New Chiefs tight end Robert Tonyan has provided a glowing review of what it’s like to play with Travis Kelce as the pair get to know one another at training camp.
Tonyan, 31, signed a one-year deal with Kansas City in March as the defending AFC champions bolstered their tight end depth behind Kelce.
And the former Packers star has been hugely impressed with what’s he’s seem from Kelce up close.
‘Being here, seeing how he practices and how he prepares and maintaining his body… he’s taken a lot of wear and tear,’ Tonyan told reporters on Tuesday.
‘But the way he’s able to rejuvenate and get ready for the next day, [with] how much he did before, it’s pretty incredible. And he practices hard, I love just learning from him.
‘Over the years, how I was with Green Bay, you see his film and you don’t really get it,’ he continued. ‘And then you get to ask him questions and then you see where his mind’s at and it’s awesome. Learning from him and Noah [Gray], they’re both just two great players, and learning what Coach Reid likes, what Pat [Mahomes] likes and then just kind of putting my little plays around it as well.’
Robert Tonyan (left) beamed about working with Travis Kelce (center) and Noah Gray
Tonyan said it was ‘incredible’ to see the way which 35-year-old Kelce recovers
Kelce had a down year by his own lofty standards in 2025, but decided to return
Tonyan, who went undrafted in 2018, spent five years with the Packers and registered a career-best 586 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2020.
He’s also spent time with the Bears and Vikings in the last two years, and joined the Chiefs’ practice squad in December.
Kelce is also set to be backed up once again by Noah Gray, who produced a career-high 437 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season.
After flirting with retirement following the Chiefs’ Super Bowl loss to the Eagles, Kelce will be looking to produce a bounce-back year in what could be his final season in the NFL.
The future Hall of Famer had a down year by his own lofty standards as he produced his fewest receiving yards (823) since his sophomore season.
However, he returned to the Chiefs this summer in slimmed-down form as he dropped weight from the season before.
‘Each year is different man. You got to rebuild it,’ he told reporters in June.
‘This year, got some time to really focus on some form running and some things early on in the offseason that I just didn’t have time for last year. Certainly, feeling good and I think it will pay off.’
Kelce, who spent time working with a personal trainer in Florida, also pleased head coach Andy Reid with the shape he turned up in.
‘He’s svelte right now,’ Reid previously beamed. ‘He looks like he’s 20. He’s doing a good job. He’s in great shape.’
Kelce and the Chiefs will begin their preseason on Saturday against the Bears before kicking off their regular season on September versus the Chargers.
