Chiefs' Kelce accepts being underpaid for production: 'I love winning'
Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce believes he's underpaid but accepts his situation given the team's success.
"My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am," Kelce told Vanity Fair's Tom Kludt. "Any time I talk about wanting more money, they're just like, 'Why don't you go to the Chiefs and ask them?'"
Kelce earns an average of $14.3 million annually, the third-highest total among his position group, yet not on par with the salaries of some of the league's top receivers.
The 34-year-old acknowledges that his production has come at a discount for the Chiefs despite being a four-time first-team All-Pro and recently winning his second Super Bowl title with the franchise.
"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.
Kelce watched last offseason as Kansas City traded star wideout Tyreek Hill to the Miami Dolphins, who then signed him to a four-year, $120-million extension. Tempted by the prospects of being a free agent, Kelce admits that he enjoys winning too much to go chasing after a raise.
"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."
Reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes offered high praise, calling Kelce more like a brother than just another teammate.
"Travis is definitely the best player I've thrown to," Mahomes said.
Kelce, who signed a four-year, $57.25-million extension in 2020, intends to play out his contract, which runs through the 2025 season. While he's uncertain of what his next chapter will be after football, he's eager to get "his face out from under the helmet."
The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Kelce hauled in 110 receptions (third in NFL), 1,388 yards (eighth among all pass-catchers), and 12 scores (second in the league) last season.
No other tight end has posted seven 1,000-yard seasons, and his 16 touchdowns in the postseason trail only Hall of Fame receiver Jerry Rice (22). The Cincinnati product has hauled in 814 receptions, 10,344 yards, and 69 touchdowns over 10 seasons with the Chiefs. He sits 596 yards and seven TDs behind Tony Gonzalez for the franchise's all-time record in each category.
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