walk-on earned a chance at the NFL while looking to catch the attention of Chiefs coaches during a three-day tryout session.
That’s come with some perks for the 23-year-old Casey — a native of Plainville, Kansas (population 1,750) in the northwest part of the state.
“Just being able to go out and wear a Chiefs jersey and Chiefs helmet,” Casey said, “is kind of just a dream come true.”
His backstory has to rival any among the 80-plus players taking part in this week’s minicamp.
Casey had no FBS offers out of high school before accepting a preferred walk-on spot with KU. Once Casey arrived, Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold designated him as a fullback on the roster ... even though his offense didn’t actually have that position.
“I don’t think it’d be fair to list a 5-9 tight end in Power Five football,” Leipold said at the time with a smile. “So we just list him as a fullback.”
During Casey’s redshirt freshman season, he was so far down the depth chart that Leipold said coaches were debating whether he should be on the travel roster; that group included the team’s top six tight ends.
Casey, though, made the most of the opportunities that soon came his way.
Multiple KU tight ends suffered injuries that season, which led to Casey getting his first college snaps as an offensive player during a 2021 road game against Texas.
That set up history. Casey caught the team’s game-winning two-point conversion in that 57-56 victory over the Longhorns, playing the part of hero during the Jayhawks’ first-ever win in Austin.
The following week, he was highlighted on ESPN’s College GameDay and also in a feature produced by Fox’s Tom Rinaldi.
It was far from the end of his football success, though.
Casey played 47 games over the next four years, earning All-Big 12 first-team honors at fullback this past season.
None of that guaranteed a shot at the NFL. Casey said he watched the end of the NFL Draft at home with his family in Plainville, unsure of what would happen next.
“I was just praying and hopeful that I would get a call,” Casey said. “And hopeful, optimistic, that something would come.”
The phone did ring. The Chiefs offered him a chance to try out — a sequence that Casey said “was a really cool moment for me and my family.”
It’s been that for Plainville, as well. Casey said this week has been filled with shout-outs, texts and calls from supporters (and Chiefs fans) wishing him the best from his hometown.
“They were really excited to hear that I was coming to rookie camp here,” Casey said. “And so, just doing it for my family and everyone back home, too.”
He’s shown some flashes of belonging during his short time here.
That included a highlight play during Saturday’s drills, as Casey pulled down a one-handed catch late in practice. Afterward, he flexed both arms and screamed toward the air in celebration.
“I was just excited for myself, just getting to be able to make a play,” he said. “It was on the sideline, so just seems like everyone was down and tired. So just lifted up the offense a little bit and got everybody going.”
Casey, who described this week as a “surreal experience,” said he was attempting to live in the moment while not looking too far into the future.
The Chiefs are giving him a chance. And that’s all he’s ever needed in the past to make an impression.
“I’m just happy,” Casey said, “and excited to be here.”
