.jpg)
1 hour ago
2
The Kansas City Chiefs and Travis Kelce had agreed to a deal that would keep him with the franchise for the 2026 season. Initially, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport had said that it was a one-year deal worth $12 million, which made sense given the veteran tight end has mulled retirement after each of the last two seasons.
The surprise of the contract came on Monday, March 23, when Rapoport reported that it had been signed, but it wasn't a one-year deal. Instead, Kelce signed a reported three-year extension worth nearly $55 million.
The veteran tight end is now under contract through the 2028 season. That could just be a way to spread out his cap hit, and all we know for certain for now is that Kelce is back in Kansas City for the 2026 season.
Here is more on the three-year deal that Kelce signed with the Chiefs.
MORE: Seahawks sign Jaxon Smith-Njigba to record-setting deal
Travis Kelce contract
Kelce was initially reported to be returning to Kansas City on a one-year deal worth $12 million. While that is the case, it was reported on March 23 that the deal is actually a three-year extension worth $54.735 million.
The first year is still worth $12 million, but also comes with up to $3 million in incentives. Rapoport did not reveal how much of the deal is guaranteed.
MORE: Sporting News ranks the 140 greatest sports moments of all-time
When will Travis Kelce retire?
Only Kelce knows the answer to that. The tight end has mulled retirement each of the last two offseasons. He is 36 years old, but isn't too close to becoming the oldest tight end to ever play in an NFL game. That honor belongs to Marcedes Lewis, who suited up for the Denver Broncos in 2025 at 41 years old.
MORE: Who are the NFL's highest-paid quarterbacks?
How old is Travis Kelce?
Kelce was born on October 5, 1989. He is 36 years old and will turn 37 during the middle of the 2026 NFL season. Kelce will turn 39 years old in the last year of this extension, making many wonder if he will make it through the entirety of the deal.
MORE: How the Kelce brothers flew under the radar in college to become draft day steals
Travis Kelce career earnings
Here is a look at how much money Kelce has made in his career so far.
| Year | Cash Total | Cash Cumulative |
| 2013 | $1,108,304 | $1,108,304 |
| 2014 | $531,000 | $1,639,304 |
| 2015 | $678,000 | $2,317,304 |
| 2016 | $10,646,000 | $12,963,304 |
| 2017 | $3,418,750 | $16,382,504 |
| 2018 | $8,050,000 | $24,432,054 |
| 2019 | $8,750,000 | $33,182,054 |
| 2020 | $9,294,294 | $42,476,348 |
| 2021 | $11,805,872 | $54,282,220 |
| 2022 | $10,500,000 | $64,782,220 |
| 2023 | $12,161,755 | $76,943,975 |
| 2024 | $17,000,000 | $93,943,975 |
| 2025 | $17,250,279 | $111,194,254 |
| Total | $111,194,254 | $111,194,254 |
English (US)