Kansas City Chiefs' strategy to expand UK fandom: cultural connections and mascot diplomacy By KEN MAGUIRE AP Sports Writer The Associated Press LONDON
LONDON (AP) — In an offseason huddle at the NFL’s London headquarters, the Kansas City Chiefs are drawing up a game plan to win over fans in a crowded UK market.
They’re getting input from the locals, and there’s good news.
"There is something about that younger generation, in the UK specifically, they are really into U.S. sports at the moment,” says Louise Johnson, chief executive of marketing agency Fuse. “There’s a moment in time that you can really capitalize on.”
Chiefs executives visited London after the team added the UK to its list of countries in the NFL’s global markets program , which puts teams in the driver’s seat to increase fandom overall — as well as land commercial partnerships individually.
A day that began meeting with local agencies in the NFL’s glass-enclosed eighth-floor office overlooking Leicester Square ended along the banks of the Thames, where a “Chiefs cab” was the meeting point to surprise a local fan with a ticket giveaway.
“The UK is another puzzle piece in the larger globalization of the brand,” said Lara Krug, the team’s chief media and marketing officer, echoing a franchise theme of becoming the “ world’s team .”
Krug led the team’s delegation that included business, social media and public relations representatives. Besides marketing agencies, they also met with NFL officials. The takeaways were clear for growing the Chiefs' fanbase.
“One, that 12-to-24 (aged) audience is where there is the biggest opportunity,” she told The Associated Press. ”(They’re) very much into the cultural part of the NFL and the Americana of it all.”
Second, find creative ways to connect to local fans. The Chicago Bears did soccer-style jerseys last year for their London game.
“The league and the clubs have done a great job on growing the game,” Krug said. “We see the opportunity of reaching more fans and doing it from a cultural lens.”
Mahomes, Kelce and KC Wolf
Expanding your fan base is much easier when your quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is the face of the league, and your star tight end, Travis Kelce , is dating global pop star Taylor Swift . Kelce was the UK’s top-selling NFL jersey in 2024.
The Chiefs have also played in five of the last six Super Bowls and won three of them.
Still, there are eight other NFL teams with the same rights the Chiefs have in Britain — and six of them have been there longer.
Social media content on platforms like TikTok and Instagram are crucial, especially because NFL fans in the UK over-index on daily social media use compared to other fans, the Chiefs said.
But some old-school methods work too.
Hello, KC Wolf.
“We know mascots do really well in the markets, it becomes an ambassador,” Krug said.
KC Wolf was on hand in Frankfurt, Germany in 2023 when the Chiefs beat the Miami Dolphins 21-14.
They'll soon be looking for “multiple European-based mascots of our KC Wolf,” Krug said.
“That will be something that we launch later this year," she said, "so having KC Wolf show up in a few of our markets more frequently.”
Meetings aside, being on the ground in London was helpful in other ways: Krug noted the long line at a Formula One promotion in the Lego store in Leicester Square.
The Chiefs have experimented before. Last year the team partnered with Hallmark — headquartered in Kansas City — on “ Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story. ”
Going international
In the NFL’s global markets program, Kansas City has rights in seven countries — only the Los Angeles Rams have as many. All but one — Mexico — of the Chiefs’ markets are in Europe. The team added the UK, Ireland and Spain this year.
The team's brass believes the best way to gain fans in foreign markets is to play games there. The Chiefs won their only London game, back in 2015. They are 3-0 overall in regular-season international games.
Dublin, Madrid and Berlin are all new host cities this season.
The Chiefs will play internationally this season — but not in Europe. They open in Brazil on Sept. 5 when they face the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo.
That’s the first of seven international NFL games in 2025 — the most ever in one season — and Commissioner Roger Goodell wants to eventually get to 16 games per year. Goodell has also floated the idea of creating a European division and staging a Super Bowl outside the United States . One theory is the league will package the international games into a billion-dollar rights deal .
Team and league data show that the Chiefs are already popular internationally.
They have the largest overall German-language social media following at nearly 150,000. For consumer products sales, the Chiefs rank No. 1 in the “DACH” region of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and No. 2 in Mexico. In international Game Pass viewing, the Chiefs were the most-watched team in DACH and Mexico last season.
