Local UDFA details encouragement from Rockhurst HS coach Kelly Donohoe

The Kansas City Chiefs agreed to a contract with tight end John Michael Gyllenborg last week after the former Wyoming Cowboy failed to hear his name called during the 2026 NFL Draft. After signing with the Chiefs, Gyllenborg — a local prospect who played at Rockhurst High School on Kansas City's south side — addressed the media in a Chiefs uniform for the first time on May 2. In response to a question about his recruitment to Wyoming, Gyllenborg credited Rockhurst's head football coach, Kelly Donohoe, for greasing the wheels on his commitment, despite his infrequent use in the Hawklets' offense.

“They were really tight, (Wyoming Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers) Coach (Aaron) Bohl, who was the coach at the time, was really tight with (Rockhurst High School Head) Coach (Kelly) Donohoe," Gyllenborg explained. "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. ” Now set to compete for a spot behind Travis Kelce on Kansas City's depth chart, Gyllenborg will aim to impress Chiefs head coach Andy Reid during the team's rookie camp, which officially kicked off on May 1.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Chiefs' UDFA TE on encouragement from Rockhurst HS coach Kelly Donohoe