The Chiefs return to St. Joseph for training camp on Sunday. They’ll sweat it out at Missouri Western State University until August 15.
You’re invited, of course. To 17 practices, in fact—19 if you’re a season ticket holder. All practices are ticketed, and you can nab them on Ticketmaster, but only three charge $5 admission. The rest are free.
If you can’t make every practice (they’ll understand), here’s when to go—plus what to bring and who to watch.
When to Go
Here’s the official schedule—it’s good to keep that handy, but the short of it is that the Chiefs practice every morning from July 21 to August 15, with six off days: July 25, July 30, August 3, and August 8-11.
Even with July 22 and August 7 only open to season ticket holders, that’s a lot of practice to choose from. We’ll help you narrow it down with a few key sets of practices.
Note: All practices start at 9:15 a.m. with the exception of August 12 (10:15) and 15 (8:15).
The Early Days
At this point, it’s not a stretch to predict that these early sessions will mark the first padded practices for the next Super Bowl champions—with all their rough edges.
You might see Patrick Mahomes airmail a pass as he gets his accuracy dialed in. You might see first-round rookie receiver Xavier Worthy work as a backup—and those breakout plays that cement him as a career starter. If guard Joe Thuney isn’t medically cleared to start camp, you could see young offensive linemen like Hunter Nourzad and Mike Caliendo blocking for their lives with the ones.
You’ll also see the earliest (and often hardest) days of Reid’s famed long-drive drills. On the New Heights podcast, Travis and Jason Kelce said they’re fast-paced 11-on-11 drives, starters versus starters, no substitutions. And it doesn’t matter if the offense scores an 80-yard touchdown on the first play—the line of scrimmage only moves five yards at a time.
The long-drive drill is an exciting test of a players’ mettle that aims to prepare them for game day. And according to Chiefs beat writer Matt Derrick on a recent appearance on Locked On Chiefs, Reid is scheduling long-drive drills more and more. (On that same podcast, host Ryan Tracy wondered which player would puke first.)
Full-Team Autograph Days
Autographs are a big part of the fan experience at NFL training camps. Often, the players walk right from the field to the signing tables. Smells like summer.
On select days, the whole team signs autographs. This year, the full-team autograph sessions follow practices on:
- Sunday, July 21
- Monday, July 22 (Season ticket holders only)
- Saturday, July 27 SOLD OUT
- Sunday, August 4
- Wednesday, August 7 (Season ticket holders only)
These practices are packed. Plan extra driving and parking time, and be understanding if you don’t make it to the front of the autograph line. There will be other days to grab your favorite’s signature, including…
Skill-Position Autograph Days
Players in skill positions are the ones who advance the ball by design. That’s quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, and tight ends. A little mean to Creed Humphrey, but that’s the term.
If you want to get an autograph from Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Isaiah Pacheco, or Xavier Worthy, go on the following days.
- Friday, July 26 (Quarterbacks, running backs, and specialists)
- Sunday, July 28 (Wide receivers and tight ends)
- Friday, August 2 (Quarterbacks, running backs, and specialists)
- Monday, August 5 (Wide receivers and tight ends)
Be strategic—if you only want a Travis Kelce autograph, for instance, try going on August 5 or a weekday practice with the whole team signing autographs.
These practices will likely be packed, too. Get to St. Joe at least 30 minutes early.
Slow Days
Some of us don’t care about autographs. We just want to hear pads clash and get an eye on the new left tackle.
If that’s the case for you, avoid the crowds and go on a weekday—which, lucky you, happen to be the days with fewer flashy autographs. You might even stick around to give Creed Humphrey some love.
Weekday practices (with autograph signings in parentheses):
- Tuesday, July 23 (Linebackers)
- Wednesday, July 24 (Defensive backs)
- Monday, July 29 (Offensive/defensive line)
- Wednesday, July 31 (Linebackers)
- Thursday, August 1 (Defensive backs)
- Tuesday, August 6, (Offensive/defensive line)
- Monday, August 12, 10:15 a.m. (Linebackers)
- Tuesday, August 13 (Defensive backs)
- Wednesday, August 14 (Offensive/defensive line)
- Thursday, August 15, 8:15 a.m. (Last practice—no autographs scheduled)
Special Promotion Days
There are a handful of special promotion days during camp. These are:
- Family Fun Day: Saturday, July 27 ($5) SOLD OUT
- Ambassador Day: Monday, July 29
- Military Appreciation Day: Thursday, August 15, 8:15 a.m.
As these dates approach, you’ll likely find more information on the festivities at the Chiefs’ training camp page.
What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)
Camp is always hot. Hot hot. Bring the maximum amount of water—each fan is allowed to bring two 20-ounce factory sealed water bottles, according to the Fan Experience team—and bring money for extra. Lather up with sunscreen and bring sunglasses, too, and keep your eye out for the misting tent.
You can bring food as long as you comply with the NFL’s clear bag policy. You can also get it at the concession stand.
Bleacher seats are available on a first-come first-served basis—consider bringing a backrest. You can bring a chair or a blanket if you want (or wind up needing) to sit on the grass.
Don’t forget $5 for parking—or, better yet, purchase it in advance here. You can bring tailgating materials to the parking lot, too, but no alcohol. Missouri Western doesn’t permit alcohol for non-Griffon games.
Cheer your heart out, but don’t bring signs or noise makers, and leave your video cameras at home. Cameras with lenses six inches long or less are fair game.
If you’re an autograph seeker, bring something you’d like the players to sign. If you’d like them to use a specific color marker, bring that, too.
Who to Watch
Chiefs training camp is a great opportunity to get a close look at the players and deepen your connection to the team. Here are some players to watch.
- Marquise “Hollywood” Brown (WR #5): Brown, a six-year pro in his first year in Kansas City, could be the Chiefs’ biggest gamebreaker at wide receiver since Tyreek Hill. Keep an eye on him. Is Mahomes going his way a lot? Is he a focus during long-drive drills? These things could bode well for the season ahead.
- Wanya Morris (LT #64) and Kingsley Suamataia (LT #76): Donovan Smith is no longer a Chief, and it looks like these two youngsters will vie for his left tackle spot. Morris is in his second year and Suamataia is a rookie; both will get chances, but as camp wears on, keep an eye out for who gets more work with the starters.
- Louis Rees-Zammit (RB #9): Less than a year ago, Rees-Zammit was playing rugby on an international stage for his home country of Wales. This year, through the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, he’s trying his hand at professional football with the Chiefs. He grew up loving the sport, but it’s a big leap. Look for number 9 out there. How’s he picking things up?