The NFL mom spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about how her son has prepared ahead of his 13th NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs

Donna Kelce and Travis Kelce.Credit : John Nacion/Variety via Getty; Dia Dipasupil/Getty

The NFL mom spoke with PEOPLE exclusively about her son Travis Kelce and the physical preparations he’s been taking ahead of his 13th NFL season with the Kansas City Chiefs.

“This is going to be, I think, a different year for him. He really hunkered down and did a lot of training in the off-season,” Donna, 72, tells PEOPLE exclusively of the star tight end, 35, while speaking about her partnership with QVC on Tuesday, Aug. 12.

The mom of two praised Travis’ fitness advancements, which are sure to help his game play when he takes the field for the first time this season with the Chiefs on Sept. 5 when they play the Los Angeles Chargers.

Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs training camp in June 2025.Emily Curiel/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty

“He’s faster now than he’s been in the last four years. He’s really slimmed down a little bit and it just makes it easier than carrying all that load, like running and stuff like that,” she shares.

Travis has been putting in the work in South Florida with the help of his Fort Lauderdale–based speed-and-agility coach Tony Villani, who trained the athlete for his NFL combine over a decade ago and reunited with him during the summers for most of his pro football career.

In recent years, the three-time Super Bowl champ pivoted his off-season operations to Los Angeles. However, he’s returned to Florida to refocus after last year’s NFL Championship defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles.

With eyes on the start of a fresh season, Donna tells PEOPLE exclusively that she’s “looking forward to him enjoying his life” above anything else.

Travis Kelce hugs his mom, Donna Kelce, after the Kansas City Chiefs won the 2024 Super Bowl.JOHN G MABANGLO/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

“He loves football so much,” she shares, joking, “It is going to take him kicking and screaming off of the field.”

She continues, “I know that he wants to get back to the Super Bowl desperately. So does everybody else on the Chiefs.”

“I know that’s what they’re thinking mentally, and I’m hoping that it works out for them,” adds Donna. “I know that there’s not any shortage of motivation and talent to get them there. So I’m hoping that that’s what’s going to be the end result.”

Travis works hard, but Donna does, too — which is why her recent partnership with QVC is a natural fit, especially ahead of the NFL season (not to mention, she’s a founding ambassador, too!).

Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs training camp in August 2025.Jamie Squire/Getty

Donna, who served as a founding ambassador for QVC Age of Possibility platform’s inaugural year in 2024, shared how she’s gearing up for the start of a whirlwind football season — which of course has her traveling from game to game herself.

“This is his 13th year. I can’t believe it. I so enjoy watching the boys. It’s crazy,” she says of her sons Travis and recently-retired Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce, who is entering his second year as an NFL sports broadcaster on ESPN.

Donna turns to QVC for all of her game day essentials, both for attending games in person and throwing watch parties at home.

“I can’t even tell you the amount of Chiefs and Eagles gear that I have,” she says of the NFL merchandise available on the retailer’s website. “And of course, I never head to the stadium without my Stadium-Approved Clear Bag… It’s a must-have, and you can’t even get in without it!”

“Then when I watch from home, I have a ritual that kicks it off,” Donna continues. “I like one of my Slatkin candles, that makes things cozy. There’s a lot of fall scents that really make me feel like football’s in the air.”

Travis Kelce and Donna Kelce.Donna Kelce/Facebook

Donna concludes, “Game days are about making memories, and a little planning every Sunday can make it feel special with minimal stress. QVC has a great array of things from NFL gear, to cookware, to appliances, electronics, all that kind of stuff to impress everybody at a watch party.”

The NFL mom’s comment on her son’s weight loss comes a few months after Travis told reporters in May that he has lost 25 lbs. in an offseason effort to get in better shape.

The Kansas City Chiefs star’s weight loss comes after an anti-climactic end to the season in which the franchise came up just short of a third-straight title.

Travis’ stats also suffered in 2024, where he had a career-low 823 yards and 97 receptions — yet at the same time, also managed to set a franchise record.