NFL says UK still has room to grow
The Chiefs brought several British “influencers” to a game at Arrowhead Stadium last season. They included “ Formz ,” a Tottenham fan who raps Premier League weekly recaps and sings about heartbreak; he has 1 million followers on TikTok.
The league saw “significant growth” in UK fandom last year, said Henry Hodgson, the NFL’s general manager for the UK and Ireland.
Confidence is high enough that three teams — the Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Green Bay Packers — applied for and were awarded UK rights starting this season, joining the six others already in the market.
“For now, we don’t want to cap it,” Hodgson told the AP. “We see the benefit of these teams being involved in the market. It’s something that the NFL will monitor, not just in the UK but in all the markets that the global markets program exists in and make sure that all of the clubs can be successful in all the markets they’re in.”
Eleven teams have rights in Germany. Mexico is next highest with 10.
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Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers is 'pretty sure' the 2025 season will be his last in the NFL By BEN NUCKOLS AP Sports Writer The Associated Press
Aaron Rodgers is “pretty sure” the 2025 season, his first with the Pittsburgh Steelers, will be his last in the NFL, the 41-year-old quarterback said Tuesday.
The four-time MVP signed a one-year deal with Pittsburgh earlier this month after two injury-marred seasons with the New York Jets. Rodgers' base salary is $13.65 million and he could earn up to $19.5 million with incentives, according to Spotrac.
“I’m pretty sure this is it. That’s why we just did a one-year deal. The Steelers didn’t need to put any extra years on that or anything,” Rodgers said on “The Pat McAfee Show.” “This was really about finishing with a lot of love and fun and peace for the career that I’ve had.”
Rodgers agreed to sign with Pittsburgh after regular conversations with coach Mike Tomlin over a few months, characterizing the decision during the Steelers' recent minicamp as “best for my soul.”
“It’s been a long run and I’ve enjoyed it, and what better place to finish than in one of the cornerstone franchises of the NFL, with Mike Tomlin and a great group of leadership and great guys and a city that expects you to win,” Rodgers said Tuesday.
Rodgers also explained why he has not disclosed more details about his recent marriage to a woman he has identified only by her first name, Brittani.
“I lived in the public eye for 20 years. I had public relationships. How did that work out? I had people leaking my home information and leaking stories that we bought a house together. I had people calling paparazzi,” he said. “Didn’t want any of that, didn’t like any of that, and now I’m with somebody who’s private, who doesn’t want to be in the public eye, didn’t sign up to be a celebrity, doesn’t want to be a part of it.”
Don't expect that to change when he retires, either.
“When this is all done, it’s Keyser Soze. You won’t see me,” Rodgers said. “I'm not going to be in the public eye.”
On the field, Rodgers hopes to provide stability — at least for one year — for a franchise that has cycled through several quarterbacks since Ben Roethlisberger retired after the 2021 season.
“For this year, I’m going to give the Steelers everything that I got and empty the tank and be super comfortable and satisfied with whatever happens,” he said.
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Two-way college star Travis Hunter signs 4-year, $46.6M rookie contract with the Jaguars By MARK LONG AP Sports Writer The Associated Press JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Two-way college star and reigning Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, the second overall pick in April's NFL draft, signed a four-year, $46.6 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The deal includes a $30.5 million signing bonus.
Hunter had been one of three unsigned first-round picks, including Cincinnati edge rusher Shemar Stewart (17th overall) and Denver cornerback Jahdae Barron (20th).
Under the NFL's slotting system, Hunter is expected to get $840,000 in base salary as a rookie, with his contract rising to $2.96 million in Year 2, $5.08 million in his third season and $7.20 million in his fourth. Like all first-round draft picks, Hunter's deal includes a club option for a fifth year.
The Jaguars traded up three spots to select the former Colorado standout in the draft and are counting on him to help change the fate of the floundering franchise. And they expect him to play both receiver and cornerback as he did at Colorado and Jackson State.
Hunter caught 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns last season for the Buffaloes and notched 35 tackles, 11 pass breakups, eight forced incompletions and four interceptions while allowing just one touchdown.
