Another Packer Connection for Bears
Robert Tonyan owns a closer connection to his new job as the second Bears tight end than the fact he grew up a fan of the team in northwest suburban McHenry.
It's the fit he has in the Luke Getsy offense as he migrates down through free agency from Green Bay to Halas Hall in Lake Forest.
"This offense goes through the tight ends, whether it's blocking, passing, whatever it is," Tonyan said.
The last Bears coaching staff frequently called tight end the most complicated position on the field outside of quarterback, and it sometimes takes tight ends a while to adjust in new attacks.
In Tonyan's case, it might be a case of plug-and-play because he played in a very similar offense with the Packers while Getsy was quarterbacks coach and then passing game coordinator.
"Just kind of come into that and, again, like I said, just playing my brand of football and hit the ground running as soon as possible," Tonyan said. "But yeah, I spent most of (Thursday) talking to Getsy yesterday morning just reiterating what the plan is with this team.
"I like the way it's going. Big fan of the quarterback. Moving forward in that aspect I just knew that this was the spot for me."
Tonyan was in good position to see Justin Fields' progress at quarterback the last two seasons while chasing passes for another quarterback who has owned the Bears, so to speak.
"I think he's a mentally strong, young player," Tonyan said of Fields. "That's hard to do when you come in the league, when you have a lot of, whether it's positive or negative things being said about you in the media, just keeping your cool and playing your game.
"He progressed so well throughout the year last year. We got to see that being division opponents. He's staying in there, taking hits, getting up, popping up, kept coming back for more. That's what you kind of want in a quarterback and a leader, someone who doesn't quit or back down, playing through injuries or whatever it may be."
Tonyan could find the quarterback situation a bit different in the offseason than waiting around for the Aaron Rodgers drama every year, as had become customary in Green Bay.
"I don’t want to say this in a bad way, but it’s just kinda the norm over the years," Tonyan said about Rodgers' situation. "Just kinda with moving parts and you never know what’s happening toward the end of a lot of players’ careers on that side. Some people’s business.
"He’s earned the right to have that attention and say-so with his future. I think that all free agency times are stressful when you don’t know where you’re going or what the future holds. It’s just kinda the same every year."
Regardless, Tonyan didn't see his own situation tied to what was happening in Green Bay.
"Not necessarily, he said. "I think just kind of holding my future in my own hands was the biggest thing for me this year. Making the right decision, the next move just very cautiously. I think—not I think, I believe I know—I made the right decision."
Two years removed from a torn ACL, Tonyan comes in not as the main tight end threat. He'll be the U-tight end to Cole Kmet's Y or in-line tight end.
Tonyan, a 28-year-old undrafted free agent out of Indiana State, has had seasons with 52 and 53 receptions for the Packers. Kmet made 50 last year and 60 the year before.
"Cole's a great tight end. He’s big, strong and I think that adding that - that can complement me and him. I’m super pumped. We didn’t really talk (it) in super detail because obviously it’s early, but I’m just excited to get in this building and get things rolling and just be a part of a team that’s ascending in the right direction.
"Cole's a great tight end," Tonyan said. "He's big, strong and I think that adding that, that can complement me and him. I'm super pumped."
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