Travis Vokelek and the Legacy of No. 81: Arizona Cardinals’ Tight End Strives to Follow in Dray’s Footsteps

As we move closer to the start of the regular season, the NFL offseason is nearing its halfway point. The Arizona Cardinals will kick off their 2024 season on September 8 against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. With just 81 days left until the big game, fans are eagerly anticipating the beginning of another exciting year for the Cardinals.

One player who will be looking to make a name for himself during this season is tight end Travis Vokelek, who currently wears No. 81 on the team. Vokelek will be competing for a spot on the roster and hopes to follow in the footsteps of some legendary players who have worn this number for the Cardinals in the past.

The last impactful player to wear No. 81 for the Cardinals was tight end Jim Dray, who played for the team from 2010-2013 and returned for a game in 2017. Dray, a seventh-round pick from Stanford, started as a special teams player but eventually became a starting tight end in 2013, earning the trust of head coach Bruce Arians. He had an impressive season that year, with 26 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Dray’s return in 2017 showcased Arians’ confidence in him during a challenging time with injuries on the team. Additionally, Dray served as the offensive quality control coach under head coach Kliff Kingsbury from 2020-2021. For more Cardinals news and insights, listeners can tune into Jess Root’s podcast “Rise Up, See Red,” available on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple podcasts.