Travis Kelce drops pounds, and George Kittle can’t help but notice his offseason commitment

After enduring a tough Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Travis Kelce isn’t shying away from the fact that 2024 wasn’t his best. The Kansas City Chiefs’ veteran tight end, who briefly flirted with the idea of retirement, ultimately chose to return—motivated by more than just another shot at glory.

Determined to bounce back stronger, Kelce has committed himself to growth both as a player and as a leader.

George Kittle gets real about Travis Kelce’s new shape

Travis Kelce’s numbers last season reflected a noticeable dip. With just 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns, it marked his lowest output since his rookie year—a time when he was barely involved in the offense. Even in the playoffs, the usually dominant tight end managed only 58 yards combined in the AFC Championship and Super Bowl, though he did snag two touchdowns.

By Kelce’s standards, that performance wasn’t enough.Determined to regain his edge, Kelce took a different approach this offseason—shedding some weight in an effort to enhance his agility and longevity. While reports claimed he dropped as much as 25 pounds, Kelce clarified that the number wasn’t quite that dramatic, though he did admit he’s lighter than he was last season.

His leaner look hasn’t gone unnoticed. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, who co-hosts Tight End University alongside Kelce, addressed the chatter with high praise.

“I’m pretty sure one of the Super Bowls they won, I saw him the previous offseason and he was like 280 pounds,” Kittle said on ESPN. “I think he was first-team All-Pro and won a Super Bowl, so he’s going to be ready for the season regardless of what it is.

He does look great right now.”Despite his “down year,” Kelce still led the Chiefs in receiving yards and remained a vital piece of the puzzle that brought them back to another Super Bowl. It’s this kind of consistency that defines his legacy. With seven consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and five Super Bowl appearances under his belt, Kelce has already cemented his place as one of the NFL’s all-time greats.Whether or not the slimmer frame translates into peak performance again, one thing’s certain—Travis Kelce isn’t done yet. He’s reloading, not retreating. And that could spell trouble for defenses in 2025.Also Read: Travis Kelce channels inner professor at Tight End University, where Taylor Swift joined the Chiefs TE for support