NFL Insider Drops Huge Travis Kelce News Before Minicamp Return

The Kansas City Chiefs will begin their mandatory minicamp on June 17, and superstar tight end Travis Kelce is expected to make his KC return after an offseason filled with retirement speculation and Taylor Swift coverage.

When Kelce steps back onto the field on Tuesday, however, the sole focus will be winning another Super Bowl, and it appears the superstar tight end is on track to put together a resurgent campaign in 2025.

Just before the start of Chiefs minicamp on June 14, ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler confirmed an offseason rumor claiming that the future Hall of Famer is in much better shape this spring.

https://x.com/JFowlerESPN/status/1933879860595732953

“The Chiefs knew that Kelce was going to be gone [the last week of OTAs], he’s expected back for minicamp,” Fowler reported on SportsCenter. “He’ll address the media and be on the practice field, all that fun stuff. And he will debut a bit of a slimmer look.”

“[Kelce has] told people close to him that he’s lost about 25 pounds this offseason,” the NFL insider went on. Explaining that Kelce “played a little heavier in 2024,” something that made headlines last offseason.

“He vowed to change [his weight] and he has,” Fowler finally concluded, regarding Kelce. “So, as we talked about before, this could be the last dance here for him, mid-thirties, still a productive player, [the Chiefs] want to go to him on third downs, but declining a little bit, so he’s trying to be slimmer and has gone hardcore this offseason to make it work in what could be his final season.”

Chiefs Getting a More Motivated Travis Kelce in 2025?

Kelce shedding weight is obviously great news for the Chiefs.

Although no one close to Kelce ever questioned his motivation and preparation last offseason, there was general national speculation on whether or not he showed up to spring activities in shape after a celebratory few months following another Super Bowl title.

The end result was Kelce’s worst statistical season since an injured rookie year, which still included 97 receptions for 823 yards at age 35.

To be clear, most NFL tight ends would be lauded for a breakout campaign if they put up those types of numbers in their prime, but Kelce has higher standards. And his illustrious career comes with a certain level of expectation from outside the Chiefs’ building, too.

If Kansas City had won the Super Bowl rematch versus the Philadelphia Eagles and completed the three-peat, perhaps no one would have noticed or cared — and maybe Kelce would have called it a career. But since KC lost in blowout fashion, that sting appears to have stuck with the legendary tight end as much as anyone.

Travis Kelce Ranks Top 10 for Chiefs Storylines Entering Mandatory Minicamp

Kelce’s weight loss did make Arrowhead Addict’s top 30 Chiefs storylines entering mandatory minicamp, checking in at No. 9, but it isn’t the most highly anticipated story. That honor goes to first-round left tackle Josh Simmons and how healthy he looks this week.

“The Chiefs selected Simmons in the first round to be their long-term hope in the blindside protector role with the belief that it might take some time before he’s ready,” Arrowhead Addict’s Matt Conner wrote on June 16.

“As it turns out, his recovery from a torn patellar is coming along quite nicely,” he continued. “[Simmons has] already gone from individual drills to joining the team in OTAs. It will be interesting to see just how far along he looks in mandatory minicamp.”

Simmons shocked the KC community when he appeared to be healthier than free agent acquisition Jaylon Moore during OTAs. This will be the top Chiefs camp competition to watch in 2025.