It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, Robert Tonyan was lighting up scoreboards at Lambeau Field, looking like the Green Bay Packers’ tight end of the future. With a breakout 2020 season where he hauled in 52 receptions for 586 yards and an astonishing 11 touchdowns, Tonyan seemed destined for stardom. But fast forward to 2025, and the NFL’s relentless churn has left him on the outside looking in—shockingly cut by the Kansas City Chiefs before training camp even began.
Let’s rewind to 2022, Tonyan’s final season with Green Bay. The Packers’ tight end room was a different beast back then. Marcedes Lewis, the grizzled veteran, was at the top of the depth chart, starting all 17 games but functioning more as an extra offensive lineman than a pass-catching threat. He recorded just six receptions for 66 yards and two touchdowns. Tyler Davis and Josiah Deguara filled out the roster, primarily contributing on special teams. Meanwhile, Tonyan was the go-to receiving option, racking up 53 catches for 470 yards and two scores—a solid follow-up to his breakout year despite coming off a major ACL injury in 2021.
Tonyan’s journey to that point was anything but easy. An undrafted free agent out of Indiana State in 2017, he first signed with the Detroit Lions but didn’t make the roster. After joining the Packers in 2018, he leaned on his athleticism and basketball background to carve out a role. His 2020 explosion—those 11 touchdowns tied for the most by a tight end in franchise history—proved he was more than just a feel-good story. He was a legitimate weapon.
But the NFL is a brutal business, and Tonyan’s stock began to dip after leaving Green Bay. In 2023, he joined the Chicago Bears, managing only 11 receptions for 112 yards in a lackluster season. In 2024, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings, completing his tour of the NFC North, but his production remained stagnant with minimal impact. Over those two seasons, he failed to find the end zone, a far cry from the touchdown machine Packers fans once cheered.
Now, in 2025, Tonyan’s attempt to latch on with the Kansas City Chiefs—a dynasty with three straight Super Bowl titles—has ended in disappointment. The Chiefs’ tight end room is stacked, led by the ageless Travis Kelce, who remains one of the league’s premier pass-catchers. Behind him, Noah Gray has solidified his role as a dependable No. 2, and 2024 fourth-round pick Jared Wiley is entering his second year with promise. With such a crowded depth chart, Tonyan was fighting for a TE4 spot that might not even exist. His recent lack of production and diminished explosiveness didn’t help his case. Once known for his burst and reliable hands, the 31-year-old tight end hasn’t moved the same since his injury, and the Chiefs weren’t willing to wait for a turnaround.
Tonyan’s fall from grace is a stark reminder of how fleeting success can be in the NFL. He climbed the mountain once, going from an undrafted longshot to a key piece of Green Bay’s offense. But the league doesn’t stop for anyone, and even a player with a career-high 52 receptions can find themselves without a roster spot just a few years later. Could Tonyan have one more comeback in him? Perhaps another team will take a chance on his experience and skill set. But for now, his release from Kansas City is a shocking turn for a player who once seemed poised for a long, productive career.
The NFL moves fast, and Robert Tonyan’s journey—from Lambeau leaps to the roster bubble—proves just how unforgiving it can be.