Travis Kelce signs $57.7 million contract to return to Chiefs in 2026

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Travis Kelce signs $57.7 million contract to return to Chiefs in 2026

Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY · USA TODAY Sports

Mon, Mar 23, 2026 ·

2 min read

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Travis Kelce is getting paid a pretty penny 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 situation told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon the deal will be worth a maximum value of $57.735 million over three years.

If the full value of Kelce's deal is realized, he would become the highest-paid NFL tight end in terms of average annual value (AAV) at just under $19.25 million. George Kittle had the previous market record of $19.1 million.

TRAVIS KELCE: Contracts, earnings, stats, milestones

OT Tytus Howard: Traded to Cleveland Browns (previous team: Houston Texans)

(Troy Taormina, Imagn Images)

CB Trent McDuffie: Traded to Los Angeles Rams (previous team: Kansas City Chiefs)

(Jay Biggerstaff, Imagn Images)

RB David Montgomery: Traded to Houston Texans (previous team: Detroit Lions)

(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)

WR DJ Moore: Traded to Buffalo Bills (previous team: Chicago Bears)

(David Banks, Imagn Images)

However, Kelce's deal is backloaded, so it isn't clear how much – if any – of the future-year money he will receive. All that is currently known is that he will make $12 million in guarantees and has $3 million in potential incentives for the 2026 season.

Here's more to know about Kelce's contract.

Travis Kelce contract details

Kelce officially signed a three-year extension with the Chiefs. Below are the full details of the contract at its maximum value:

Term: 3 years
Total value: $57.735 million
Average annual value (AAV): $19.245 million
Guaranteed money: $12 million

Kelce's deal may look like an expensive, three-year pact, but the lower-level guarantees within it could essentially render it a one-year deal.

Such a possibility will depend on the contract's structure. If all $12 million of Kelce's guarantees are budgeted for 2026, then the Chiefs would be able to move on from him without any additional payments or penalties following the season.

With that in mind, it seems likely Kelce and the Chiefs will continue evaluating his future on a year-by-year basis.

Travis Kelce stats

Kelce posted 76 catches for 851 yards and five touchdowns in 2025. The four-time All-Pro has generated seven total 1,000-yard seasons and has logged at least 823 receiving yards in every season since 2014.

Below is a full look at Kelce's career stats: