In the history of the NFL, few tight ends have put up a résumé as impressive as Chiefs star Travis Kelce. But despite all the accolades and championships he’s amassed, the 33-year-old does not make the same money that some of his contemporaries do.
That notion of being “underpaid” is something Kelce admitted lingers in his mind. Ultimately, though, he wouldn’t want to be anywhere other than Kansas City.
Kelce discussed the topic in an in-depth interview with Vanity Fair‘s Tom Kludt, saying that though he thinks he could make more money elsewhere, the prospect of playing for a perennial championship contender makes any financial sacrifice a worthy tradeoff.
“My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am,” Kelce said. “Any time I talk about wanting more money, they’re just like, ‘Why don’t you go to the Chiefs and ask them?’”
Kelce’s current contract pays him an average annual salary of $14.3 million and runs through the 2025 season. That ranks third among all tight ends behind the Giants’ Darren Waller ($17 million) and San Francisco’s George Kittle ($15 million).
Kelce commented that former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s contract with the Dolphins—which pays him an average of $30 million per season—made him take stock of his own financial situation, but didn’t change his desire to stay with the only team he’s ever played for.
“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. But I know I enjoy coming to that building every single day.”
