Getty Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end Travis Kelce has been one of the league’s most “underpaid” players for several years. And for the first time, Kelce publicly expressed that he wants to be paid more money.
Kelce, who signed a four-year, $57 million contract with the Chiefs in 2020, told Vanity Fair’s Tom Kludt that some of his closest business associates have urged him to ask for more money from the Chiefs.
“My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am,” Kelce said in a story published June 28. “Any time I talk about wanting more money, they’re just like, ‘Why don’t you go to the Chiefs and ask them?’”
Kelce, 34, also said former teammate ” target=”_blank”>Tyreek Hill’s four-year, $120 million deal with the Miami Dolphins made him think about his own contract. But in the end, Kelce’s not having a new deal doesn’t affect his thoughts toward the Chiefs.
“When I saw Tyreek go and get 30 [million] a year, in the back of my head, I was like, man, that’s two to three times what I’m making right now,” Kelce said. “I’m like, the free market looks like fun until you go somewhere and you don’t win. I love winning. I love the situation I’m in.”
Yet his current contract makes Kelce feel emotionally torn at times, he said.
“You see how much more money you could be making and, yeah, it hits you in the gut a little bit. It makes you think you’re being taken advantage of,” Kelce said. “I don’t know if I really pressed the gas if I would get what I’m quote-unquote worth,” he adds. “But I know I enjoy coming to that building every single day.”
What Does This Mean For Travis Kelce, Chiefs?
Kelce’s said that if he really wanted more money from the Chiefs, he could just simply ask for it. He also made it abundantly clear that he loved being in Kansas City and winning.
At 34 years old, he is third highest paid tight end in the NFL, behind only Darren Waller of the New York Giants and George Kittle of the San Francisco 49ers, per Over the Cap.
Kelce has said in the past that he wouldn’t have signed his current contract if he didn’t like it, and that “money, in my mind, is almost secondary at this point in my career,” per his press conference during 2022 organized team activities. Keep in mind that press conference was also held two months after Hill was traded to the Dolphins and then landed his four-year extension with Miami. Hill is the second highest paid non-quarterback in the league, behind only defensive tackle Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams.
Twitter Reacts to Feature on Travis Kelce
Twitter users reacted to Travis Kelce’s comments regarding his contract during the interview with Vanity Fair.
“I certainly hope the Chiefs keep him at full salary for a year or two as our #2 TE when it gets to that,” one user wrote. “3rd downs and goal line would still be worth it.”
“Killa Trav is so well invested I doubt the football field is where he makes most of his money. He’s here for rings,” another user wrote.
@Farzin21 Killa Trav is so well invested I doubt the football field is where he makes most of his money. He’s here for rings.
“Travis is going to make a lot of money when his NFL career is over. He should enjoy being on a championship team,” another user wrote.
@Farzin21 Travis is going to make a lot of money when his NFL career is over. He should enjoy being on a championship team.
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