Getty Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Not long after news broke that the Kansas City Chiefs are giving tight end Travis Kelce a two-year contract extension, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took to X, formerly Twitter, to react to the news.
“I told yall I’ll never let him leave!! Congrats my guy!@tkelce,” Mahomes wrote on April 29.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Kelce’s extension adds $34.25 million to the two years remaining on his old deal. The veteran TE now has guaranteed money in 2024, “with additional money vesting year-by-year,” per Pelissero.
The extension is set to keep Kelce in Kansas City through the 2027 season, which will be his age-38 season.
Kelce, 34, is coming off of a season in which he recorded 93 receptions, 984 receiving yards, and 5 touchdowns in 15 regular season games. He also had 32 receptions, 355 receiving yards, and 3 touchdowns in three playoff games during Kansas City’s Super Bowl run earlier this year.
Despite being well into his 30s, Kelce is still playing at the elite level, and the Chiefs have acknowledged that by giving him a payday, which could be the last one of his NFL career.
Twitter/X Reacts to Travis Kelce’s Extension
Other users on X reacted to the news of Kelce’s contract extension.
“Congrats Trav!! More than well deserved! For KC fans: Let’s not read into years/ages. Hopefully he got a lot of $$ up front for everything he’s done for this franchise, on AND off the field,” former Chiefs offense tackle Mitchell Schwartz wrote. “He’s on his own timeline of when/how things end. Let’s appreciate him while we still can.”
“So freaking well deserved. Always been a team player,” one user wrote. “The best TE in the league and remained underpaid to stay a Chief. Finally gets paid as the best TE in the league. Oh and 2 more years??? LFG TRAV!!!”
“People told me I was stupid for saying we’d probably have him another 3 years (last year). But I think people are stupid that think he’s going to retire at a younger age than his brother did,” another user wrote. “You guys may know ball… but I know Travis Kelce.”
Chiefs Continue to Support Patrick Mahomes
Over the past week, the Chiefs front office has done everything it can to support Mahomes as he and the rest of the team try to complete their quest for a three-peat.
It started on day one of the NFL Draft when Kansas City traded up in the first round to acquire wide receiver Xavier Worthy. As a well-rounded route runner with blazing speed, he will be an immediate contributor to the Chiefs’ offense.
Then on day two of the draft, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions traded up one spot in the second round to select offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia. The LSU product will compete with Wanya Morris for the starting left tackle spot this summer and has a chance to be the team’s long-term starter based on his collegiate film.
Tack on the two-year extension for Kelce, and Kansas City’s front office is doing what it can to help Mahomes maintain a high level of success not just for next year, but for the next several years.
That’s bad news for the rest of the NFL.