PALM BEACH, Fla. — One of many first folks to study of Travis Kelce’s choice this offseason was Andy Reid, the one head coach Kelce has performed for in his 12-year NFL profession.
Kelce, the long run Corridor of Fame tight finish, knowledgeable Reid that he wasn’t retiring lower than per week after the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ disappointing loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LIX.
“I simply needed him to place it on the market and never me,” Reid mentioned Monday. “I at all times like guys to step again (after the season), however he needs to return again and he’s coaching like loopy, too.”
Forward of what might be the ultimate season of Kelce’s illustrious profession, Reid mentioned on the annual league assembly that the Chiefs plan to seek out higher methods to help him throughout the construction of their offense. Final season, Kelce, 35, was pressured to hold lots of the offense together with quarterback Patrick Mahomes after receivers Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown and operating again Isiah Pacheco suffered important accidents. Kelce led the Chiefs with 133 targets, however his 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns had been profession lows.
Reid acknowledged that a technique for the Chiefs to handle Kelce’s effectiveness is by taking part in him lower than the 940 snaps (84 p.c of the offense) he had final season, although he likes taking each snap and observe rep.
“I’ll see when he comes again and see the place he’s at,” Reid mentioned. “He’s studying when to return out when he wants it.
“We had been banged up on the (receiver) positions, in order that doesn’t assist a decent finish’s trigger in any respect. The more healthy we might be round him, he can nonetheless be productive.”
Kelce completed Tremendous Bowl LIX with simply 4 receptions on six targets for 39 yards. It was the primary time in his profession that he was held with no reception within the first half of a postseason sport. Mahomes by no means received in rhythm in opposition to the Eagles, both. The Philadelphia protection dominated the road of scrimmage, exploiting the Chiefs’ largest weak point: the offensive line. The Eagles’ four-man go rush generated 16 pressures and sacked Mahomes six instances, essentially the most in his profession.
Two days after the loss, Kelce revealed on the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts along with his brother and former Eagles middle Jason Kelce, that he was considering retirement. In early March, although, Kelce defined his causes for returning for the upcoming season.
“The most important factor is that I f—— love taking part in the sport of soccer,” Kelce mentioned on his podcast. “I nonetheless really feel like I can play at a excessive degree — and probably at the next degree than I did final 12 months. I don’t assume it was my greatest outing. I let my guys down in much more moments than I helped them, particularly in the event you have a look at my monitor document in how I’ve been in (earlier) years.
“I wish to give it a superb run. I’ve received a foul style in my mouth on how I ended the 12 months and the way accountable I used to be for the folks round me.”
YEAR 13. pic.twitter.com/qHg9cibYhd
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 28, 2025
This offseason, the Chiefs re-signed Brown to a one-year contract. The deal ensured the group’s prime three large receivers — Brown, Rice and Xavier Worthy — will get the possibility to play collectively in 2025, which ought to assist Kelce discover extra space in the midst of the sphere. The Chiefs may additionally choose a receiver or a decent finish within the NFL Draft later this month, somebody who would have the possibility to study from Kelce.
“I’m so excited that he’s going to be again,” membership proprietor Clark Hunt mentioned of Kelce. “I believe deep down, (normal supervisor) Brett (Veach), Andy and I felt like he could be again. He loves the sport, he loves his teammates and I do know Coach Reid is worked up to have his power again within the constructing for a minimum of yet another 12 months.
“He’s not going to inform us which 12 months goes to be his final 12 months. He’s been an vital a part of the success that we’ve had during the last seven years. He’s already a Corridor of Famer and he has a particular chemistry with Patrick. I believe like yearly, it’s going to be enjoyable to see the 2 of them work their magic once more this 12 months.”
Mahomes again to work
Effectively forward of the Chiefs’ offseason program, which can begin later this month, Mahomes already seems to be completely different. In late February, Mahomes appeared courtside at a house males’s basketball sport for Texas Tech, his alma mater, with a brand new haircut, slicing his Mohawk in favor of a brief, extra mature drop fade.
