Why Chiefs TE Travis Kelce doesn't care about T.J. Hockenson's record-setting deal
On Thursday morning, the Minnesota Vikings made T.J. Hockenson the NFL's highest-paid tight end, with a record-setting contract extension. The move pushes the salary for the modern-day position into a much better spot, which is sure to excite his peers at the position. That includes Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, who has helped change the tight end […]
On Thursday morning, the Minnesota Vikings made T.J. Hockenson the NFL's highest-paid tight end, with a record-setting contract extension.
The move pushes the salary for the modern-day position into a much better spot, which is sure to excite his peers at the position. That includes Chiefs TE Travis Kelce, who has helped change the tight end position forever with his performance on the field and his shaping of young players at the annual "Tight End University" summit in Nashville. Yet, that's about the extent to which Kelce will care about this development.
The pot-stirrers and blowhards in the NFL media realm have already started to make a fuss about Kelce's contract now. One NFL media member even suggested that if she were Kelce, she would join Chris Jones in his holdout. They'll all say that Kelce should ask Kansas City for more money and cast the Chiefs' franchise as villains who underpay their players.
Back in 2020, Kelce signed a four-year extension worth $57.25 million. The deal keeps him under contract through 2025, until he's 36 years old. It wasn't about becoming a top-paid player at his position, but rather securing his long-term future. But now after Hockenson's deal, his $14.31M per year average now ranks fourth in the NFL among tight ends.
There is little denying Kelce is underpaid given that he consistently produces as a top wide receiver in the league — he himself has recognized that to an extent.
The catch is that he's also admitted that he doesn't care.
In a June interview with Vanity Fair, we got a look into Kelce's psyche as it relates to his contract and the thought of being "underpaid."
“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?’”
“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.”
“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 says. “I don’t know if I really pressed the gas if I would get what I’m quote-unquote worth,” he adds. “But I know I enjoy coming to that building every single day.”
Kelce made it clear in this interview that winning is important to him.
Being in Kansas City is important to him.
Being with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid is important to him.
Being the highest-paid player in his position? It'd be nice, but it's not the most important thing at this juncture in his career. The Chiefs have taken good care of him and he wants to finish his career out in Kansas City, where he's put down real roots in the community with his 87 & Running foundation. He's not going to jeopardize that goal for a quick buck.
Beyond his football-playing days, Kelce has a big future in media ahead of him, if he wants it. His "New Heights Show" podcast with his brother, Eagles C Jason Kelce, remains one of the top sports podcasts in the world. This is all while they're both still playing the game that they love.
Love is a real part of it too. Travis Kelce said it himself, he loves the situation he's in. That's not going to change so easily.
What are Chiefs expecting from Justyn Ross, Rashee Rice in 2023?
Kansas City Chiefs GM Brett Veach spoke about the roles that Justyn Ross and Rashee Rice will play to start the 2023 NFL season.
Featured image via Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
