Robert Tonyan Jr., the tight end who has journeyed through multiple NFC North teams in recent seasons, has officially joined the Minnesota Vikings, completing his circuit across the division. The Vikings announced the signing of Tonyan, marking the fourth and final team in the NFC North to have him on their roster. Tonyan’s arrival in Minnesota was confirmed via the team’s official social media account on May 17.
Last season, Tonyan donned the Chicago Bears’ jersey under a $2.65 million contract, appearing in all 17 games and securing six starts. However, his statistics were modest, recording 11 catches for 112 receiving yards on 17 targets without finding the end zone, according to Pro Football Reference. Prior to his stint with the Bears, Tonyan spent five years as a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers with the Green Bay Packers. Interestingly, Tonyan’s NFL journey began in 2017 with the Detroit Lions, albeit without any regular-season appearances. During his time on the Lions’ practice squad, he earned $28,800, as reported by Spotrac.
As Tonyan embarks on his tenure with the Vikings, speculation arises about his potential impact, particularly against his former team, the Bears. However, his role in Minnesota may be temporary, with the imminent return of T.J. Hockenson, a fellow former Lion and two-time Pro Bowler, who is recovering from a knee injury. Hockenson’s expected full recovery before the Bears-Vikings matchups could diminish Tonyan’s significance on the field.
In Chicago, the passing game thrived last season, led by tight end Cole Kmet, who saw career-highs in receptions (73) and receiving yards (719), along with six touchdowns. With the offseason additions of wide receivers Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze, alongside DJ Moore, and the introduction of quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2024, expectations for an even more dynamic offense are high. Kmet, although pivotal last season, may see reduced involvement in the passing attack due to the influx of talent and a potential shift towards a more aerial-focused strategy under Williams’ leadership.
These developments have rendered Tonyan surplus to requirements in Chicago, especially considering his primary skill set in pass-catching, which wasn’t prominently featured in the Bears’ offensive scheme last season and may be further marginalized in the upcoming campaign.