A year ago, he met Travis Kelce at Kentucky Derby. Now, he’s a Kansas City Chief
Kansas City Chiefs rookie defensive end Ashton Gillotte says there was a major perk to playing his college football in Louisville, as he was able to attend the 2024 Kentucky Derby.
It was then he ran into — and was able to meet — Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The guy who’s now his NFL teammate.
“He’s exactly how he seems on TV,” Gillotte told reporters on Saturday, the first day of three Chiefs’ rookie minicamp practices. “He’s a real down-to-earth guy. He probably doesn’t remember me, just to be frank. But he was a cool dude. He gave us a lot of good wisdom.”
Gillotte, who was with some of his Louisville defensive teammates at the ‘24 Derby, said Kelce spoke to all of them about his experiences in football.
“When you meet people that are great, you’re going to ask, ‘What do you do? How do you do it? How do you get in the rhythm? How are you having this career?’ That’s kind of what we asked,” Gillotte said. “And he was just very, very level with us.”
Fast forward a year, and it was likely surreal for Gillotte to discuss that memory, given his current circumstances.
On this Saturday — the date of this year’s Kentucky Derby — Gillotte was about to complete his first practice as a Chiefs player after KC selected him in the third round of last week’s NFL Draft.
Gillotte said ever since then, his life has been “kind of a blitz.”
“Very quick turnaround,” Gillotte said. “Obviously grateful to be here.”
The 6-foot-3, 275-pound Gillotte, whom Chiefs scouts have compared to KC edge rusher George Karlaftis, is expected to compete for a spot right away in the team’s defensive line rotation.
Once in KC this week, the Chiefs made him hotel roommates with defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott, the team’s second-round pick.
Norman-Lott said on Saturday he was already impressed by Gillotte — while also jokingly relieved he wasn’t a snorer.
“We sat there and talked playbook the whole night yesterday,” Norman-Lott said, “and just things we have on our mind for this upcoming season and years to come.”
Gillotte is easy to spot on the practice field. He wears No. 97 — previously the number for the Chiefs’ Felix Anudike-Uzomah — and immediately stood out during Saturday’s practice thanks to his long hair flowing over the back of his jersey.
Regarding the playbook, Gillotte said the biggest challenge was getting used to a change in lingo.
“Obviously, I’ve got a lot to learn. Big playbook. Very developed scheme,” Gillotte said. “So I’ll try to pick the vets’ brains when I can, and go from there.”
Practice observations
Chiefs first-round left tackle Josh Simmons, who is recovering from a patella injury, went through full stretches and then participated in non-team drills during Saturday’s rookie minicamp practice. ... Florida undrafted receiver Elijhah Badger made a couple of impressive catches downfield during the session. ... KU tight end Jared Casey — from Plainville, Kansas — also pulled down a one-handed snag during team drills, screaming out his satisfaction afterward.
