Kansas City Chiefs fans are expecting Travis Kelce to be back to his best in the 2025 NFL season following a hugely promising cameo appearance against Chicago Bears on Friday night.
The tight end, 35, has worked tirelessly throughout the offseason to hit the new campaign in peak condition after walking back from the brink of retirement in February.
The Chiefs were humiliated by the Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl earlier this year and on a personal level for Kelce, it marked a difficult end to a season where he rarely played to the standard that has made him one of the NFL’s all-time greats.
But now, the three-time Super Bowl winner looks like he’s on an upward trajectory. He recorded two receptions for 35 yards in Friday’s eventual 29-27 loss to the Bears but fans were thrilled with everything they saw from him.
With two mintues left in the first quarter, Mahomes picked out Kelce for a 20-yard gain, the two Chiefs heroes reigniting their telepathic connection once again.
‘Travis Kelce already looks better than 2024 Travis Kelce,’ one Chiefs fan wrote, sharing the clip on their X account.
Travis Kelce got some precious minutes on the field for the Chiefs on Friday night
After nearly retiring in February, Kelce is raring to go for another NFL season in Kansas City
This was vintage Kelce ���� He may not have the pull-away speed anymore, but that classic “Kelce wiggle” — turning a 2-yard grab into 15 — is BACK. That’s what I felt was missing last year.
Offseason work is clearly paying off ��
�� | @CaleighAMiller
pic.twitter.com/kkCUgC7M14— Daily Chiefs (@Daily_Chiefs_) August 23, 2025
Another wrote: ‘Travis Kelce still has juice left in the tank. The chemistry with Mahomes always raises his value quite a bit.’
But it was perhaps his second reception, moments later on the same drive, that showed the biggest sign that Kelce is going to be back with a bang in the coming months.
After reeling in the throw from Mahomes, a nimble Kelce twisted and spun away from one defender and surged forward for an extra gain of around 10 yards to haul his team up the field.
‘This was vintage Kelce,’ wrote the popular Kansas City NFL account Daily Chiefs. ‘He may not have the pull-away speed anymore, but that classic ‘Kelce wiggle’ – turning a 2-yard grab into 15 – is BACK.
‘That’s what I felt was missing last year. Offseason work is clearly paying off.’
Even a frustrated Bears fan was impressed by Kelce, paying tribute with a light-hearted joke about the Chiefs star’s age, posting: ‘Travis Kelce is 47 years old, he doesn’t even care about football anymore and he’s absolutely cooking the Bears in preseason.’
Now, the Chiefs have less than two weeks to finalize their preparations before their opening game on Friday, September 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Kelce and the Chiefs need to hit the ground running in what is a blistering start to 2025.
In Week 2, it’s a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles followed by a trip to New York to face what seems to be a much-improved Giants team, judging by their preseason.
The Chiefs then meet the Baltimore Ravens and also play against Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills and Washington Commanders in their first nine games.
