KANSAS CITY, Mo.– travis kelsOne of the NFL’s greatest tight ends and three-time champion kansas city chiefsA source told ESPN on Monday that he has agreed to return for a 14th season with the team.
A source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $12 million with a cap value of $15 million.
Kelce made his decision just before the start of the NFL’s free agency period, as he was set to become an unrestricted free agent. As one of the league’s best tight ends, Kelce would have been an interesting option for many teams, but a source told ESPN that he informed the Chiefs on Monday morning of his intentions to remain with coach Andy Reid — who was his only coach throughout his entire NFL career — at quarterback. patrick mahomes move faster chris jones.
Two weeks earlier, Chiefs general manager Brett Veach acknowledged that the team hoped Kelce would return for another season, which could be the last season of his elite career.
“Travis is the best,” Veach said at the NFL Combine. “He’s an icon, and hopefully he comes back. We’ll let that process happen. This is not your typical 27-year-old [and] First time at free agency. Travis has done everything and achieved everything.
“He’s about to get married. He’s got a lot of things going on, so I don’t think there’s any element of any of us not trying to do something – you need some kind of deadline. [or] The timeline–but he’s also Travis Kelce.”
The details of Kelce’s contract are still unknown, but he could return for a one-year deal or a two-year deal to help give the Chiefs more flexibility with their salary cap.
Last month, Reid smiled when he shared a positive update on Kelce’s status, indicating that the Chiefs’ longest-tenured player was preparing for a second season.
“The communication is there,” Reed said of Kelce. “That’s the main thing. I’ve said it before: As long as there’s communication, I’m good. It means people want to move forward.”
Even at 36, Kelce led the Chiefs in targets (108), receptions (76), receiving yards (851), receiving touchdowns (five) and first downs (45) last season.
In early January, when the Chiefs’ season ended, Kelce said he was unsure about his future in the NFL, but he vowed to make a decision in early March, before the NFL’s free agency period.
Before last season, Kelce rededicated himself by conducting training sessions that were designed to improve his quickness and regain some of the speed and agility he had lost during the previous two years. Improved athleticism led Kelce to once again rack up yards after the catch, leading the Chiefs in that category (424).
He finished last season becoming the third tight end in NFL history to record at least 13,000 career receiving yards, doing so in just 192 games, the fastest for such a feat. Kelce became the second player in league history to record 75 receptions for 10 consecutive seasons, joining Hall of Fame receiver Tim Brown.
against on christmas day denver broncosChiefs fans inside Arrowhead Stadium – unsure whether that night was going to be the Kelce’s final home game – chanted “Kel-si! Kel-si, Kel-si!” To express our gratitude and appreciation to one of the greatest players of the franchise in the final minutes.
The Chiefs originally selected Kelce with the 63rd pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the same year Reed joined the team.
