Robert Tonyan’s NFL profession blossomed over six seasons whereas catching passes from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau Field.
But all of the whereas Tonyan, a 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight finish, stored in his basement the jersey and autograph from a childhood hero, Hall of Fame Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher.
Tonyan, 28, grew up in McHenry and performed quarterback for McHenry High earlier than transferring to broad receiver at Indiana State and tight finish with the Packers. His NFL desires alongside the way in which typically have been coloured in orange and blue, and this week he made {that a} actuality by signing a one-year contract with the Bears.
He joins a rising listing of Bears gamers from the Northwest suburbs, together with fellow tight finish Cole Kmet, returning linebacker Jack Sanborn and new linebacker T.J. Edwards.
“Did I think I’d be a tight end for the Bears? No,” Tonyan stated on a videoconference name with Chicago reporters Friday. “But did I think I’d play for the Bears? Yeah, absolutely. In my brain I was playing for the Bears my whole life. I’m just super pumped to be here.”
Tonyan entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie in 2017 and had restricted contributions in his first two seasons on the sphere in 2018-19.
He had a profession 12 months in 2020 with 52 catches for 586 yards and 11 touchdowns, however his 2021 season was minimize 9 video games brief due to an ACL tear. He recovered in time to play in all 17 video games in 2022 and had 53 catches for 470 yards and two touchdowns. But it took some time to really feel like himself on the sphere once more.
“It’s difficult because you don’t play football for a whole year, and your body and mind kind of check out of the actual football aspect of things,” he stated. “Neurologically speaking, your body is not used to those movements and playing and straining and stuff like that. But toward the end of the year, the last four games after our late bye week, I started feeling like myself again and being able to put my brand of football out there that I was seeking. I just ended strong, and it gave me a better feeling about going into the offseason and going into this process.”
Tonyan stated he spent most of Thursday speaking with Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who labored with him in Green Bay. Tonyan stated he thinks he is usually a good complement to Kmet. And he desires to deliver one other playmaker to the offense for quarterback Justin Fields, from whom he noticed good progress final season whereas watching from afar.
Bears common supervisor Ryan Poles stated in an announcement that Tonyan is “a great addition to our roster with his familiarity of the scheme and pass-catching ability.” Poles additionally has introduced in new broad receiver DJ Moore and operating again D’Onta Foreman over the past week to assist Fields.
“(Fields) is a mentally strong young player,” Tonyan stated. “That’s exhausting to do once you come within the league when you have got a variety of — whether or not it’s optimistic or destructive — issues being stated about you within the media, simply retaining your cool and enjoying your sport. … He’s staying in there, taking hits, popping up. He stored coming again for extra.
“That’s what you want in a quarterback and a leader, someone who doesn’t quit or back down, playing through injuries or whatever it may be. I’m just super excited to be a part of that.”
Tonyan makes the change within the Bears-Packers rivalry throughout a wierd time in Green Bay as Rodgers hopes to be traded to the New York Jets this offseason and the Packers put together to maneuver on with quarterback Jordan Love.
Tonyan stated the offseason uncertainty has been “kind of the norm over the years,” noting he doesn’t suppose that’s destructive however simply one thing that goes with the tail finish of gamers’ careers. He stated Rodgers has “earned the right to have that attention and say-so with his future.”
Tonyan didn’t essentially must know the main points of the Packers’ quarterback plans earlier than making a choice on his subsequent transfer.
“Just holding my future in my own hands was the biggest thing for me this year,” Tonyan stated. “Making the right decision, the next move just very cautiously. I think — not I think — I believe, I know I made the right decision.”
Joining the Bears is the following step in a winding journey for Tonyan that included throwing for five,000 yards and 40 touchdowns at McHenry East. He performed one season at quarterback at FCS Indiana State earlier than switching to broad receiver for his closing three seasons. He had 150 catches for two,047 yards and 20 touchdowns there.
After going undrafted, he joined the Detroit Lions however was minimize earlier than the 2017 season and ultimately latched on with the Packers.
“Some people’s paths and destinations are just different, and it just kind of goes to show my personality is just keep going,” Tonyan stated. “There are going to be ups and downs, however should you can simply keep even-keel internally, simply have a imaginative and prescient and the objectives on the finish, and once you see that gentle on the finish of the tunnel, simply type of reap the benefits of it.
“Just trust the process and home in on your own craft and your own work. Worry about yourself. Don’t compare. Just keep working and things are going to work out for you.”
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com
