Noah Gray’s Quiet 2025 Raises Big Questions About Chiefs’ Tight End Future
When it comes to Kansas City’s tight end room, Travis Kelce still casts a long shadow. But as the Chiefs look toward the future-whether Kelce returns for another run in 2026 or not-they’ve got some serious evaluating to do when it comes to his presumed successor, Noah Gray. And after a disappointing 2025 season, that succession plan is looking far less certain than it did just a year ago.
Let’s rewind a bit. Gray entered the league in 2021 as a fifth-round pick out of Duke, known more for his reliable hands than his blocking chops.
But credit where it’s due-he put in the work. By 2022, Gray had carved out a role as Kansas City’s No. 2 tight end.
He was a steady, under-the-radar contributor: a solid blocker, a dependable target, and a guy who fit seamlessly into Andy Reid’s offense.
That blend of versatility and consistency earned him a three-year, $18 million extension that kicked in for the 2025 season. At $6 million per year, Gray wasn’t breaking the bank, but that kind of contract usually signals a team’s belief in a player as a potential starter. With Kelce inching closer to the end of a Hall of Fame career, the writing on the wall seemed clear-Gray was being groomed to take the reins.
But then came 2025.
In a season where the Chiefs were desperate for someone-anyone-to step up in the passing game, Gray faded into the background. His final stat line: 21 catches for 178 yards and no touchdowns across 16 games.
That’s a steep drop from his 2024 output of 40 receptions, 437 yards, and five scores. And it wasn’t just the raw numbers that took a hit-his efficiency dipped too, with his yards per catch falling to 8.5, by far the lowest of his career.
So what happened?
Gray’s route participation did drop-he ran 262 routes in 2025 compared to an average of just over 300 in the previous three seasons. That could suggest a shift in the offensive scheme, more blocking responsibilities, or simply a change in the pecking order.
But it’s hard to pin the decline solely on usage. Pro Football Focus credited Gray with only 47 pass-blocking snaps all season, so it’s not like he was staying in to protect Mahomes every down.
And with the Chiefs struggling to find consistent production from their wide receivers, there was certainly opportunity to make an impact.
Instead, Gray’s production landed him in the same statistical neighborhood as veteran journeymen like Austin Hooper and Adam Troutman-players known more for filling roster spots than moving the chains. In fact, among all NFL tight ends who ran at least 250 routes in 2025, Gray had the fewest receptions. That’s not the kind of company you want to keep when you’re being counted on to eventually replace one of the greatest tight ends in league history.
To put it in perspective: in 2024, Gray’s numbers were on par with guys like T.J. Hockenson, Isaiah Likely, and Brenton Strange-young, ascending tight ends who were legitimate threats in their offenses. Fast forward a year, and Gray’s output mirrors that of blocking specialists and depth chart placeholders.
Was it injury? Possibly.
Gray did miss one game after a Week 12 concussion, but his numbers before and after the absence were nearly identical. Was it a matter of trust?
Maybe Mahomes and Reid started leaning more on other options down the stretch. Or maybe it was just a down year.
Whatever the case, it’s clear that the Chiefs can’t assume Gray is the long-term answer at tight end anymore-not without seeing more.
That brings us back to Kelce. If he returns for another season, Kansas City gets a bit of breathing room.
But even with Kelce in the fold, the need to identify and develop his successor isn’t going away. The Chiefs could look to the draft-there are intriguing prospects like Kenyon Sadiq who might fit the mold.
Or they could explore free agency, depending on how the offseason shakes out.
But one thing is certain: the Chiefs can’t rely on hope alone. Gray was given a real opportunity in 2025, and the results just didn’t match the expectations. Whether that’s a blip or a sign of a ceiling, Kansas City has to reassess its plan at one of the most important positions in their offense.
For now, all eyes remain on Kelce’s decision. But behind the scenes, the Chiefs’ front office has a much bigger puzzle to solve-what comes next at tight end, and whether Noah Gray is still part of that picture.