The Jaguars traded up three spots to draft Hunter and intend to use him on both sides of the ball this fall, planning to have him working as a slot receiver on offense and as a cornerback in certain packages on defense. It’s familiar territory for someone who played more snaps (1,461) than anyone else in college football in 2024.
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Former Jets and Ravens linebacker C.J. Mosley announces his retirement after 11 years in NFL By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
C.J. Mosley is ready to tackle life beyond playing football.
A five-time Pro Bowl selection during an 11-year NFL career with the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens, Mosley announced Thursday, his 33rd birthday , that he's retiring.
Mosley was released by the Jets in March after playing in just four games last season because of a toe injury and later a herniated disk in his neck.
A popular playmaker and leader during his career, Mosley made his announcement with a 2-minute, 10-second video post on his Instagram page titled “Once upon a time ...” that included highlights of his playing career.
“Today, it is time to wake up from my childhood dream and share it with the next generation,” Mosley said. "I spent my whole life and career building my legacy. Now it's time to start a new chapter with new dreams. It won't be easy, but I'm here to tell you every sacrifice is worth it.
“When you wake up, what will your legacy look like?”
Mosley, the 17th overall pick by Baltimore in the 2014 draft out of Alabama, had nearly 1,100 tackles with 12 sacks, 12 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries and three touchdowns.
He played five standout seasons with the Ravens before signing a five-year, $85 million contract with the Jets in 2019 and was the heartbeat of New York’s defense during his tenure as one of the NFL’s top tacklers.
Both the Jets and Ravens posted congratulatory messages for Mosley on social media.
“Captain! Thankful for the memories we couldn’t have asked for a better leader!” former Jets teammate and current Broncos defensive end John Franklin-Myers commented on Mosley's post.
“Half-Man Half-Amazing congrats on a great career bro,” former Ravens teammate and current Baltimore assistant special teams coach Anthony Levine wrote.
Mosley, who is from Theodore, Alabama, was rated as one of the top high school linebackers in the country before heading to Tuscaloosa to play for Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide after getting offers from several top football programs.
He made a quick impact in college, earning Freshman All-American honors, and helped Alabama win consecutive BCS national championships during the 2011 and 2012 seasons. Mosley also was selected the SEC defensive player of the year and won the Butkus Award in 2013 as college football's top linebacker.
Mosley became the first Ravens player voted to the Pro Bowl as a rookie. He made the Pro Bowl three more times before leaving for New York and signing what was then the largest free agent deal for an inside linebacker.
Mosley had an impressive debut with the Jets with five tackles and returned an interception by Josh Allen for a touchdown against the Bills, but he injured his groin in the third quarter and played in just one more game that season.
He opted out in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but returned the following season and reestablished himself as a consistent playmaker who routinely was among the NFL leaders in tackles while playing in all but one game during the next three years. Mosley, who made his final Pro Bowl in 2022, was voted a team captain during each season he played in New York.
Mosley also was praised by then-coach Robert Saleh and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich in 2021 when the linebacker remade his body by slimming down from 250 pounds to 231 to be more mobile in New York’s faster sideline-to-sideline defense.
He was limited to just four games last season by his toe and neck injuries, but said in January he didn't anticipate not playing again.
“My main goal is just to really get back to 100% so I can work out and run and do everything I need to, then just take it from there,” Mosley said. “I mean, I don’t have any thoughts about retiring or anything. So my main focus is just to make sure I’m 100% on the field and off the field.”
Jamien Sherwood, who replaced Mosley last season when the veteran was injured, led the Jets in tackles and was re-signed to a three-year, $45 million contract in the offseason — signaling an end to Mosley's time in New York.
“C.J. was the epitome of a class act as a teammate, player and leader for the last six seasons,” Jets owner Woody Johnson said in a statement when Mosley was released.
Sherwood said last week during the Jets' minicamp that he stays in close contact with Mosley, who lives near his former teammate.
“We always get our hair done together,” Sherwood said with a smile. "So whenever the hair lady comes to town, we get our hair done. I actually just texted him just to check up on him because, again, without him, this process for me would not be possible.
“From the day I got here, he just poured into us. He let us know everything and I miss having him in the room. It’s definitely a hole in the wall without him. ... He’s my brother from another mother. And, you know, I love him.”
