The Kansas City Chiefs granted Travis Kelce a two-year contract extension on Monday, ending any speculation that he would be retiring and making him the highest-paid tight end in the National Football League.
Following the spread of rumors, the Chiefs made the announcement, stating, “We signed the greatest tight end ever to a new contract.”
To the remaining two years of his previous contract with the Chiefs, Kelce now gets an additional two years at an estimated salary of $34.25 million. According to NFL Network, he will receive a guaranteed $17 million for the 2024 season in addition to other funds that would vest annually. Kelce’s current contract is good until the 2027 season, when he will turn 38.
Previously, Kelce committed to a four-year, $57.25 million contract extension with the Chiefs that would keep him a free agent until 2026. Roughly $14.3 million is paid out per season under that contract, with $21 million guaranteed.
Many were curious on what his younger brother, Jason Kelce, would be doing when his older brother retired from the Philadelphia Eagles this offseason.
However, following back-to-back Super Bowl wins, and demonstrating that he is probably the NFL’s finest tight end, Kelce is prepared to continue battling with Patrick Mahomes on the Chiefs.
After learning of the news, Mahomes made a statement on the Kelce extension.
On his X account, Mahomes made a post, “I told yall I’ll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy!”
Even though Kelce is one of the league’s top players, he has already taken several salary cuts to enable the Chiefs to keep fielding championship teams, and it has clearly paid off.
With three Super Bowl rings under his belt, Kelce is a nine-time Pro Bowler and four-time All-Pro. This season, he should overtake Antonio Gates for the third-most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history. Gates has 11,841 career points to Kelce’s 11,328.
Kelce’s season was an excitement both on and off the field, with his relationship with pop diva Taylor Swift taking center stage at all events. There were concerns about his lack of focus, but he had 984 yards on 93 receptions with five touchdowns during the regular season and was even better in the Super Bowl run during the postseason.
Kelce gained 355 yards in four games, including 93 yards on nine receptions in the Super Bowl overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He scored three touchdowns in the playoffs as well.
Though the Chiefs added some wide receiver talent for Mahomes this offseason — Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was signed in free agency, and the Chiefs’ first-round pick went to the NFL Combine 40-yard dash record holder, Xavier Worthy from Texas — Kelce remains the MVP’s favorite and most reliable target on the gridiron.
Every team that faces the Chiefs each season fears their link, and it will continue to do so until they are no longer together.
However, that day will not come soon, as the Chiefs and Kelce will continue to work together for many years.