Docherty Signs Free Agent Contract With NFL's Chiefs

UW-Oshkosh tight end Bob Docherty has signed a free agent contract with the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL).

Docherty, a six-foot-six, 255-pound Oshkosh native, signed with the Chiefs following the completion of the NFL Draft on Sunday (April 30). He will attend the team's rookie orientation camp this weekend (May 4-7) before participating in several other mini-camps in May and June.

Docherty, who also received interest from the New York Jets and the Washington Redskins, played the 2003 and 2005 seasons at UW-Oshkosh after transferring from NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin.

This past year, Docherty received NCAA Division III All-West Region second team and All-WIAC first team honors after displaying excellent blocking skills and catching 18 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He caught five passes for 52 yards in the Titans' 13-10 overtime loss to UW-River Falls.

Docherty participated in two all-star football contests following the 2005 campaign, the Aztec Bowl on Dec. 17 in Toluca, Mexico and the Hula Bowl on Jan. 21 in Honolulu, Hawaii.

In 2003, Docherty caught 25 passes for 285 yards and three touchdowns, including seven for 62 yards and one score in UW-Oshkosh's 31-21 loss to UW-River Falls.

Docherty played the 2001 and 2002 seasons at the University of Wisconsin.

In 2001, Docherty played in all 12 games for the Badgers, but didn't catch a pass. He appeared in 12 of the Badgers' 14 games in 2002, including the University of Wisconsin's 31-28 victory over the University of Colorado in the Alamo Bowl. Docherty caught 10 passes for 118 yards and one touchdown that season.

Docherty is a 2001 graduate of Oshkosh North High School, where he was a starter on the Spartans' 2000 football team that captured the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Division I state championship.

Docherty is the first UW-Oshkosh football player to sign a professional contract since tight end Tony Church signed a free agent pact with the Tennessee Titans in 1998.

Kansas City compiled a 10-6 record during the 2005 season, finishing second to the Denver Broncos in the American Football Conference (AFC) West Division. The Chiefs, who hold their summer training camp at UW-River Falls, visit the Houston Texans on Aug. 12 for their preseason opener. Kansas City begins its regular season at home against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 10.