Now he wants to be just like one of the instructors – Travis Kelce.
McBride joined ESPN’s ‘NFL Live’ from Tight End University on Tuesday, June 24, where he was asked about any particular inspiration from someone at the program. He highlighted the connection that Kelce has with Patrick Mahomes on the Kansas City Chiefs, saying that he would like to replicate that with Kyler Murray.
‘Travis, he would always give us some nuggets on being friendly to the quarterback,’ McBride told ESPN’s Laura Rutledge and Dan Orlovsky. ‘Make sure you and your quarterback are on the same page. He kind of plays it a little bit. Him and Mahomes have a nice connection and I kind of took that and I’m like, ‘Why can’t Kyler and I have that same connection?”
McBride continued, saying he tries to be a security option for Murray.
‘I feel like that’s what I tried to do,’ McBride said. ‘I tried to have that same relationship and that growth with Kyler and just continue to make plays for him and be that security blanket. If he needs somewhere to go with the ball, he always can throw it to me and that’s what I’m trying to do for him.’
The Arizona Cardinals star has broken out over the last two seasons, continuing his ascent with a big year in 2024 that saw him earn his first Pro Bowl appearance.
That led to McBride inking a four-year, $76 million extension to remain in the desert – a deal that made him the position’s highest-paid player at the time. George Kittle eventually surpassed him with his four-year, $76.4 million contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
The arrow continues to point up for the 25-year-old McBride. He finished fourth in the league with 111 receptions and 11th in receiving yards with 1,146 – both ranking second amongst tight ends, trailing the Raiders’ Brock Bowers.
McBride’s next step will come with scoring more touchdowns. He’s totaled just six in his career and only four of the have come on a pass from Murray.
The duo can fly up-and-down the field with ease. If Murray-to-McBride is going to be the next Mahomes-to-Kelce, it’ll need to feature the end zone more often.