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Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs has a contract loophole that could earn him a big record in the coming season.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has officially signed a three-year, $57.7 million extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, but it’s structured as a one-year, $12 million guaranteed deal for the 2026-27 season for the purpose of cap flexibility. His contract also packs $3 million in possible incentives for that first year.

It’s complicated, but when all is said and done, if Kelce gets the maximum value of this deal, he’ll notch a new record. But, Kelce says the money isn’t the only reason he came back. He even gave his future wife Taylor Swift some credit, during an episode of the “New Heights” podcast.

“It’s just amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies and things like that,” he said. “And on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does.”

He added, “That’s motivating for anyone to see, let alone my fiancée, and knowing that I’m going through something where I’m trying to figure out exactly what the future holds for me. Something like that definitely motivates me to say, ‘You know what, I’m not done either.’”

Travis Kelce May Surpass a Big Record With the Kansas City Chiefs

In a Tuesday, March 24 feature for USA Today, Nate Davis lays out a situation where Kelce would notch a big milestone and record during his 14th season with the Chiefs.

“The maximum value of Kelce’s deal is $57.7 million, a figure that − if fully realized − would allow the 36-year-old 14-time Pro Bowler to surpass fellow Tight End University co-founder George Kittle ($19.1 million average annual value) of the San Francisco 49ers as the highest-paid man at the position in terms of AAV,” he notes in the piece.

But, Davis also warns to not bet on it. “While we knew Kelce’s contract was heavily backloaded given he was guaranteed to make $12 million (with another $3 million available in incentives) in 2026,” he says, “we now know how unlikely it is that Kelce returns in 2027 − at least based on the deal’s current structure.”

According to a report from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, Kelce has a roster bonus of $40 million for the 2028 season and Kansas City is required to pay it on June 8, 2027, “meaning his pact truly is effective for just this season,” Davis notes, “barring a near-complete overhaul of it some time next year.” So, it’s not likely that he’ll notch this record, but it’s possible.

Landing a Travis Kelce Replacement for the Kansas City Chiefs

In a Sunday, March 15 feature for A to Z Sports, Kyle Crabbs predicts what talented each NFL team will bring on during the 2026 NFL draft. For the Chiefs, he has them going with a defensive lineman, not a tight end, with their No. 9 pick in Rueben Bain Jr. of Miami.

But, with the team’s No. 40 pick, he has them getting a solid tight end in Eli Stowers of Vanderbilt.

“Stowers is an explosive quarterback convert with just three years at the tight end position,” the player’s NFL profile states. “He’s an excellent athlete with long arms but needs to keep filling out his frame.”

Anne Erickson is an award-winning reporter for Heavy Sports covering the NFL, NBA and college football. Anne Erickson has years of experience covering the NFL and additional sports, and her work has been published via ESPN, Fox Sports and more. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in sports, including Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff. Erickson also hosts several podcasts and is a Detroit-based radio host. More about Anne Erickson