Rumors have swirled that Kansas City Chiefs superstar Travis Kelce lost 25 pounds this offseason. But on the second day of Chiefs minicamp, the tight end debunked that.
“I never said that. Don’t believe all you read on the Internet, guys,” he said. “I’m down some weight, yeah, from the end of the season last year.”
To get in better shape, the 10-time Pro Bowl tight end, who was listed at 6-5, 250 pounds on the official Super Bowl LIX roster, focused on form running.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has been Kelce’s main passer since 2018, noticed the changes when Kelce reported to minicamp.
“From what I’ve seen,” Mahomes said, “he’s ready to go. I mean, he’s been putting in the work this offseason and he’s excited for another chance to make a run at it.”
Kelce and Mahomes’ last run came up one game short of the first three-peat in the Super Bowl era.
Kelce blames himself for the 40-22 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the team for whom his brother, Jason, used to play.
He had no catches in the first half and finished with just four for 39 yards in Super Bowl LIX. Kelce expressed disappointment in not getting open enough or blocking the right players.
“I failed,” he said, “especially in that last game in being the leader and being the one that can step up and make plays.”
Is This Kelce’s Swan Song?
Another rumor — in addition to that of his losing 25 pounds — was that he was going to retire after the 2024-25 season.
That season was a down year by his incredibly lofty standards. The four-time All-Pro, who holds the NFL record with most consecutive 1,000 yards receiving seasons by a tight end, had just 823, representing his lowest total since his second year in the NFL. His three touchdown receptions were also his least since his second year.
Kelce, who has played 12 years in the NFL, will turn 36 this season and certainly would have had enough to keep him busy away from the game, including his popular podcast, investment in Garage Beer, burgeoning acting career that features a role in the Billy Madison sequel and famous relationship with musician Taylor Swift.
Mahomes never tried to push him toward returning, preferring to giving him space.
Kelce, though, ultimately made the decision to return because he still loves football, and it remains his priority.
“I’ve got a lot more to prove,” he said. “I have so much more fun coming into the building.”
The 2025 season represents his contract year.
In April of 2024, the Chiefs gave him a raise, rewarding him with a two-year, $34.25 million contract, including $17 million guaranteed.
The average annual value made him the NFL’s highest-paid tight end at the time, but he now ranks third behind Tre McBride of the Arizona Cardinals and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers.
Asked if he plans to retire after his contract expires at the end of the 2025 season, Kelce said the only thing he knows is that the Chiefs will be the only team for whom he’ll ever play.
“I got one year on this contract,” Kelce said. “We’ll deal with that down the road when the time is right.”