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What started as just an idea turned into one of the most prestigious events of the NFL offseason.
Tight End University will begin its sixth year next week, and this year hopes to be its biggest yet, even if Travis Kelce’s fiancée Taylor Swift made a surprise appearance last year.
The annual event went from a single text message from George Kittle to Greg Olsen about working out with some fellow tight ends in Nashville in 2021 to attracting fans for the first time this year at Vanderbilt University.
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Announcer Greg Olsen watches 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, nearly every team’s top tight end 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 ability to open it up to the public for the first time at Vanderbilt. It’s a really cool mix of football, camaraderie, guys spending time together and picking each other’s brains on the field and in the classroom,” Olsen, one of TEU’s founders, recently told Pak Gazette Digital. “It’s a really good combination of all those things and we hope that every year we find ways to do it better and better.”
No other position in football, or any sport, has anything like this. Sure, players can be friendly and work with each other.
But this is a show and is due to 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 blue-collar. Only in the last few years has it become a more glamorous, superstar position,” Olsen said.
“When I first came into the league, it was a little different. So I think it’s the right type of guys to come together, work hard and train, and be willing to run when it’s 100 degrees in Nashville in June, a month before training camp.”
Attendees can bond, collaborate and learn among their peers while participating in a variety of activities, including film study, field exercises, recovery, rehabilitation and more. In addition to current players, TEU also features several retired legends giving attendees the invaluable opportunity to learn from some of the best to ever play the game.
“Whether you’re a Kelce or 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 to simply 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 build a 53-man roster. That’s what we’re trying to encourage: Can you take something from this week, bring it back to training camp, bring it back to your team and take your career up a step?”
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, George Kittle or Rob Gronkowski, but there are levels to every part of this game. If we can help guys take the next step, then I think it’s a success. Then there’s the fun element. Can we give these guys and their families (their girlfriends, wives, kids, whoever they bring with them) three fun days with this tight end fraternity in Nashville? If we can accomplish those two things, on and off the field, it’s a great week.”
