After he wasn’t selected in this year’s NFL Draft, Jake Briningstool signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent.

Briningstool had several suitors following the draft – he said four teams besides Kansas City were interested in him – but the former Clemson tight end ultimately decided to ink a deal with the Chiefs.

Kansas City’s championship culture was a big factor in Briningstool’s decision, as a player who was part of a Clemson program that went 40-14 and won two ACC titles during his four-year career with the Tigers (2021-24).

“I played at Clemson, so I think just being around a championship culture, being around a championship team, guys that compete at a high level, guys that love to win – I think that’s really what attracted me the most,” Briningstool said to the media during rookie minicamp.

“Being able to come in here and compete with guys who have done it at the highest level and also been very successful, and a team that competes for championships is something I want to be a part of.”

Briningstool, a two-time All-ACC selection, revealed that a phone call he received from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid impacted his decision to sign with Reid’s team as well.

“Just talking to Coach Reid on the phone, I think he laid out a great plan for me, kind of just the situation, being able to come in and learn from a great tight end room and just be able to take full advantage of that opportunity,” Briningstool said. “I think also this offense, it fits my skillset and stuff I do really well. So, I’m glad to be here and excited to go to work.”

Getting that recruiting pitch from Reid personally set the Chiefs apart from the other teams that sought after Briningstool’s services.

“That was pretty unique to hear, which kind of really stood out to me, just showing how much they valued me, how much they cared,” Briningstool. “So I think that’s really what stuck out about here.”

The chance to learn from Travis Kelce – a 10-time Pro Bowler, seven-time All-Pro and three-time Super Bowl champion – and others in Kansas City’s tight end room was also highly attractive to Briningstool.

“Obviously, you know what Travis has been able to do. I think it’s very appealing to somebody that plays tight end,” Briningstool said. “I think just being able to come in here and learn from him, learn from the other guys that really play at a high level, and just be able to come in here and use my skillset and see how I can make an impact.”

During his four years at Clemson, Briningstool caught 127 passes for 1,380 yards and 17 touchdowns over his 48 career games, including 26 starts.

Briningstool finished as the Tigers’ all-time leader in career receptions by a tight end, breaking Jordan Leggett’s mark. He also finished second in school history in receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.

Briningstool finished his Clemson career tied for the seventh-most receptions by a tight end in ACC history. His three career 100-yard receiving games were a Clemson tight end record as well.