Mahomes seems to be completely different within the fitness center, too. Identified the previous a number of years for his Dad Bod — a pudgy midsection to go together with outlined muscle tissues in his legs and arms — he has slimmed down, shedding kilos after a number of exercise periods with Bobby Stroupe, his longtime efficiency coach in Tyler, Texas.
“He’ll come again even higher than he was — and that’s the beauty of him,” Reid mentioned of Mahomes. “In your profession, you’re at all times working your sport in opposition to these good defensive coordinators. The work is rarely achieved. He did final offseason, too, however he does a superb job of retaining himself in nice form. You possibly can see that after he runs the ball and he’s not fully gassed after the play. He’s performed lots of video games and brought a number of hits.
“As for the haircut factor, he’s been saying he’s going to try this for the final two years. It’s not like he did it simply due to the Tremendous Bowl.”
New reduce for QB1💈 pic.twitter.com/PAXu1KYoWR
— Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 25, 2025
Mahomes, who will flip 30 in September, is the league’s Thirteenth-highest-paid quarterback, tied with Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons) with a median wage of $45 million. Hunt, nonetheless, mentioned Monday that the Chiefs don’t plan to regulate his contract once more. In September 2023, the Chiefs restructured it, paying him $210.6 million over the subsequent 4 seasons. On the time, it was essentially the most in NFL historical past over 4 years.
“We upgraded his deal throughout the confines of his authentic 10-year extension,” Hunt mentioned. “That basically put in place a system that I don’t see altering for a number of years.”
Hunt happy to retain Smith, Bolton
The Chiefs’ greatest two strikes this offseason, in response to Hunt, had been Veach retaining proper guard Trey Smith and linebacker Nick Bolton.
Earlier than the league’s new 12 months, the Chiefs positioned the franchise tag on Smith, stopping him from turning into a free agent and guaranteeing him a one-year wage of $23.4 million. A few weeks later, the Chiefs signed Bolton to a three-year, $45 million deal, together with $30 million assured.
Hunt acknowledged Monday that the rise within the league’s wage cap to $279.2 million helped the Chiefs accomplish certainly one of their largest missions. The Chiefs had been working underneath the idea that the wage cap could be round $270 million.
“We’re delighted to have each of them with us in 2025 — and hopefully for a very long time previous this season,” Hunt mentioned of Smith and Bolton.
2x Tremendous Bowl Champ Trey Smith would love to remain in Kansas Metropolis with the Chiefs.@heykayadams | @treysmith pic.twitter.com/LesmJTgoLx
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) March 24, 2025
Smith, a Professional Bowl guard who was ranked because the second-best free agent in The Athletic’s prime 150, would’ve been essentially the most coveted free-agent offensive lineman this spring.
Identified for his athleticism and sturdiness, Smith has began 80 of 81 video games, together with playoffs. He has been dominant within the operating sport and has improved in go safety for Mahomes. Final season, Smith performed 655 pass-blocking snaps and didn’t permit a sack.
“In the end, man, I can solely deal with figuring out and coaching,” Smith mentioned final week on “Up & Adams” with host Kay Adams. “I really like Kansas Metropolis, it’s my house and I really like the Chiefs. The followers in Kansas Metropolis are a number of the greatest folks I’ve ever been round. In the end, I’d love to remain there. That’s my plan.”
Smith is projected to command a four-year, $86 million contract, together with $52.5 million assured, in response to Professional Soccer Focus. The Chiefs may signal him to a five-year cope with a minimum of $50 million totally assured, which might be essentially the most ever for a guard. The group prefers a five-year deal as a result of it could be higher to unfold the cash over these years whereas additionally projecting that the wage cap will proceed to extend.
Smith is the lone participant within the league nonetheless on the franchise tag. The deadline for him and the group to comply with a contract extension is 3 p.m. CT July 15. Hunt is assured the Chiefs will signal Smith to an extension.
“Our need, and I consider Trey’s as nicely, is to work out a long-term deal,” Hunt mentioned. “We wish to get that achieved earlier than the deadline.”
(Picture: David Eulitt / Getty Photographs)