The Athletic’s Nate Taylor is reporting his new average annual salary is $17.1 million, eclipsing that of New York Giants tight end Darren Waller’s ongoing contract.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport first reported the news. Since then, the Chiefs released a post on X, declaring: ‘We signed the greatest tight end ever to a new contract.’
Kelce’s agent Mike Simon did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for further details.
Kelce reacted to the news in a social media video. The Chiefs also posted pictures of the tight end as he signed his extension on their accounts.
Chiefs forever
Tell ‘em, @tkelce! pic.twitter.com/88VtkjdPct
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs)April 29, 2024
‘Back at it again, baby,’ he told the camera while gesturing to his Super Bowl LVIII hat. ‘Had to see a little Super Bowl right here man.
‘Feels good to be in KC. I remember coming here 12 years ago, man. It’s an honor and a pleasure and I can’t wait to get after it these next two years. No better than right now. Getting fired up for this year. Just got out on the field with the boys, we’re back at it baby.’
Chiefs forever
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) April 29, 2024
Another person who shared Kelce’s enthusiasm for the deal was his teammate, Patrick Mahomes, who wrote on X: ‘I told yall I’ll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy! @tkelce.’
Kelce already has $89 million in career NFL salary after a dozen seasons with the Chiefs.
The deal is just the latest in a lucrative offseason for Kelce, Taylor Swift’s boyfriend and a three-time Super Bowl champion.
Already a pitchman for Pfizer Amazon, Nike, and L’Homme Helzberg Diamonds, the Kanas City Chiefs star and three-time Super Bowl champion is reportedly getting offers from 50 brands, an insider told The US Sun in February.
Kelce’s potential suitors include Calvin Klein, which is reportedly offering a three-year contract for both domestic and international campaigns, as well as Toyota, which has a reported $1.5 million deal on the table.
Toyota’s deal includes a $1.2 million signing bonus, the Sun is reporting.
Other reported courters include Samsonite ($800,000) as well as Kiehl’s, which has made a multi-million offer of its own.
Kelce has been seen partying on both sides of the Pacific Ocean since winning his third Super Bowl in February. In addition to seeing the Australian leg of his girlfriend’s tour, Kelce also returned to Las Vegas, where he and Mahomes helped raise money for the quarterback’s children’s charity.
Kelce’s contract extension marks a dramatic departure from November, when he told his brother Jason on their podcast that he could consider retiring.
‘That’s the only thing I’ve never really been open about, the discomfort,’ Travis told Jason, who would, himself, retire after the season. ‘The pain. The lingering injuries – the 10 surgeries I’ve had that I still feel every single surgery to this day.
‘The surgeries take a toll, man,’ he continued. ‘They take a toll. I was unfortunate I got the knee surgery but fortunate I haven’t had any problems with that situation since then.’
Kelce has had procedures to repair his ailing knee in 2013 and another on his shoulder in 2017. He’s also battled neck stingers, concussions, and a number of pulled muscles.
Despite this, Kelce has remained consistent.
He fell just 16 yards short of his eighth consecutive 1,000-yard season, which would have extended his existing record. Kelce has also been selected to nine Pro Bowls and is coming off another impressive postseason, this time making 32 catches for 355 yards and five touchdowns.
‘Travis, greatest tight end of all time,’ Mahomes said in 2022. ‘He makes plays like that to win games.