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However, the contract isn\u2019t what it necessarily seems to be on the surface.<\/p>\n
Initially, it was announced last week that Kelce had signed a one-year, $12 million contract and that money is fully guaranteed \u2014 though $9 million comes in the form of roster bonuses, per Sports Illustrated. <\/p>\n
$3 million of that chunk is a training camp bonus, while the other $6 million is awarded if Kelce is on the 90-man roster at certain points throughout the season. Meaning, even if he isn\u2019t active, Kelce\u2019s all but guaranteed the money.<\/p>\n
Kansas City also added $3 million in incentives, including tiers for making the playoffs and Super Bowl and playing 60-80 percent of regular-season snaps.<\/p>\n
As for explaining the rest of the money in the three-year extension, the details suggest there is still every chance he could hang up the cleats at the end of next season.<\/p>\n
The contract is also broken up to manage cap hits. In 2026, Kelce will have a $4.8 million cap hit and dead money hits of $3.5 million in the ensuing two years.<\/p>\n
This stipulation allows the Chiefs to evade void years. They have minimum salaries built into dummy years in 2027 and 2028, including $40 million guaranteed in 2028 if he\u2019s still rostered by June 8 of next year. However, if the Chiefs release him by June 1, 2027, they can spread the dead money out.<\/p>\n
Travis Kelce will go around again. David Smith\/Zuma PressSource: Supplied<\/p>\n
After making his decision to keep playing this year, it could be a direct path to retirement for Kelce considering he\u2019ll be 37 next season.<\/p>\n
In 17 games this past season, Kelce finished with 851 yards and five touchdowns. It was the third straight year he failed to reach the 1,000-yard plateau, but he still made his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl.<\/p>\n
Across his 13-year career since being drafted in the third round in 2013, Kelce has racked up 13,002 yards on 1,080 catches and 84 total touchdowns.<\/p>\n
Kelce\u2019s return is massive for the Chiefs, who missed the playoffs for the first time since 2014 with a 6-11 record in 2025. Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL in Kansas City\u2019s Week 15 loss to the Chargers, and it dropped its last three games to end the season.<\/p>\n
Mahomes is expected to return next season, and Kelce will be at his side once again as the Chiefs look to re-establish their dynasty.<\/p>\n