ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — At this level in his profession, Travis Kelce is aware of every new season within the NFL is a distinct one from earlier years. Kelce, the longer term Corridor of Famer, is the Chiefs‘ longest-tenured participant. Throughout his information convention Wednesday following the workforce’s follow, Kelce requested reporters a query: “What is that this, my thirteenth yr now?”
As soon as advised he was right, Kelce revealed that his mindset for the Chiefs’ 2025 marketing campaign is considerably totally different from final yr, partly as a result of that’s required for him and the workforce to provide one other postseason run that hopefully ends with one other journey to the Tremendous Bowl — and a distinct end result from final season.
“I’ve thrown that factor within the trash,” Kelce mentioned of the Chiefs’ blowout loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. “I’ve moved on. It occurred ahead of you may think about. I used to be fairly targeted on this yr within the offseason.”
A yr in the past, Kelce entered coaching camp after spending a lot of the 2024 summer time gallivanting throughout Europe with girlfriend Taylor Swift whereas being an encouraging presence at many stops on her Eras Tour. This yr, a number of of the Chiefs have acknowledged that Kelce entered camp slimmer and energized, though the tight finish did not share how a lot weight he shedding earlier than the workforce started training.
“He is svelte proper now. He seems like he is 20,” a grinning coach Andy Reid mentioned two weeks in the past. “He is doing job and he is in nice form. I am undecided he did not are available in first on the entire conditioning factor. He was proper up entrance. You may see he is been figuring out. He is labored exhausting to get to this spot.”
As soon as once more, Kelce has been one of many Chiefs’ most diligent gamers all through camp. He hasn’t missed a single follow and has made a number of athletic catches in the midst of the sector, whether or not in workforce durations or the 7-on-7 drill. Even when Kelce, who will flip 36 in October, has proven fatigue after sure repetitions, he has remained on the sector to run extra routes for quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“You have to undergo the canine days and revel in it for what it’s, man,” Kelce mentioned, smiling. “We’re rocking and rolling, man. It is coaching camp, so you are going to really feel the soreness and the heavy workload you are getting day-after-day. You have to get pleasure from it for what it’s and combat by that.”
Again to dwelling in a dorm room once more, Kelce mentioned what has remained from a yr in the past — and all of the years prior — is how the campus of Missouri Western State College remains to be his soccer sanctuary.
“I adore it right here,” Kelce mentioned, smiling once more. “It will get me away from every thing else that is happening on this loopy world. You may actually simply focus in in your craft and focus in on being one of the best you may for the blokes round you, man.
“Soccer has at all times been the most important driving power I’ve ever had. I really like popping out right here and specializing in this and getting higher for an additional run at hopefully a Tremendous Bowl.”