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Chiefs coach Andy Reid says WR Rashee Rice and LT Josh Simmons are ready for training camp By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Andy Reid expects to have wide receiver Rashee Rice and first-round draft pick Josh Simmons fully available when the Kansas City Chiefs report to training camp at Missouri Western State University the last full week of July.
Rice is coming off a torn ACL that limited him to four games last season, while Simmons tore a patellar tendon last season with Ohio State, which likely caused the left tackle's draft stock to slide far enough for the Chiefs to pick him No. 32 overall.
“I think they're both ready to go,” Reid said after putting his players through a final conditioning test Thursday, which wrapped up three days of mandatory minicamp. “They actually got great work in these camps here.”
The Chiefs had hoped that Rice would become the centerpiece of a revamped offense last season, and he was trending that way with 24 catches for 288 yards and two TDs through three games. But early in the fourth, after Patrick Mahomes had thrown an interception, the QB collided with Rice as they were trying to make a tackle in a game against the Chargers.
The injury wound up being devastating for Kansas City, which had already lost No. 2 wide receiver Marquise Brown to a shoulder injury on the first play of the preseason, which ultimately kept him out until the stretch run.
The Chiefs wound up relying more heavily than they would have liked on then-first-round pick Xavier Worthy, who emerged as a breakout star. He led Chiefs wide receivers with 59 catches for 638 yards and all players with six TD receptions.
Now, Rice and Brown are healthy again, and a more experienced Worthy suddenly gives Kansas City three top wide receivers. And with the return of a trimmed-down tight end Travis Kelce for his 13th season in the NFL, the Chiefs believe the pieces are in place to push their formerly high-flying offense back among the best in the NFL.
“That's the goal. You want to be the top offense in the league when you step in the building every day. But at the end of the day, you want to win the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “Our goal is to do whatever we can to win the football game, and hopefully for us, that's being the top offense to go with the defense we have.”
Simmons could play a big part in that, and not just because he is 6-foot-5 and 320 pounds.
The Chiefs struggled mightily at left tackle last season, where second-round pick Kingsley Suamataia was benched and second-year pro Wanya Morris fared little better. The Chiefs eventually resorted to pushing standout left guard Joe Thuney to tackle and using Mike Caliendo in his place at guard, but they likewise struggled in their Super Bowl loss to the Eagles.
The Chiefs traded Thuney to the Bears earlier in the offseason, a move made largely for financial reasons. That opened up a spot at guard, and Caliendo and Suamataia are expected to compete for that starting role once training camp begins.
As for left tackle, Reid seemed to indicate that Simmons would be his preferred choice to lock down the job.
“Listen, you can see his athletic ability. You can see his want-to,” Reid said. "He approached everything the right way, plus a little extra. You can look at his rehab and he had a mindset of, ‘I’m going to get in there. It's not going to be training camp. It's going to be now.' He worked his tail off to get in there, and you respect that part. He's done a nice job in there.
“We'll see,” Reid added. “We'll see what training camp does to him. It's different when things are flying up there.”
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Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders ticketed for speeding twice in June The Associated Press STRONGSVILLE, Ohio
STRONGSVILLE, Ohio (AP) — Browns rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has been ticketed for speeding twice this month in Ohio.
Sanders was accused of driving a Dodge TRX pickup truck 101 mph (163 kilometers per hour) on a suburban Cleveland interstate earlier this week.
The Strongsville Police Department stopped Sanders at about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in a 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour) zone on Interstate 71 near the Ohio Turnpike, according to a report provided to local media.
Sanders, 23, could pay a $250 fine to waive the fourth-degree misdemeanor case, according to police.
But it wasn't the first time he'd been pulled over for allegedly speeding since joining the Browns.
That ticket came after he was stopped by the Ohio State Patrol on June 5 in Brunswick Hills, Ohio. Sanders was pulled over for going 91 mph (147 kilometers per hour) in a 65 mph (105 kilometer) zone, Ohio State Patrol told WKBN-TV .
According to Medina Municipal Court records, Sanders failed to appear for an arraignment for that ticket on Monday and owes $269 in court costs.
Browns spokesman Peter John-Baptiste said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday that: “the team has addressed the tickets directly with Sanders and the tickets will be handled by him in the appropriate manner.”
