The Kansas City Chiefs have superstar tight end Travis Kelce back in the fold for at least one more year, and they were able to accomplish that on a fairly team-friendly contract.
Adam Schefter of ESPN was first to report the news via social media.
“The Chiefs are giving free-agent TE Travis Kelce a one-year, $12 million deal that has a max value of $15 million, per source,” Schefter posted to X.
Kelce just came off a two-year contract that paid him $34.25 million in total. He has earned more than $111 million across his first 13 seasons in the NFL, which include 11 Pro Bowl appearances, seven All-Pro selections and three Super Bowl rings.
Travis Kelce Brings Sure-Handed Pass-Catcher to Lacking Chiefs’ Roster, Eases Way Back for Patrick Mahomes
GettyKansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (left) and tight end Travis Kelce (right).
Kelce’s return can serve as a collective sigh of relief for a Chiefs offense that is potentially going to be short on pass-catchers next season, particularly in the wide receiver room.
The tight end has been with Patrick Mahomes for every one of the quarterback’s nine professional campaigns to this point and has been a favorite target of Mahomes’ for that entire span of nearly unprecedented success.
Mahomes and Kelce teamed up for seven consecutive runs to AFC title game and five Super Bowl appearances (along with three rings) between 2018-24. Last season was the first losing season of Kelce’s career in Kansas City and only the second time the Chiefs failed to make the playoffs during his tenure.
Meanwhile, Mahomes suffered an ACL/LCL tear against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 15 and though he will definitely return next season, it is unclear if he will be able to go starting Week 1 in early September. Some projections have the Chiefs playing it safe and holding Mahomes out for up to a month or so.
Chiefs Made Big Free-Agency Play by Signing RB Kenneth Walker III
GettyRunning back Kenneth Walker III, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks.
The Chiefs did make a splash move in free agency already, though it came in the offensive backfield.
Kansas City inked running back Kenneth Walker III to a three-year contract worth $43 million following his run to Super Bowl MVP honors with the Seattle Seahawks last season.
Walker brings a dual-threat option alongside Mahomes and behind a quality offensive line that could get even better based on what happens with 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle Trent Williams and the San Francisco 49ers.
The two sides are working to resolve a contract restructure to bring down Williams’ nearly $39 million salary cap hit in 2026, and they have a deadline of Wednesday before the franchise might have to release him in order to avoid that ding and save more than $25 million in the process.
The 49ers clear $25.5 million with a post-June 1 cut designation on Williams, but would save only $4.7 million with a pre-June 1 designation.
“Kansas City is seen by many around the league as the team most eager to land [Williams] and the one that would be the best fit,” Jason LaCanfora of SportsBoom wrote Monday. “Williams wants to win a Super Bowl, Kansas City has done more of that than any franchise since drafting quarterback Patrick Mahomes, and the Chiefs went after Williams very aggressively the last time he was on the open market.”
Travis Kelce’s New Deal With Chiefs Revealed, as Star TE Returns to Kansas City