Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is arguably the best in the business at his position. Even at 33 years old, he remains a force on the field as he continues creating his legacy, which might end with him being in discussions as the best tight end in NFL history.
Longevity and sustained success are both in his favor as he enters Year 11 of his career and has shown no signs of slowing down. Records could be broken and when a player performs at the level that Kelce has, they are compensated well.
However, that is where Kelce differs from his peers. Money isn’t what he is most concerned about. Instead, his main focus is on winning, which is why he has remained with the Chiefs despite, in the opinion of many people, being underpaid.
In a recent profile with Vanity Fair, Kelce revealed how much his agents and managers like to tell him how underpaid he is. And it is something that he considered last offseason when he watched former teammate Tyreek Hill get traded to the Miami Dolphins and then sign a four-year, $120 million contract.
“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,” he told Vanity Fair. “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.”
If there is one thing for sure while playing for Andy Reid and the Chiefs it is that you will be contending for championships. Kelce owns two Super Bowl rings and the team is poised to contend for more hardware not only in 2023 but for years to come.
But, it is hard not to think about how much more money he could be making. Kelce is the third highest-paid tight end in the NFL behind George Kittle and Darren Waller. His $11.25 million salary is 52nd in the league this season and is under contract through 2025 with an annual average of $14,312,500.
“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 told Vanity Fair. “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.”
As long as the winning continues, Kelce has no qualms about being in Kansas City. There are other ways for him to make money outside of the football field, which he takes full advantage of. But, there aren’t many places where you can find the satisfaction of winning the Lombardi Trophy, which the Chiefs provide him year in and year out.
