Greg Olsen discusses Tight End University’s growth in its 6th year

This week, Chiefs Wire’s Ed Easton Jr. spoke with retired NFL All-Pro tight end and FOX Sports analyst Greg Olsen.

In his interview with Easton Jr., Olsen discussed his work with Novartis on its “Relax, it’s a Blood Test” prostate cancer screening campaign. He reflects on the growth and popularity of Tight End University alongside fellow co-founders Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle.

“Novartis, they deserve all the credit. I mean, just a really fun, creative idea to get this PSA out into the community, out across the country,” said Olsen, “obviously, made the big debut with our Super Bowl ad that me and some other fellow tight ends, past and present, got to film leading up to the Super Bowl this past February. Understanding that prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in the United States.”

For the “Relax, it’s a blood test” campaign, Novartis and a roster of eight influential NFL leaders and icons, including Super Bowl-winning coach Bruce Arians, teamed up to champion prostate cancer screening and early detection. Alongside Olsen, the campaign features Chiefs icon Tony Gonzalez, current tight ends George Kittle and Colby Parkinson, with NFL legends Rob Gronkowski, Delanie Walker, and Vernon Davis. Each brings a personal connection to prostate cancer and a shared commitment to breaking down stigma, normalizing men’s health conversations, and motivating men to discuss PSA blood tests with their doctors.

Olsen is a co-founder of Tight End University, which annually brings together NFL tight ends for film study, on-field drills, and networking, building camaraderie and improving performance.

“Yeah, it’s been pretty remarkable. I don’t think any of us, when George (Kittle), Travis (Kelce) and I came up with the idea of expanding the interest and exposure to some of the top tight ends in the game, and really bringing guys in from all across the league for a three-day little summit in Nashville.” said Olsen, “I don’t think any of us anticipated, back in 2021, that it would grow into what it has become. I think it’s a testament to the position that the guys who play it become household names. They become the stars of the league.”

All proceeds from the event are donated annually to charities selected by the founders. This year’s event will be the 6th offseason as the number of attendees and sponsors continues to grow.

“It’s the ‘George Kittles’ and the ‘Travis Kelces’ and the ‘Rob Gronkowskis’ of the world that have allowed that position to elevate to where it is today.” said Olsen, “Getting 80 to 85 NFL tight ends together for a mix of some fun and parties and concerts and dinners and fellowship, but also some really good on field work and classroom work and film, and really being able to pass along a lot of the tricks of the trade from some of the top guys who’ve ever played the position has been a really unique event. It’s been a signature event on our calendar every summer, and we’ll be back there again in June this year, down in Nashville, and try to keep this thing rolling.”

Find out if a PSA blood test is right for you at RelaxItsABloodTest.com, and follow along on social (@RelaxItsABloodTest). To learn more about Novartis, the NFL partnership, and community health impact, please visit: novartis.com/NFL.

This article originally appeared on Chiefs Wire: Greg Olsen discusses Tight End University’s growth in its 6th year

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