Chiefs kickoff training camp, following an offseason fueled by a Super Bowl loss

ST. JOE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Kansas City Chiefs kicked off what's widely regarded as the toughest training camp in the NFL, on Tuesday morning, following an offseason that was fueled by a crushing Super Bowl loss.

Coming off of an 18-point loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX, the Chiefs are motivated to take the field and show that they can be better. However, the team is also hitting a reset button for the 2025 season, as quarterback Patrick Mahomes said they always do heading into camp.

"Every year it resets. We talk about that after we win, we talk about that after we lose," he said. "It started from day one. How can you attack this day to be better than you were the day before? That's not only on the practice field, but that's in the meeting rooms and that's how you recover and get yourself ready to go."

You can watch the full press conference with Mahomes in the video player below.

Kansas City didn't have many updates for the media, as it has only put on practice in the books. Head coach Andy Reid said the only guys who didn't practice, on Tuesday, were cornerback Kristian Fulton, offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor and tight end Tre Watson, who are starting training camp on the PUP list.

Reid opened up his 33rd training camp with a message to his team, on Sunday night. He said his biggest thing was urgency. He expects his players to keep that up throughout camp, as expectations are high amongst the team and amongst everybody around.

"I think you always have to get better. I think that's something that people lose track of when you have success. Obviously, we didn't win that last game, but we had a lot of success last year and I think sometimes people want to be stagnant and they want to go out there and just do it over again. But, you see the rest of the AFC West, the rest of the AFC and the NFL, everybody's getting better, so we have to get better," Mahomes said.

In that effort to get better, Kansas City will work through 17 practices of grueling training camp work on the campus of Missouri Western. Coach Reid's plan is to build up to working in pads soon.

"These are ramp up days, which I think are good for probably everybody," he said. "It's a gradual ramp up, not only in length of practice, but then also starting with our shells on and then working from there. So, that's what we're going through now."

You can watch the full press conference with Reid in the video player below.

Ahead of training camp, the Chiefs front office got some important paperwork out of the way, so there wouldn't be any hangups or holdouts heading into preseason work.

On Sunday, general manager Brett Veach and company agreed to a contract extension with defensive end George Karlaftis. The extension is a four-year deal with $93 million, $62 million of which will be guaranteed. The former Purdue star said it was a very respectful process, on both sides, which factors in to why it was so important to him to stay in Kansas City.

"I think it was mutual," Karlaftis said. "I've been vocal about how much I love it here...It starts with the team. The team, Coach Reid, the guys on the team, the locker room, everything about this organization from the top, down really. It's just amazing. No place I'd rather be, really. Then, the city. My fiance and I have grown to love this place. We're calling it home now."

You can watch the full press conference with Karlaftis in the video player below.

KC also signed guard Trey Smith to a record-breaking contract extension, leading up to training camp. The fifth-year player finalized a four-year extension with the Chiefs, worth $94 million, $70 million of which is guaranteed. That deal made him the highest paid guard in the NFL

It was easy to see how much that extension meant to Smith, as he talked to the media on the first day of camp. The guard was choked up speaking about what this meant to share with his family.

"I lost my mom when I was 15 and I made two promises to her. That I would get my degree and play in the NFL. I didn't promise her I'd be the highest paid, but you know I made a promise, man. My parents sacrificed so much for me to be here, so much. To have that moment with them, it's special," Smith said.

You can watch the full press conference with Smith in the video player below.

Although the Chiefs will be on the hunt for their fourth-straight Super Bowl appearance, there are still plenty of folks doubting the legacy they are leaving and the dynasty being built. Mahomes said all of that gets settled on the football field.

"We didn't end the way we wanted to end it, but we're gonna prepare ourselves so when we get out there we can play our best football next game. We'll try to do that again the next game after that and then like I said you try to end the year with a win and that's our goal," Mahomes said.

The Chiefs will continue training camp with another practice at 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, July 23. That practice will be open the general public.