When the NFL Draft wraps up without your name being called, the road to the league becomes steeper—but not impossible. Just ask John Michael Gyllenborg, the Kansas City Chiefs' newest undrafted free agent tight end, who signed with his hometown team last week after going unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft.

The former Wyoming Cowboy is a local product through and through, having played his high school ball at Rockhurst High School on Kansas City's south side. On May 2, he addressed the media for the first time in a Chiefs uniform, and the conversation quickly turned to the coach who helped pave his path to the pros.

When asked about his recruitment to Wyoming, Gyllenborg didn't hesitate to credit Rockhurst head football coach Kelly Donohoe for making the connection happen—even though his role in the Hawklets' offense was limited at the time.

"They were really tight," Gyllenborg explained, referring to the relationship between Wyoming Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers Coach Aaron Bohl and Coach Donohoe. "I think they just liked the upside that I provided. I wasn't very good or anything like that, but they liked the upside that I provided as a tall, lengthy, fast guy. Donohoe, through his encouragement was like, 'You should go do this. You have the upside,' and here we are today."

That belief in raw potential is what every undrafted free agent needs—a coach who sees what could be, not just what is. Now, Gyllenborg is set to compete for a spot behind future Hall of Famer Travis Kelce on Kansas City's depth chart. He'll aim to catch the eye of head coach Andy Reid during rookie camp, which kicked off on May 1.

For fans of the Chiefs, this is a story worth watching. A local kid with a coach who believed in him, now fighting for a roster spot on the team he grew up cheering for. It's the kind of underdog narrative that makes football—and the gear we wear to support it—so special. Whether he makes the final cut or not, Gyllenborg has already proven that encouragement from the right person can go a long way.