Former Nebraska tight end praises head coach Matt Rhule for preparing him for the NFL

USA Today

08-07-2025

Former Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone II enters his first season in the NFL after a long college career with the Huskers. The seventh-round pick by the New York Giants is doing a lot in his transition to the NFL and didn't hesitate to praise head coach Matt Rhule for preparing him for the next level.
Fidone emerged from high school ranked as the No. 1 tight end in the 2021 recruiting class, but ran into numerous roadblocks on the collegiate level, tearing an ACL in the spring of 2021 before suffering a second knee injury in 2022.
He then finally got the opportunity to play in 2023, Rhule's first year at Nebraska, and caught 25 passes for 260 yards and four touchdowns, the most touchdown grabs by a Husker tight end in over a decade. He then exceeded those numbers in 2024, hauling in 36 passes for 373 yards.
Fidone emphasized the transition from college to the NFL, including learning a new playbook, and Rhule's experience in the league has played a key part in helping him prepare.
'I would say the biggest thing would be coach Rhule,' Fidone said in an interview with KETV reporter Matt Sottile. 'The offense and the mindset that he brought definitely helped the transition in terms of the playbook and what they expect from you on the next level."
Following the 2024 season, Fidone declared for the NFL draft and was selected by the Giants. He also joined his teammates at the recently concluded "Tight Ends University," hosted by George Kittle and Travis Kelce, with the latter praising Fidone's play.
"He told me I was extremely athletic and moved extremely well. He told me that the top of my routes was good. He didn't say it like that, but he said it. So, just being able to hear that from him was cool," Fidone said.
Rhule received numerous calls from NFL teams prior to the draft regarding Fidone. The third-year head coach also praised Fidone for his perseverance and encouraged him to declare for the draft.
Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.