With Chiefs as NFL rookie, Rockhurst’s Gyllenborg addresses Andy Reid in a new way
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- John Michael Gyllenborg signed with the Kansas City Chiefs after going undrafted.
- Gyllenborg attended the Chiefs rookie mini-camp among 108 rookies.
- Gyllenborg played four seasons at Wyoming, recording 80 receptions and seven touchdowns.
When local product John Michael Gyllenborg’s relationship with the Chiefs changed, so did Andy Reid’s title.
As Gyllenborg sees it, anyway.
“I think I’ve gone to a game every year since Andy Reid has been here,” Gyllenborg said.
Pause.
“Well, ‘Coach Reid,’ now.”
Gyllenborg grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Leawood, Kansas, playing briefly at Rockhurst High before growing into an NFL prospect as a tight end for four seasons at Wyoming. So he was already plenty familiar with KC’s NFL team.
When he wasn’t selected in the NFL Draft last week, there was no doubt where Gyllenborg hoped to begin his NFL career. He signed with the Chiefs and was among the 108 rookies who attended the team’s annual rookie mini-camp over the weekend.
“When I had to make a quick decision after the draft, knowing the Chiefs were on the table, well yeah, I’m going to the Chiefs,” Gyllenborg said. “I also have to kind of separate my bias at that point and understand I’ve got to do what’s best for me — so, even while separating that the Chiefs were always the best option.
“The (Chiefs’) offense loves tight ends and they wanted me real bad, and I obviously I wanted to be here. So it was pretty much a no-brainer for me.”
The Chiefs did not draft a tight end last week, leaving the position group, led by superstar veteran Travis Kelce, intact. Noah Gray, Jared Wiley, Tre Watson and Jake Briningstool fill out the room — only Kelce and Gray caught more than one pass last season.
Growing up in Kansas City, Gyllenborg couldn’t have imagined he’d one day be competing for a spot on the Chiefs’ roster. He said football wasn’t a thing for him until his senior year at Rockhurst.
Kelly Donohoe had just succeeded Tony Severino as the Hawklets’ head coach. And it was Donohoe who persuaded Gyllenborg — who was more into basketball and baseball at the time — to give football a shot.
“He was like, ‘Come out, have fun with the boys, you’ll love it,’” Gyllenborg said.
That foray into football was fun, but brief: Gyllenborg suffered a season-ending injury in the team’s third game. By then, Donohoe had seen a future college player in Gyllenborg and contacted then-Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl about his inexperienced prospect.
“I think they just liked the upside I provided,” Gyllenborg said. “I wasn’t very good or anything like that. I provided a tall, lengthy fast guy, and Donohoe, through his encouragement, was like, ‘You should go do this.’”
At Wyoming, Gyllenborg redshirted as a freshman. And from there he developed more each season. Over four years and 43 games, he posted 80 receptions and seven touchdowns. He was measured at 6-foot-5 and 3/4 inches and 249 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran a 4.6-second 40.
Now he gets a shot in the NFL. The path is more daunting for undrafted rookies, but not impossible. Linebacker Cooper McDonald was undrafted and played in all 17 games last season. Watson and Briningstool also went undrafted.
“It will all be about the urgency, confidence that you put forward, and know that you belong,” Reid said. “You get yourself mentally prepared that way. We try to encourage that with free agents.
“All of the sudden, they’re looking at 108 guys and the lines get longer... Just learn, then improve every day.”
Gyllenborg seems to have gotten the message, but he did allow himself a moment to reflect on the idea of wearing a jersey for the team he cheered for growing up.
“It’s surreal,” he said. “I have to kind of level myself out a little bit, especially out on the field with all the coaches and everything, wearing the uniform and stuff.
“It’s really cool, but this is football. It’s the most competitive sport ever, so you can’t let your feelings get to you. You’ve gotta remember we’re still out here playing ball.”