The Kansas City Chiefs have officially confirmed that Travis Kelce will be staying at the franchise for the next season. The veteran tight end was rumored to be contemplating retirement and many thought the 2025 season was his last.
Last season saw them miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014 and have a disappointing 6-11 record, which left many fans to point fingers at the players. Many are now talking about the nature of Kelce’s new deal.
Travis Kelce’s new contract details
Kelce has officially signed a new contract with the Chiefs, and will play for them in the 2026 NFL season. He has signed a three-year extension deal worth $54.735 million, with a maximum value of $57.735 million including incentives. His agent Mike Simon negotiated the deal.
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
Jan 4, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) leaves the field after the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, while the extension is for three years, it is primarily a one-year commitment for 2026. He receives $12 million fully guaranteed, which consists of a $3 million base salary and the rest $9 million in roster bonuses. The other two years on his contract are for cap-management purposes, spreading out a roughly $10.7 million restructure bonus. They include provisions that allow flexibility if Kelce retires after this upcoming campaign.
His 2026 cap hit is a team-friendly $4.896 million, representing just 1.63% of the projected salary cap. Dead-money figures for 2027 and 2028 sit at approximately $3.55 million each, enabling the Chiefs to avoid traditional void years while spreading any potential post-retirement charges. This allows the franchise to deal with cap space efficiently while retaining Kelce.
The 36-year-old can choose to retire after the 2026 season, after which he will be either released or placed on the retired list with minimal long-term cap impact. If he chooses to stay, then the franchise can renegotiate the contract with him. While the deal seems to be optimal for both the franchise and the player, many fans still did not like it.
Fans fume over Travis Kelce’s new contract details
Many Chiefs fans were angry over the complicated deal, and felt it rewarded the player too much.
One user said, “Bro’s Getting Paid to Retire”.
A second user wrote, “So bad for a TE2 to take this much money…”
A third user replied, “Hahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! What a waste of money! Kelce is awful! He should have retired 3 years ago!!”
Another added, “Major L for KC 😂”.
A fifth user remarked, “what a waste of 12m 🤣”.
A sixth user commented, “He should have retired last year !”
Travis Kelce will now have to prepare for the 2026 NFL season after the offseason is over.