Sanders, the son of Hall of Fame player Deion Sanders, was drafted in the fifth round (144th overall) of the NFL draft this spring, even though many projections had him going in the first round. He played under his father at the University of Colorado.
Sanders is competing against three other quarterbacks with the Browns. They wrapped up minicamp last week and will open training camp in late July.
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Jets sign 'The Thiccer Kicker' Harrison Mevis and release veteran Anders Carlson By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press
The New York Jets signed United Football League standout kicker Harrison Mevis and released veteran kicker Anders Carlson on Wednesday.
Mevis, who earned the popular nickname “The Thiccer Kicker” for his 5-foot-11, 243-pound frame, was 20 of 21 on field goal attempts for the Birmingham Stallions this season. He's also Missouri's career scoring leader with 405 points and holds the school mark with 86 field goals.
The 23-year-old Mevis will compete with rookie Caden Davis for the kicking job in training camp. The Jets' special teams unit has been revamped under new coach Aaron Glenn and coordinator Chris Banjo.
Veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein and punter Thomas Morstead were both released during the offseason. With Carlson's departure, New York has no kickers or punters — including Kai Kroeger and Austin McNamara — who have played in a regular-season game.
Mevis, a freshman All-American in 2020 and first-team All-American in 2021, booted a game-winning 61-yard field goal for Missouri against Kansas State in 2023, to set the SEC record for longest kick.
The Warsaw, Indiana, native was signed by Carolina as an undrafted free agent in May 2024 and waived by the Panthers during training camp last summer. Mevis signed with Birmingham last December.
Carlson went 8 for 10 on field goals in five games last season for the Jets while filling in for an injured Zuerlein. He was also 9 of 11 on extra points. Carlson, a sixth-round pick in 2023 by Green Bay, has also kicked for the Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
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Ravens sign Jaire Alexander following the cornerback's release by the Packers The Associated Press OWINGS MILLS, Md.
OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Jaire Alexander has signed with the Baltimore Ravens less than two weeks after the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback was released by the Green Bay Packers.
The Ravens posted video Wednesday of star quarterback Lamar Jackson enthusiastically greeting Alexander after he signed with the two-time defending AFC North champions. Jackson and Alexander were teammates at Louisville.
The Packers released Alexander on June 9, ending a seven-year run in which he emerged as one of the NFL’s top cornerbacks before injuries limited his availability.
ESPN reported that the 28-year-old Alexander was getting a one-year deal with a base value of $4 million and another $2 million in incentives.
Alexander’s future with the Packers was the subject of much speculation throughout the offseason because of his hefty contract and recent injury history. Alexander, who has 12 interceptions, had two years remaining on the four-year, $84 million contract extension he signed in May 2022.
A first-round draft pick by Green Bay in 2018, Alexander missed two games early last season with injuries to his quadriceps and groin. He then missed a Nov. 3 loss to Detroit with a knee injury, returned to play 10 snaps in the Packers’ next game against Chicago and then was out for the rest of the season.
The games he missed were because of injury with one exception. Alexander was suspended for a late-season game in 2023 because of conduct detrimental to the team after he appointed himself captain and participated in the coin toss for a Christmas Eve win at Carolina, his hometown.
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Giants' Nabers should be ready for training camp after sitting out spring practices with toe issue By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer The Associated Press EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers should be available to practice for the start of training camp next month after sitting out during the spring with a toe issue.
Coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Nabers was “doing good” and he had no concerns that the injury would affect his availability.
“Every person’s at a different part in, call it rehab if you will or prehab,” Daboll said, “and we just did what we thought was best for Malik to try to get him as healthy as we can.”
Daboll said last month during organized team activities that the Giants were simply being cautious with Nabers, who has had an issue with the toe since his college days at LSU. Daboll also said then that Nabers didn’t need any procedures on his toe during the offseason.
Nabers didn't practice in the sessions open to reporters during OTAs and minicamp, but participated in some of the team's walkthrough periods.
“He’s had some issues, like I said, in the past, in college with it,” Daboll said. “And again, that was the plan that we came up with for him and for our football team.”
