During the offseason, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce changed his appearance, and the rumors swirl regarding one aspect. What did he do? For NFL players, the offseason seems like years and not months. Some go on shopping sprees or take up podcasting; others work on themselves. Either way, players will always need to field questions about it.
Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce Dispels Rumors Regarding Weight Loss
Kelce’s next regular-season game will be his 176th. If you add in the 25 postseason games, game No. 201 kicks off this fall. After over a decade of playing a physically demanding position, Kelce looked like he wanted to try a new approach. Looking noticeably thinner, the 10-time Pro Bowler took questions during media availability, captured by Sports Radio 810 WHB.
Travis Kelce is asked about losing 25 pounds:
“First of all, I never said that….don’t believe everything you read on the internet 😂 …I am down some weight.” pic.twitter.com/mPB2XctrpI
— Sports Radio 810 WHB (@SportsRadio810) June 18, 2025
When asked to address rumors that he lost 25 pounds this offseason, Kelce set the record straight:
“First of all, I never said that,” Kelce said. “Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. I am down some weight.”
For a veteran like Kelce, shedding a few pounds is a logical move. At 35 years old, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 250 pounds, carrying extra weight can put added strain on the joints and slow a player down, especially as age becomes a factor. With the end of his career near, Kelce wants to finish on a high note and shedding a few pounds doesn’t seem like a disadvantage. With that said, how does that affect his play?
In the Chiefs’ offense, the tight end possesses a plethora of duties. First, getting open against a diverse set of defenders is the most important aspect of Kelce’s job. Some defenses will roll out a linebacker because opponents want to use a bigger player to muscle Kelce and body him, forcing contested catches.
The four-time All-Pro has to be able to slip past the defender and get open with speed and crisp route running that finds soft spots against both zone and man coverage. The weight loss could give him an extra step, which could mean his first 1,000-yard season since 2022. In addition, you could see a return to championship form.
Before the weight loss, Kelce bullied much smaller defensive backs. The tight end used his body to shield the ball, like a rebounder, and had the defender on his hip, placing them at a disadvantage. They can’t knife under with contact because officials will throw either a pass interference or illegal contact flag.
In essence, Kelce uses basketball principles to wear down safeties. The lighter weight would emphasize Kelce’s strength advantage more. Fewer pounds mean more explosion, and many safeties grew accustomed to covering tight ends who are faster, but none possess Kelce’s route acumen.
The only concern about a slender tight end is how he will hold up during blocking. While not common, the team called on Kelce to block defensive ends at the line of scrimmage. He may just need to chip the ends before heading into his pattern.
Regardless of how much Kelce weighs, he appears to see this season as redemption. The Philadelphia Eagles embarrassed the Chiefs and humiliated the star tight end in front of the world in the 40-22 Super Bowl 59 loss. The Eagles bodied Kelce, limiting him to just 39 yards on four catches.
If the Chiefs are going to reclaim their title, they’ll need Travis Kelce at his best, ready to lead the charge for redemption on football’s biggest stage.