Travis Kelce is back to help George Kittle lead the second annual Tight End University in Nashville this week.
At this point, Tight End University has taken on a life of its own, a path that likely no one ever saw coming—even those who helped form it in the first place. But at its core, it remains an important offseason moment for tight ends to gather, network, and hone their craft with the NFL’s best at the position.
Consider this year that 80 players will come together in Nashville at Vanderbilt University to join founder George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs in the second annual event.
What’s interesting is that Tight End University began as an organic event with Kittle at the center of it all, working out in his offseason home in Nashville. Other positions had developed summits over the last few years and Kittle wanted to form the same. While working out, he’d joined with other tight ends and it only took some formal invitations to turn it into a league-wide event.
This year’s event features at least 85 in attendance, per the Associated Press, and featured posts like this one online showing who was going to be there. It’s as if these were recruits choosing the next step of their career versus going to a three-day conference of sorts.
https://twitter.com/te_university/status/1536838584317136896
For all the hype surrounding it, it’s clear that the event is good for everyone involved. Kelce is a legend still in his prime, a man headed for the hallowed halls of Canton whenever he’s ready to call it quits. Kittle might have the best all-around skill set in the league, and fellow leader Greg Olson is an all-time great himself. For anyone hungry at the position, there’s plenty of knowledge to go around from these three figures alone.
Tight End University will continue through June 24 in Nashville before players will likely head out for the last full month of their summer break before training camp begins.