Travis Kelce is going to return to Kansas City Chiefs practice next week an incredible 25 pounds lighter for the upcoming 2025 season.
The three-time Super Bowl champion nearly retired in February after his team were blown away 40-22 by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2024’s showpiece game in New Orleans – an emphatic scoreline that still flattered the Chiefs, they were that bad.
After deciding against ending his career on such a low point, Kelce has been training hard in the offseason in Florida to get in the best shape possible.
He missed the voluntary OTAs the Chiefs held this week to follow his own training plan and Daily Mail even exclusively reported earlier this year that he was cutting back on girlfriend Taylor Swift’s beloved home-made pop tarts to stay trim.
‘The Chiefs knew that Kelce was going to be gone this week,’ ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said on Saturday, before making the revelation about Kelce’s weight.
‘He is expected back for minicamp, he’ll address the media and be back on the field, all that fun stuff. He will debut a bit of a slimmer look – he has told people close to him he has lost about 25 pounds this offseason.
Travis Kelce pictured with Taylor Swift at the Stanley Cup in Florida earlier this week
Kelce has been working out hard in the offseason after nearly retiring following the Super Bowl
‘He played a little heavier in 2024, it was sort of a thing. He vowed to change it and he has.
‘As we have talked about before, this could be the last dance here for him, mid-30s, still a productive player, they want to go to him on third down but declining a little bit.
‘So he is trying to be slimmer and has gone hardcore this offseason to make it work in what could be his final season.’
The 35-year-old Kelce has one-year remaining on his Chiefs contract, so he will have a big decision to make this season over whether he is going to play beyond the coming campaign.
That said, his hunger to succeed remains as high as ever, according to his quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
‘If it’s the last ride, you would never know,’ Mahomes said in May. ‘The way he’s talking about football, the way he’s talking about working and trying to be even better this year than he was last year.
‘He doesn’t seem like a guy like it’s his last ride, like he’s tired of the job.’
Kelce had 97 catches for 823 yards and three TDs in 2024 – respectable numbers, but the lowest of his career outside of his rookie season, where he only played once.
Kelce, 35, nearly retired after the Kansas City Chiefs lost the Super Bowl in February
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‘He’s working,’ Mahomes added. ‘I know his body feels good. I think he feels better than even last year before going into last season.
‘I think he’s motivated to go out there and have an even better year than he had this last.’
The Chiefs begin their bid to recapture the Lombardi trophy in Brazil on Setember 5 against divisional rival Los Angeles Chargers.
Meanwhile, Kelce’s mother Donna was announced this week as one of the contestants for Series 4 of the popular reality show ‘Traitors’.