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What started as a simple idea has grown into one of the most prestigious events of the NFL offseason.
Tight End University is entering sixth grade next week, and this one expects to be the biggest yet — even though Travis Kelce’s fiancée, Taylor Swift, made a surprise appearance last year.
The annual event went from a simple text message from George Kittle to Greg Olsen about practicing with other tight ends in Nashville in 2021 to having fans arriving for the first time this year at Vanderbilt University.
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Broadcaster Greg Olsen looks on before the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field in Seattle, Washington on September 7, 2025. (Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Now, almost every senior tight end on the team is traveling to the event, which will be open to fans for the first time this year.
“Here we are now with about 90 guys from around the league, major sponsors and the opportunity to open it to the public for the first time at Vanderbilt. It’s a really cool mix of football, camaraderie, guys spending time with each other and quizzing each other on the field and in the classroom,” Olsen, one of TEU’s founders, recently told PK Press Club Digital. “It’s a really good mix of all those things, and we hope every year we find ways to make it better.”
No other position in football, or any other sport, offers anything like it. Of course, players can be friendly and train with each other.
But it’s a spectacle, and that’s because of the position itself.
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen runs during the second half of an NFL game against the New Orleans Saints in New Orleans.
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“There’s something about the position where the roots are more blue-collar and hard-working. It’s only in the last few years that the position has become more glamorous and superstar,” Olsen said.
“When I came into the league, it was a little different. So I think he’s the right type of guy to come together, work hard and practice, and be ready to run when it’s 100 degrees in Nashville in June, a month before training camp.”
Participants can bond, collaborate and learn among their peers while participating in a variety of activities including film study, field exercises, recovery, rehabilitation and much more. In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends who provide attendees with an invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game.
“Whether you’re a Kelce or a Kittle, a perennial All-Pro trying to extend your career and continue your success, or an undrafted rookie who’s never set foot in the NFL and whose first goal is simply to make a practice squad, there’s always another level to reach,” Olsen added. “Maybe you’re on a practice squad and now it’s time to put together a 53-man roster. That’s what we’re trying to encourage: Can you take one thing from this week, bring it back to training camp, bring it back to your team and take your career up a notch?
Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on September 22, 2019. (Nils Nilsen/Sports Illustrated/Getty Images)
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“We’re not trying to turn everyone into Travis Kelce or George Kittle or Rob Gronkowski, but there are levels to every part of this game. If we can help guys take that next step, then I think it’ll be a success. It’s a great week.”
