By MAX WINTERS, US DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR
Published: 10:32 EDT, 16 March 2026 | Updated: 10:35 EDT, 16 March 2026
The details of Travis Kelce's new $12 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs have been leaked.
It was announced last week that Taylor Swift's fiance would once again be returning to the field for the Chiefs next season.
Kelce, 36, was considering retirement after the Chiefs endured an awful season that saw them miss out on the playoffs completely.
But he will be back catching passes from best friend Patrick Mahomes come September after penning fresh terms with the Chiefs for the 2026 campaign.
It was reported last week that Kelce's one-year deal will have a maximum value of $15m and a guaranteed $12m as he heads into his 14th NFL season.
In his previous contract, signed ahead of the 2024 season, Kelce earned $34.25m across two seasons, averaging out at $17.125m a year. The new contract represents a potential drop of $5m a year for Kelce, who remains one of the best tight ends in the league despite his age.
The details of Travis Kelce's new $12 million contract with the Chiefs have been leaked
Kelce, pictured at the Super Bowl, decided not to retire last week and signed a new contract
But now Sports Illustrated has published the fine print of Kelce's deal, which has a base salary of just $3m. The remaining $9m is made up of a series of roster bonuses, which are fully guaranteed.
Of those $9m in bonuses, it's claimed one is a training camp bonus of $3m. The other $6m comes in the form of per-game roster bonuses.
They are 90-man roster bonuses and he doesn't have to be active to get them, which gives him a layer of insurance against injury.
It's also reported that the structure of his deal ensures the Chiefs can spread the cost over a number of years as they look to rebuild Andy Reid's roster this offseason.
As well as the $12m that is fully guaranteed, Kelce's deal also includes an extra $3m in possible incentives that is tied to how much he plays and whether or not the Chiefs make the playoffs.
If they reach the postseason and Kelce plays 60 per cent of regular season snaps he earns $750,000. That rises to $1m at 70 per cent of snaps and $2m at 80 per cent of snaps.
Another level of bonus is triggered if the Chiefs win the AFC Championship game and return to the Super Bowl. In that case, Kelce gets another $250,000 for playing 60 per cent of snaps or $1m for 70 per cent.
Kelce revealed how fiancee Taylor Swift motivated him to return to the field again this year
The Chiefs made official their deal to bring the four-time All-Pro tight end back for a 14th season on March 11.
The 36-year-old Kelce had decided in recent days to shove off retirement for another year rather than end a superlative career that includes three Super Bowl rings with a 6-11 record this past season.
'You always need to take a step back, breathe and let the emotions of the season settle down and see where the body is,' Kelce said during an appearance on 'The Pat McAfee Show' on March 10.
'Man, I'm still in love with this game. I still love going to work, putting on the pads, grinding it out and just playing the game.'
Kelce also said his fiancee, pop superstar Swift, played a role in his decision to return.
'We share the same love for what we do, and fortunately we've had this desire since we were kids in our selective professions,' Kelce said.
'It's amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and, on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does.
'Of course that's motivating. That's motivating for anybody to see, let alone my fiancee, knowing that I'm going through something where I'm trying to figure out exactly what the future holds for me.'