Scott Winters/Getty Image
Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro Tight End Travis Kelce, candidly opened up about feeling underpaid in comparison to other top players in the NFL.
With an average annual salary of $14.3 million, Kelce finds himself earning roughly half of what the highest-paid receivers in the league make. However, despite being aware of his underpayment, Kelce has chosen not to take immediate action.
In a conversation with Tom Kludt of Vanity Fair, Kelce revealed that his managers and agents often remind him of his underpaid status. When he expresses his desire for a higher salary, they advise him to approach the Chiefs organization directly.
“My managers and agents love to tell me how underpaid I am,” Kelce says. “Any time I talk about wanting more money, they’re just like, ‘Why don’t you go to the Chiefs and ask them?’”
Despite acknowledging the discrepancy, Kelce is cautious about demanding more money, drawing inspiration from his former teammate Tyreek Hill’s experience. Hill secured a significant raise by the Dolphins but failed to win the Super Bowl in the 2022 season, unlike Kelce.
“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 says. “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 commitment to winning has led him to be content with his current situation. The Chiefs’ consistent success has opened doors for him to explore other lucrative ventures after his football career.
Kelce envisions a post-football path that involves broadcasting, podcasting, and potentially acting. He aspires to create a unique career path that hasn’t been traversed before.
For now, Kelce accepts his underpaid status. He does recognize that the Chiefs are willing to take advantage of him. While he is aware of the potential for greater earnings elsewhere, Kelce values the winning culture and environment he enjoys with the Chiefs.