Earlier this month, Travis Kelce became the center of attention when training camp photos showed the 36-year-old tight end noticeably overweight.
The images quickly sparked questions about whether Kelce had reported to camp out of shape. However, the buzz faded after the photo was revealed to be AI-altered.
Now, another look at Kelce’s condition has offered a very different picture. The Kansas City Chiefs star looked sharp during camp, and Pat McAfee clearly liked what he saw ahead of the 2026 season.
Travis Kelce’s Fitness Left Pat McAfee Impressed
NBC Sports reporter McKenzie Nelson shared a video of Kelce during the recent training camp at Missouri Western State University. The footage showed the veteran looking lean and in strong physical condition.
Soon after, McAfee reacted to the clip on his official X account.
“The old man looks FIT,” he wrote.
The old man looks FIT https://t.co/3Gai9VNHL7 pic.twitter.com/D5EMBEVqh9
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 20, 2026
That assessment also matches what Andy Reid has seen from his tight end. The Chiefs’ head coach said Kelce returned to camp in good shape and dismissed the recent talk about his physique.
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“He came back in good shape,” Reid said on Aug. 4. “I know everybody’s out there saying he’s got the dad body and all this stuff, but he looks the same to me that he’s always looked, and [he’s] playing like crazy.”
Reid added that Kelce remains “focused in and ready to go” for every practice snap, even as questions continue to follow the star ahead of his 14th NFL season.
After years of routinely reaching 1,000 receiving yards, he finished the 2025 season with 851 receiving yards and five touchdowns, earning an 80.6 grade that ranked fifth in PFN’s Tight End Impact Metric.
However, Kansas City’s 2025 struggles also affected how Kelce’s season looked.
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The Chiefs finished 6-11 and missed the playoffs, leaving almost every area of the roster under a microscope.
Kelce still has a major role to play as Kansas City looks to turn things around.
Patrick Mahomes enters training camp fully cleared following surgery to repair a torn ACL and LCL, giving the Chiefs a strong foundation for a bounce-back campaign. The Chiefs also added Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker III to the running back room.
His arrival gives Mahomes another weapon and could create more opportunities for Kelce in the passing game.
Now, if Kelce stays healthy and maintains the form he has shown in training camp, Chiefs fans can expect an impressive season in 2026.
