Khyiris Tonga may not have Travis Hunter’s spotlight, but the Chiefs nose tackle is carving out a rare two-way role of his own.
Hunter has drawn the bigger headlines as a cornerback/receiver hybrid, first at Colorado and now with the Jaguars. Tonga, meanwhile, has quietly become a defensive starter who also gets used on offense for Kansas City. The comparison is more real than it sounds: both have started every game on defense this season, and both have been sprinkled in on the other side of the ball in limited doses.
The usage numbers are surprisingly close. Hunter has played 6.8 percent of Jacksonville’s offensive snaps, while Tonga has been on the field for 4.2 percent of Kansas City’s offensive snaps.
Hunter has two catches. Tonga has two carries.
Each has picked up one first down.
The Jaguars have described Hunter as someone who can handle full-time work at both cornerback and receiver. The Chiefs, on the other hand, view Tonga as a situational short-yardage fullback when he is not anchoring the defensive line. Even so, the idea of Tonga as an offensive piece is not new.
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel began using Tonga that way last season, when Tonga played 14 offensive snaps in New England as a blocking fullback. After signing a three-year, $21 million free agent deal with the Chiefs this year, Tonga’s offensive role has grown beyond just lead blocking. Kansas City has also handed him the ball.
Tonga said on the Chiefs’ YouTube channel that stepping into an offensive huddle with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and running back Kenneth Walker was a rush.
“It was super cool,” Tonga said. “Being in the offensive huddle is amazing, especially having the players we have, to share the huddle with them.
The only thing in my mind was, Don’t mess it up. I just went out there to have fun.
It makes it easy blocking for a guy like K9.”
He even lined up on a route on a fourth-and-goal touchdown pass to Jalen Royals in Week 2. Tonga said he was ready if the ball came his way, though he was relieved when Mahomes threw elsewhere.
“I was just making sure I didn’t drop it. Look it in if it came to me. It went past me, so it was OK,” Tonga said.
And if Andy Reid ever wants to get even more creative, Tonga says he is open to it. That includes a trick play where he becomes the passer.
“Having a guy like 15, I hope they don’t make me throw the ball, but if we have to I’m ready,” Tonga said.
Tonga has also played 19 snaps on special teams this season, adding another layer to a role that already stretches across multiple phases. For the Chiefs, he has been exactly what they need him to be: available, adaptable and willing to do whatever helps the team win.
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