Immediately after the 2025 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to terms with former Clemson tight end Jake Briningstool as an undrafted free agent. Briningstool reportedly secured $264,000 in guaranteed money.
After making some waves in the early portion of camp — including a few crucial plays with the team’s starters — Briningstool suffered a hamstring injury that ended his summer early, and he was placed on the Reserve/Injured list at the final cutdown date.
Although the Chiefs used a return
designation to keep Briningstool’s rookie season technically alive, he did not appear in a game in 2025.
A year later, he seems to again be climbing the team’s depth chart in his second training camp at Missouri Western State University.
He has already gotten further in the process than he did as a rookie.
“It feels great to be able to be out here and compete,” Briningstool said after Monday’s practice, “and actually put the pads on. Last year, I got hurt before we even put the pads on. Just being able to come out here and learn a lot from the other guys and be able to showcase what I can do — it’s been great. I’ve been excited to be back out here.”
Although he was not able to see the field last season, the learning went on for Briningstool.
“Last year for me,” he continued, “as frustrating as it was, I think it was a way God showed me just to be able to take a step back and do what it takes to be a pro. I think just being able to take a back seat and watch the guys in front of me and be able to just watch how they attack every single day, the stuff that they do off the field and how it translates onto the field. So, I think I really had an up-close view to be able to see that, and I can be able to translate that into my own way and use it for myself.”
That included a close-up view of arguably the best to ever practice Briningstool’s craft.
“Travis Kelce,” he remarked, “just being able to be so close to him, the Hall of Fame career that he’s had, it’s been a blessing for me to watch him, study him, and just be able to play alongside him.”
Briningstool will finally get a chance to play in front of Chiefs fans on Saturday in the preseason opener against the Los Angeles Rams. He expects a strong performance from the entire tight ends room.
“I think the biggest thing is we’ve had a super competitive camp,” he observed. “Guys have been working hard. I think we have a talented team, so we’re just excited to go out there and showcase what we’ve been working on. I’m looking forward to it, and I know all the other guys are too. We’re excited for Saturday.”
