On Monday, the Chiefs signed Travis Kelce to a two-year contract deal that, according to general manager Brett Veach, will make him the highest-paid tight end in the league while keeping him with the Super Bowl champs until 2027.
Kelce signed a four-year, $57.25 million extension with Kansas City in 2020, following a $46 million, five-year contract agreed in 2016. The new deal would keep Kelce, 34, with the club until he turns 38.
Veach did not disclose a financial breakdown of the latest agreement, but he did say it was a priority to “adjust his contract” and that “it is very fitting that Travis is now the highest-paid tight end in these two years”.
ESPN stated that the deal is for $34.25 million, with $17 million completely guaranteed for this season and the majority of the remainder guaranteed on the third day of the 2025 league year.
Kelce stated in a video put on X by the Chiefs that it was “an honor and a pleasure and I can’t wait to get after it these next two years… Chiefs forever”.
Chiefs forever 🫶 Tell ‘em, @tkelce! pic.twitter.com/88VtkjdPct
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 29, 2024
“Hard to put into words what Travis means to this organization and this city,” Veach told local reporters over Zoom. “Just a really special day and moment for this organization to once again recognize arguably one of the greatest tight ends to ever do it.”
Kelce, who was drafted in the third round in 2013, is already the Chiefs’ career receiving leader with 11,328 yards. He needs eight receptions to overtake Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez for the franchise record of 917, and three touchdown catches would give him 77, dropping Gonzalez to second place.
Most importantly, Kelce has helped Kansas City win two Super Bowls and three championships in the last five years.
“Every now and then, you get one of these guys that are anomalies,” Veach added, “and Travis is one of them. It’s not even May yet, and Travis was the first one in line for phase two (the second half of the offseason).
Kelce’s stardom extends beyond the field.
His association with music icon Taylor Swift has elevated him to a new level of stardom, and performances on shows like Saturday Night Live have helped to make him a household figure. He co-hosts one of the most successful podcasts in a variety of genres alongside his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, and will soon lead a quiz show on Amazon Prime.
But it all started on the field, where Kelce has long been regarded as one of the best tight ends in the league.
Last season, he missed the season opener due to a knee ailment, and he skipped the regular-season finale when the Chiefs were already guaranteed a playoff spot. Those two games robbed him the opportunity to extend his 1,000-yard season streak to eight. He finished with 984 yards on 93 catches and five touchdown grabs.
When the postseason arrived, Kelce once again elevated his game.
He caught seven passes for 71 yards in a wild-card victory over Miami, the fourth-coldest game in NFL history. He recorded five receptions for 75 yards and two touchdowns in a divisional victory over Buffalo. He recorded 11 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown in the AFC Championship Game at Baltimore, and he finished with nine catches for 93 yards in the Super Bowl versus San Francisco.
Kelce denied speculations of retirement, saying, “I have no reason to stop playing football.” “I love it.”
“The likelihood of someone playing this late into their 30s are slim,” Veach admitted, “but it does happen. There are unicorns in this profession, and Travis is one. He has not showed any signs of slowing down.”
Kelce’s agreement comes one week after the Chiefs revealed they had signed Veach, coach Andy Reid, and team president Mark Donovan to contract extensions. The team did not specify how long those contracts would run, but the three most important leadership members are expected to remain with the franchise through the 2029 season.
Patrick Mahomes, whom Kelce considers a close buddy, is under contract until the 2031 season. The third member of their three-player core, All-Pro defensive tackle Chris Jones, inked a five-year, $158.75 million contract in March.
Mahomes celebrated the extension by writing to X, “I told yall I’ll never let him go!! Congratulations, my guy! @tkelce”.
I told yall I’ll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy! @tkelce https://t.co/9sqkZY8mU8
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) April 29, 2024
Along with rewarding Kelce for his ongoing outstanding performance, Veach cited numerous young players who would be due contract extensions in the coming years as another rationale for resolving the tight end’s long-term situation.
“We do have some younger guys coming up and like always, once the draft settles down, we’ll have a chance to address that,” the coach added. “Travis is the outlier here. That is something we all know. When it comes to Travis and his career and legacy here, we wanted to knock it out of the park right away and move our focus to the young men coming up.”
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