Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce is arguably the best in the business at his position. However, he is finally looking at his contract situation as opposed to what others have been getting around the league and he is now speaking out on it.
The 33-year-old is entering his tenth season in the league and has been with the Chiefs since being selected in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft as 63rd overall pick. The two-time Super Bowl champion is a top pass catcher in the sport but does not have a salary to reflect that.
That notion of being “underpaid” is something Kelce admitted lingers in his mind as he 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 reality of playing for a perennial contender makes it worth it.
“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 commented that former Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s contract with the Dolphins made him do a double-take at his own deal, 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.”
Hill landed a four-year contract extension worth $120 million after forcing a trade to Miami.
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“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.
Kelce’s base salary ranks 54th among all players in the NFL. He has earned nearly $65 million in his playing career. An eight-time Pro Bowler, Kelce will earn a base salary of around $11 million this upcoming season.
Kelce and Hill won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs in 2020. After he was traded, the team went out and won the Super Bowl this past season.
