National Football League

Chiefs rookie O'Shaughnessy learned to love special teams

Published May. 19, 2015 11:23 p.m. ET

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Travis Kelce is a star. Demetrius Harris is growing into a solid No. 2 option.

There isn't much room for fifth-round pick James O'Shaughnessy on the Chiefs' current tight end depth chart. So, as all rookies should, the Illinois State product is looking to special teams as a way to make his presence known.

"Obviously there is a lot of learning going on, there’s a lot of hectic stuff," O'Shaughnessy told ESPN. "You’ve got to get all smashed in within three days, but I’ve had a blast so far."

Coaches love a rookie who can make the most out of special teams duty. But that outlook wasn't always instilled in the 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end. He had to learn the hard way.

O'Shaughnessy said he took himself off the field for a crucial kickoff against Northern Iowa last season. Without a future NFLer on coverage, the opponent took advantage.

“I chose not to go in on a kickoff and I told myself if we had an opportunity like that, I wasn’t going to let it happen again because they ended up scoring on that kickoff,’’ O’Shaughnessy said of Illinois State’s regular-season loss to Northern Iowa. “We lost the game."

It was the only game Illinois State lost until the FCS Championship Game. But that lesson followed O'Shaughnessy to the pros, where he'll be a happy and willing special teams contributor from now on.

(h/t ESPN)