A.J. Hawk just said something about Travis Kelce that Chiefs fans need to hear

One facet of the Travis Kelce diamond makes it easy to wonder what's left to play for. Records have been set. Championships have been won. The legacy has been established. Yet another facet reads the situation completely differently, and that's what's apparently fueling the Kansas City Chiefs tight end in 2025.

As it turns out, when you have it all, you're still left wanting more.

Kelce has come back with a visible hunger in his 13th NFL season, although that might also be literal, considering he's considerably slimmed down from his playing weight a year ago. He's spoken often this offseason about a competitive fire that's got him aiming to rebound from a bit of a down season—by his standards—and a bitter Super Bowl LIX loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Former Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk has some insight into the spark fueling Travis Kelce for another season.

Former NFL linebacker A.J. Hawk recently gave insight into the way that losing can fuel a player who has already accomplished plenty on the field. Hawk, himself a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, won a Super Bowl in his 11-year career, giving him insight into personal and team achievements and the way that affects the drive to play over time.

In a chat with his friend and host Pat McAfee, Hawk recently talked about the "reignited fire" he sees in Kelce.

"I feel like Travis Kelce, [who is] obviously an old-school guy, I think this is the only good thing that comes from losing," said Hawk. "It can absolutely reignite a fire. It can do something to spark something that you want to get back to where you were when you've won multiple Super Bowls.

"What do you want to do? You want to continue to win more," he continued. "You want to win every single year. I think they're getting hungrier and hungrier."

That's good news for the Chiefs and players like Rashee Rice who were hoping to have Kelce back for (at least) one more run. It's also good news for an offense that has deflated a bit in the last two years, due in part to skill position injuries, o-line concerns, and some deep ball troubles for Patrick Mahomes.

Kelce's declining dynamism has also been a part of the equation, but that's likely the reason why the future Hall of Fame tight end worked so hard to reinvent himself this offseason. As Hawk mentions, the spark is readily apparent in Kelce as the Chiefs prepare for another season. It might just the the extra firepower needed to return to the NFL's summit.