Travis Kelce signed a new deal with the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, quashing all rumors about his retirement in the 2026 season. The 3-year, $54.735 million deal can be worth up to $57.735 million ($18.245 million average), with the first year being $12 million plus 3 million in incentives.
However, much of the deal's value, more than $40 million tied to the final two years, is not expected to materialize. According to NFL reporter Ari Meirov, the deal will be renegotiated next year if Kelce wants to continue playing after this season.
The contract's structure is set up for this to be Kelce's final season, after which he would retire, allowing the cap hits to be spread out over those added years. Incentives, including Kelce's $3 million in contract incentives, may also be difficult to reach.
The Chiefs have made a 'unicorn contract', allowing them to spread cap hits into future seasons without committing to paying the full value. If Kelce retires or is released after the 2026 season, the remaining years would be voided, leaving the team with manageable dead-cap hits in 2027 and 2028.
Kelce's cap hit for 2026 is relatively modest at just under $5 million, with future cap charges sitting around $3.5 million annually if the deal voids as expected.
