Starting his NFL career on the Detroit Lions' practice squad in 2017, former Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan has signed with every team in the NFC North after signing a contract with the Vikings on Thursday.
Former Chicago Bears tight end Robert Tonyan signs with Vikings
With Cole Kmet re-signing last summer and the addition of Gerald Everett this off-season, it was apparent that Robert Tonyan would probably not re-sign. Signing with the Vikings, Tonyan has now joined every NFC North team in the NFL.
2017: Detroit Lions (practice squad)
2017-2022: Green Bay Packers
2023: Chicago Bears
2024-present: Minnesota Vikings
In Tonyan's one season with the Chicago Bears, he started six games, totaling 11 receptions for 112 yards and no touchdowns. He played behind Cole Kmet in a lackluster offense, and one of his most memorable moments in a Bears uniform is a reason Bears fans might have a sour taste in their mouth when going down memory lane.
the tonyan drop. brutal. flat looks like #1 to me and justin does an amazing job getting to tonyan and throws one of the better passes in his career.
— Mike Faltas (@chi_faltas) December 18, 2023
ope
in a bit of irony kmet does a great job riding garrett out pic.twitter.com/QdRxCAqBnQ
Tonyan wasn't expected to be the team's saving grace at tight end, but it's fair to say he was a bit lackluster in his time with the Bears. Now, he gets the chance to assist in the development of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota behind star tight end TJ Hockenson, another tight end who's stayed in the NFC North his entire career.
While his time in Chicago was brief, he can still collect the Bears' gem, as he fills his NFC North infinity gauntlet of teams played for. Let's just hope he does not hurt the Bears next season.