Kansas City Chiefs' 2025 training camp will look different than in years past, and Patrick Mahomes may have revealed why

The Kansas City Chiefs will depart from the norm on a key feature of their 2025 training camp practices at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, Missouri. 

The NFL announced on Wednesday the rookie and veteran training camp report dates for all 32 teams. Typically, the Chiefs will have rookies, quarterbacks, and injured players report for training camp three days before veterans for a little headstart, but that doesn't appear to be happening, according to the NFL's release. 

Rookies, quarterbacks, injured players, and veterans will all report to St. Joe for training camp together on Monday, July 21. That means they won't have their typical head start for rookies, quarterbacks, and injured players. 

Now, you might be wondering why the Chiefs would change a strategy that has been tried and true in past seasons. Fans would likely prefer the team follow the mantra: If it's not broke, don't fix it. 

The reality is that this might be the result of something Patrick Mahomes said to reporters on Wednesday about the maturity of this particular incoming rookie class. 

"I think it's kind of cool to see," Mahomes said. "I don't know if it's like an NIL thing or guys stay in college longer, but it's a very mature group. It's guys that come in, and they know how to work. They know how to get after it. But they're learning pretty quickly. And so to hear them talk and do different things, I don't know if they've transferred or whatever it is, they've been in different offenses, but they have a good understanding of football.  And so, now it's about teaching how to work to the standard that Coach (Andy) Reid has. And for any rookie, that's going to be a challenge, but I thought these guys did a great job of picking up on it."

Is this group of rookies simply ahead of the learning curve? Have they impressed that much during OTAs and mandatory minicamp thus far? We'll find out more when Coach Reid speaks at the final mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday.

At least one thing will stay the same about the Chiefs' training camp formula

The NFL also announced all joint practices among the 32 NFL teams. Kansas City won't be participating in a joint practice session with another team, as it has not done so during the Andy Reid era. 

Reid spoke about that last July after reports emerged that he turned down Lions HC Dan Campbell's request for a joint practice.

“I think the way we go about it – I think we go fast, we practice hard, we do those things amongst ourselves, and the guys challenge each other, and I don’t think there’s a better way to do it, if your guys are willing to do that," Reid said. "Our guys are up for that challenge, plus you’re not giving things away, so you can’t help but do that. Then you’re not having those skirmishes that you get in these inter-squad deals, and no matter how much you talk - you put on a different uniform, you’re the enemy. It doesn’t matter if it’s during joint practices or not.”

The bottom line: Joint practices can quickly become distractions from the Chiefs' goals in training camp.