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The Kansas City Chiefs didn’t take a tight end in the 2026 NFL Draft, but they quickly addressed the position afterward as they start thinking about the future beyond Travis Kelce.
One of those additions was former Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, a Kansas City-area native who joins the roster as a developmental option behind Kelce.
Gyllenborg, who is from Leawood, Kansas, and attended Rockhurst High School in Missouri, played 43 games at Wyoming. During his college career, he recorded 80 receptions for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns.
Chiefs senior reporter Matt McMullen highlighted Gyllenborg’s athletic profile following rookie minicamp, noting his performance at the NFL Combine and overall physical traits.
“The Chiefs signed a local rookie prospect to the roster following draft weekend and former Wyoming tight end John Michael Gyllenborg, a native of Leawood who attended Rockhurst before going on to play 43 games for the Cowboys, catching 80 passes for more than 1,000 yards and seven touchdowns in that time. Gyllenborg has some big-time athletic traits. He’s an alum of Bruce Feldman’s annual freak list, and he showed off that skill set at the Combine, logging the third-best broad jump of any tight end at the event.” McMullen said in the May 8 tweet.
Gyllenborg’s path to football is uncommon. He did not begin playing the sport until his senior year of high school, when Rockhurst head coach Kelly Donohoe encouraged him to join the team.
“I grew up here in KC, and I played every sport growing up — except football because my grandpa didn’t want me to,” Gyllenborg said in his first press conference. “I got to Rockhurst, and Coach Donohoe came in my senior year — it was also COVID — he was basically like, ‘Come out and have fun with the boys. You will love it.’”
“I just went out thinking it was for fun and that I was still focused on basketball or baseball,” he added. “I ended up playing three games and got hurt, but Wyoming stuck around and offered me.”
Former Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl offered Gyllenborg a scholarship based largely on his athletic potential.
“I wasn’t very good, but they liked the upside that I provided as a tall, lengthy, fast guy,” Gyllenborg said. “Donohoe, through his encouragement, was like, ‘You should go do this. You have the upside.’ And here we are today.”
Kansas City native/@GoHawklets alum John Michael Gyllenborg didn’t play football until his senior year of high school.
Now he’s a UDFA with the team he grew up cheering for:
“It’s surreal…I’ve gone to a game every year since Andy Reid got here. Or, Coach Reid now.” #Chiefs
After going undrafted, Gyllenborg had the option to choose where to begin his NFL career. He said the Chiefs stood out not only because of his ties to the area, but also because of how they use the tight end position.
“We had to make a decision quick after the draft,” Gyllenborg said. “At that point, knowing that the Chiefs were on the table, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to the Chiefs.’”
“Their offense loves tight ends, and they wanted me really bad. Obviously, I wanted to be here. It was pretty much a no-brainer for me,” he added.
According to Spotrac, Gyllenborg received $267,500 in guaranteed money as part of his undrafted contract, a figure that suggests the team sees potential value in his development.
Gyllenborg also acknowledged the significance of joining the team he grew up watching but emphasized the need to stay focused.
“It’s surreal,” he said. “But this is football. It’s the most competitive sport ever. So, you can’t let your feelings get to you. You’ve got to remember that we’re still out there playing ball.”
The Chiefs also added several other undrafted players, including Duke edge rusher Vincent Anthony Jr. and Cincinnati wide receiver Jeff Caldwell, as part of what has been described as a strong post-draft class.
Perry Miller Carpenter Perry Carpenter is a writer and editor with 20 years of experience covering entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. She is also a standout contributor at Heavy.com’s sister site Entertainment Now. More about Perry Miller Carpenter
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