ESPN’s flagship early morning show "Get Up," was paused to broadcast the $168 million contract of Seattle Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba as NFL fans linked up to examine Travis Kelce's new look
17:32 ET, 24 Mar 2026
A general view of the NFL logo
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It's been a news-heavy few days in the NFL
ESPN thought it was about to have another normal 8 a.m. rendition of Get Up, with Mike Greenberg's wit and his New York Jets frustrations, but the network quickly learned that despite the NFL season beginning in September, the league's newscycle never ends.
Get Up was interrupted mid-segment by a $168.6 million NFL contract jaw-dropper as Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce started trending just for existing, and this time it had nothing to do with retirement conversations or his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift.
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The NFL also continues to face contractdisputes across the league, with non-traditional positions setting new pay scales.
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All while league insiders believe that team owners are on cahoots to break the current 50/50 revenue split between the players and owners in their favor.
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ESPN reacts to Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s $168M reality check
Jaxon Smith-Njigba completes a catch
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Jaxon Smith-Njigba signed a new deal after winning the Super Bowl
The moment of the day came when Get Up had to completely pivot on-air after news broke that Smith-Njigba agreed to a four-year, $168.6 million extension with the Seattle Seahawks after winning Super Bowl LX.
Not only does the deal include $120 million guaranteed, but it also resets the entire wide receiver market at $42.15 million per year, blowing past Ja'Marr Chase’s previous mark to make JSN the highest-paid WR in the league following last season's NFL-leading 1,793 receiving yards and 119 catches.
JSN also won Offensive Player of the Year despite his name being disrespected in a joke by comedian Druski. Dan Orlovsky and Jason McCourty barely had time to process the news before the conversation flipped into future contract talk for stars Justin Jefferson and George Pickens.
Travis Kelce trends for brand new look
Travis Kelce showed off a new haircut
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Travis Kelce signed a new Chiefs deal(Image: Getty)
While all that was happening, Travis Kelce dominated headlines as fans reacted to his new physical transformation. The internet went into full react mode over the tight end's new buzz cut.
One fan wrote, "I'd bet he ends every sentence with 'my girl asked me to,'" poking jokes at Swift.
Another NFL fan added, "After his trash last season, he needs something different," after Kelced locked in a three-year, $57.7 million extension with Kansas City to end retirement rumors.
Tua Tagovailoa 'loves' competition
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa kneels
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Tua Tagovailoa was benched by the Dolphins before signing with the Falcons(Image: Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Tua Tagovailoa is less than two years removed from a $212.4 million extension and is now in Atlanta, expected to sign a one-year, $1.3 million deal after the Miami Dolphins cut him and ate nearly $100 million in dead cap.
After a 2025 season that included 15 interceptions, injuries, and a benching, Tua is now competing with Michael Penix Jr. for QB1, and he sounds like someone who knows exactly what this moment is.
“I don't think the mindset changes at all… you either love competition or you're not,” Tagovailoa said. “I embrace the competition.”
NFL contract chaos turns league into money printer overnight
Former Cincinnati Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson lines up against the Jaguars
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Trey Hendrickson's 17.5 sacks in 2024 led the NFL(Image: Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
Since the new league year opened on March 11, the NFL and its teams have been handing out mega deals left and right. Former Bengals defensive star Trey Hendrickson secured four years and $112 million from the Baltimore Ravens with $60 million guaranteed.
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Trent McDuffie went even bigger with the Los Angeles Rams, landing $124 million with $100 million guaranteed. Ex-Ravens center Tyler Linderbaum got $81 million from the Las Vegas Raiders.
Wide receivers kept eating with Michael Pittman Jr. landing a three-year, $59 million deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Seahawks also doubled down by extending Jake Bobo for two years.