Travis Kelcereached a new deal with the Kansas City Chiefs that makes him the highest-paid tight end in the NFL. The future Hall of Famer will be in Kansas City for at least two more seasons until his age-36 season.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach is confident Kelce will continue playing at a high level over the next two years -- perhaps even longer.
"Every now and then you have one of these guys that are outliers – and certainly Travis (Kelce) is one of those players,' Veach said Monday. "It's funny, it's not even May yet and today we had a chance to get out there in Phase 2 and guys were out there running around. Travis was the first guy in line, and he looked like he was 28 years old.
"Again, the odds of someone playing this far into their 30s is very low, but it does happen, and it happens with unicorns in the profession, and Travis is one of those."
Kelce had 93 catches for 984 yards and five touchdowns last season, his lowest yardage total since 2015 and lowest touchdown total since 2019. The nine-time Pro Bowl tight end also was in his age-34 season, making some wondering if Kelce was starting to decline.
The postseason changed that narrative. Kelce finished with 32 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns as the Chiefs won their third Super Bowl title in five years. This included 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC Championship game, and nine catches for 93 yards in Super Bowl LVIII.
There's still some history to be made for Kelce as he climbs up the record books on the all-time tight end list. Kelce has 11,328 receiving yards in his career, just 514 yards away from passing Antonio Gates (11,841) for third all time. Kelce is 3,800 receiving yards away from passing Tony Gonzalez (15,127) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history.
The Chiefs believe he can get there. Kelce is showing no signs of slowing down.
"We'll certainly celebrate this with him and hopefully we can ride this thing even longer," Veach said. "We'll just have to wait and see, but he's shown no signs of slowing down. Everyone notices the kind of postseason he had; he just found an extra gear. These special players are always able to find that extra gear and again if anybody can do it, Travis can."
FAQs
The new deal reduces his 2024 base salary to $5.75 million. The per-game roster bonus is replaced with a single $11 million roster bonus. This bonus — along with his salary and workout bonus for the coming season — bring his 2024 compensation up to $17 million. The whole amount was guaranteed at signing.
How many years are left on Travis Kelce's contract? ›
This new deal pushes his pre-existing contract with the Chiefs into 2026 and 2027 and dishes out the bulk of the contract's new money in 2024 and 2025. The two years at the end of the contract are not guaranteed, meaning Kansas City and Kelce can separate much sooner than his age-38 season.
How much is Travis Kelce's new contract worth? ›
“It's an honor and a pleasure, and I can't wait to get after it these next two years.” Kelce's representatives, Milk & Honey Sports, posted on X the deal makes Kelce the highest-paid tight end in the league. The contract is worth $34.25 million and runs through 2027, according to sports salary tracker Spotrac.
How much does Travis Kelce weigh? ›
Who is the highest paid tight end in the NFL? ›
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce became the NFL's highest paid tight end ever this week, when the Chiefs adjusted his existing contract, effectively giving him a raise to $34.25 million for the coming two seasons.
Who is the highest paid NFL player? ›
The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow is the highest paid player in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa is the highest paid defensive player in the league.
What did Jason Kelce's wife have? ›
Did Jason Kelce get a new job? ›
Jason Kelce's retirement will be official in June, but the former Eagles All-Pro center has a new job. Kelce is spurning the NFL Network and other platforms to join ESPN for a role on their pregame show, Monday Night Countdown.
How did Travis and Taylor meet? ›
The high-profile relationship got started after the Kansas City Chiefs player attended Taylor's Eras Tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, earlier this year and fumbled when he tried to give the 34-year-old "Blank Space" singer a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it.
How much does Travis Kelce make a year for the Chiefs? ›
The team has since announced the signing. Kelce is still under contract through 2025 and effectively received a $4 million raise in 2024, Pelissero reported. He is now averaging $17.125 million per season, which is tops among tight ends.
According to Over The Cap, his $13 million salary for the 2024 campaign and his $17.3 million salary in 2025 were set to bring his career earnings to $108.5 million, so Monday's extension will bump that figure to over $142.8 million by the time he hangs up his cleats.
Does Travis Kelce have a college degree? ›
— Travis Kelce finally received his college degree Thursday night, and did it in true Killa Trav style: while downing a can of beer. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end attended the University of Cincinnati for undergrad alongside his brother Jason Kelce, but the brothers couldn't participate in graduation ceremonies.
How much does a gronk weigh? ›
How much does Patrick Mahomes weigh? ›
What is Travis Kelce rookie year? ›
Kelce was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (63rd pick overall) of the 2013 NFL draft.
What was Travis Kelce's first year in the NFL? ›
Biography. Kelce enters his 12th season with the Chiefs in 2024. Spent the majority of the 2013 season on the club's injured reserve list. Originally entered the NFL as the first of two third-round picks (63rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 NFL Draft.
What was Travis Kelce's major? ›
In 2022, Kelce finished his remaining credit hours to complete his degree — a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from the College of Arts and Sciences — making him an official UC graduate.
