A Kansas City native who played only three games of high school football before becoming a four-year starter at Wyoming.
John Michael Gyllenborg's football story started late, with a 2020 season wiped out by injury and the pandemic after just three high school games. He turned a three-star scholarship into a four-year career at Wyoming and now returns home to Kansas City as an undrafted rookie hoping to develop behind Travis Kelce.
Path to the league
A Leawood, Kansas native and Rockhurst High School product, Gyllenborg committed to Wyoming despite playing just three games of high school football before injury and COVID-19 ended his senior season. He redshirted in 2021, then developed steadily over four seasons in Laramie before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2026.
Career highlights
Gyllenborg's breakout moment came as a redshirt sophomore in 2023, when he caught the game-winning touchdown in double overtime against Texas Tech in the season opener, part of a 23-catch, 360-yard, three-touchdown season. He earned Second Team All-Mountain West honors in 2024 after posting 31 receptions for 437 yards and three scores, highlighted by a 63-yard touchdown against San Jose State.
2025 season recap
Gyllenborg closed out his Wyoming career in 2025 after four seasons as the Cowboys' primary tight end option, finishing with 80 career catches for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns in 43 games. He went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but signed with his hometown Chiefs as a developmental tight end behind Travis Kelce.
Sources
- Wikipedia: John Michael Gyllenborg
- Yahoo Sports: Chiefs' UDFA TE John Michael Gyllenborg saw hometown as best fit
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Tight End
- Group
- injuredReserveOrOut
- College
- Wyoming
- Hometown
- Leawood, KS, USA
- Age
- 24
- Status
- day-to-day
