Together with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce has been the heart of the Chiefs’ dynasty. However, every dynasty faces the sunset. The retirement clock is ticking as Kelce approaches his 36th birthday this season and completes the last year of his current contract. So, retirement isn’t a matter of if, but when. Kelce acknowledged in March on his New Heights podcast: “I still feel like I can play at a high level…I don’t think it was my best outing. I think I let my guys down in a lot more moments than I helped them.”

With Kelce’s remarks suggesting that this might be the last chapter, the Kansas City Chiefs have started writing the prelude to life after No. 87. Instead of choosing a tight end in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chiefs quickly selected Jake Briningstool of Clemson, a potential gem in the undrafted round.

The potential heir to Kelce’s throne has now made his way to Kansas City with a message. Briningstool made it apparent that Kansas City wasn’t simply another opportunity— it was the opportunity. As Chiefs Wire’s Charles Goldman reported on X: “Chiefs TE Jake Briningstool says that it was very appealing to learn from Travis Kelce and others in the TE room: ‘Being around championship culture, that’s really what attracted me the most.’” Those four words — “being around championship culture” may not seem particularly noteworthy. They, however, go right to the heart of what makes the Chief’s locker room so alluring. It’s the standard, not simply the genius of Mahomes or Andy Reid’s plan. The legacy. The need to win every year.

At his position, the 6’6″, 241-pound pass catcher was unquestionably one of college football’s most reliable receiving threats. Throughout his collegiate career, Briningstool’s combined frame, feel for soft spots in zone coverage, and sticky hands helped him to record 127 receptions (a Clemson TE record), 1,380 yards, and 17 touchdowns. He even finished among the top 10 tight ends at the Combine with a 40-yard sprint time of 4.75 seconds.

Briningstool knows that he isn’t going to be handed anything in a tight end room that is run by Travis Kelce and backed by Noah Gray. However, he knows what it’s like to enter a place where anything less than a Super Bowl victory is considered failure. He knows it because of Clemson’s championship heritage. So, he’s not merely here to fight. He is here to gain knowledge, to take in. And perhaps—just possibly—to help before the torch is handed.

With Travis Kelce, nearing his final season, Briningstool makes a direct appeal to Andy Reid

Although Jake Briningstool’s previous statement made clear why he chose Kansas City—“being around championship culture”—his subsequent statement was perhaps more revealing. This was more than just a sentimental landing place. It was a well-thought-out football move. Charles Goldman (@goldmctNFL) posted on X: “Chiefs TE Jake Briningstool: ‘This offense, it fits my skill set and what I do really well. Excited to be here and go to work.”

That is a subtle plea to Andy Reid. A coded message: Don’t put me on the shelf, coach. I’m prepared to earn this system. Briningstool knows he’s not going into TE1 reps. However, the 6’6″ Clemson product wasn’t here to blend in. In an offence that elevates players like him, he came here to work under a Hall of Famer. He is placing a wager on his suitability with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ winning culture.

Let’s face it, Kansas City’s offensive performance in 2024 wasn’t exactly flawless. Drops. Miscommunication. A revolving door at wide receiver. And while Kelce is performing his best, he’s also aging. Therefore, tight ends like Briningstool are important, not only for 2025 but also for years to come. He isn’t athletic. In the run game, he is not a mauler. But he is tall, intelligent, and skilled at identifying soft spots; if given the chance, he is the type of tight end Patrick Mahomes can make a matchup nightmare.

Andy Reid might not have to wait until life after Kelce if Briningstool’s camp goes well. He might just find another chess piece to deploy now, and a long-term investment in the post-Kelce era.