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Travis Kelce is being paid a significant amount of money to remain with the Kansas City Chiefs for the 2026 NFL season, at least on the surface.
Kelce officially signed a contract extension with the Chiefs on March 23. A person familiar with the matter told USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon that the deal is worth up to $57,735,000 over three years.
If Kelce’s contract is fully realized, he will have an average annual value (AAV) of just under $19.25 million, making him the highest paid tight end in the NFL. George Kittle’s previous market record was $19.1 million.
But Kelce’s contract is backloaded, so it’s unclear how much, if any, he’ll receive in future years. All we know now is that he will earn $12 million in guaranteed money for the 2026 season and has $3 million in potential incentives.
Click here to learn more about Kelce’s contract.
Travis Kelce contract details
Kelce officially signed a three-year extension with the Chiefs. Below are the contract details at maximum value.
- semester:3 years
- Total value: $57,735,000
- Annual average value (AAV): $19,245,000
- Security deposit: 12 million dollars
Kelce’s deal may look like an expensive three-year deal, but the low level of guarantees included could make it essentially a one-year deal.
Such possibilities depend on the structure of the contract. If all of Kelce’s $12 million in guaranteed money is accounted for in the 2026 budget, the Chiefs would be able to move on from Kelce after the season without additional pay or penalties.
With that in mind, Kelce and the Chiefs will likely continue to evaluate his future on a year-by-year basis.
travis kelce stats
Kelce had 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. A four-time All-Pro, Kelce has seven seasons with 1,000 total yards and has recorded at least 823 receiving yards in every season since 2014.
Below are details on Kelce’s career statistics.
- game:192
- target:1,508
- reception:1,080
- acceptance yard:13,002
- Receiving TD:82
- Yards per reception:12
Kelce was rated as Pro Football Focus’ No. 18 tight end last season, posting a passer rating of 98 when targeted.