Nabers, the sixth overall pick in the draft last year, caught an NFL rookie-record 109 passes last season while setting the franchise mark for most receptions in a season. Nabers also tied former Giants star Odell Beckham Jr. for the NFL record for fewest games needed for 100 career catches, reaching the milestone in just 14 games.
Left tackle Andrew Thomas also didn’t practice throughout the spring while he works his way back from surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury to his right foot that sidelined him the final 11 games.
Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence didn't practice in team drills, but participated in individual drills during OTAs and minicamp.
Third-round defensive tackle Darius Alexander and fourth-round running back Cam Skattebo also didn't practice fully in minicamp because of undisclosed injuries.
“They’re progressing,” Daboll said. “They’ll do everything they can do to get ready and hopefully they’ll be ready to go.”
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Travis Kelce's decision to return for another season with Chiefs wasn't much of a decision at all By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer The Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Travis Kelce said the decision to return for his 13th season with the Kansas City Chiefs wasn't much of a decision at all.
In fact, the four-time All-Pro tight end indicated Wednesday that No. 14 isn't out of the question.
“I got one year on this contract, I know that. And we'll try to figure out something for next year,” Kelce said after the second day of the Chiefs' mandatory three-day minicamp, which was moved partially indoors because of lightning in the area.
“The Chiefs organization knows how much I love them. I can't see myself playing anywhere else," Kelce continued. “We'll deal with (2026) down the road, when the time is right. But right now, I'm focused on winning a championship this year.”
The question of whether the 35-year-old would hang up his cleats was among the biggest to follow the Chiefs' lopsided loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl. While he still played at a high level last season, Kelce saw his production dip noticeably — 97 catches for 823 yards and just three touchdowns for a team that won 15 regular-season games.
Throw in Kelce's myriad business interests, including a successful media career thanks in part to his popular podcast, and his relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift, and it made sense to wonder how much longer he would play.
Yet it took only a matter of weeks for Kelce to decide to chase another championship.
Part of it was the way last season's run had ended. Kelce had a throwback game in the divisional round against Houston with seven catches for 117 yards, but he had only four for 39 in the 40-22 loss to the Eagles in the Super Bowl.
“Really didn't feel like it was my last game. Just felt like I had a lot more to prove,” he said. “Yeah, you want to let the emotions die down; you don't want to make a decision off initial emotions. Once they died down, I felt like I still had that fire in my chest to come in and keep building and chase another Super Bowl, man.”
The Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl despite playing most of the season without their top two wide receivers, Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown, both of whom are fully healthy now after their injuries. They also made it despite massive issues at left tackle, which the Chiefs hope to have solved by drafting Ohio State standout Josh Simmons in the first round.
Now, they have a motivated — and noticeably slimmer — Kelce back at tight end. There were reports that he had dropped about 25 pounds since the end of last season, though Kelce insisted that may have been an exaggeration.
“Don't believe all you read on the internet, guys. I'm down some weight from the end of last season — last year — but each year is different, man. You have to rebuild it,” he said. “This year, I had some time to really focus on some form running and some things early in the offseason that I didn't have time for last year. Certainly feeling good and I think it'll pay off.”
Patrick Mahomes certainly hopes so. After leading one of the NFL's most productive offenses early in his career, Mahomes has struggled to get the Chiefs on track the past couple of seasons, largely because of injuries and offensive line trouble.
Still, the Chiefs' star quarterback said he never put any pressure on Kelce to return for another season.
“I think you have in the back of your mind, for anybody that's played a lot of seasons, there's always the chance if they're going to come back and put in the work," Mahomes said. “For him, I think it was just recalibrating, seeing where he was at, and from what I've seen, he's ready to go. He's put in the work this offseason and he's excited to make another run at it.”
The Chiefs wrap up their three-day minicamp on Thursday, then break for about a month, before reuniting at Missouri Western State University for training camp. And while the thought of spending a few weeks living in college dorm rooms probably doesn't sound very enticing to Kelce, the prospect of starting another championship run there clearly drives him.
“I love this game. It's still my childhood dream,” Kelce said. “When I really thought about it this offseason, I got back to wanting to focus on this game and getting the most out of this game as I can, while I'm still putting on the cleats and pads. This will always be No. 1 in terms of my business world and career path.”
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