Travis Kelce's career by the numbers: Contracts, earnings, stats
Travis Kelce's career by the numbers: Contracts, earnings, stats
Jack McKessy, USA TODAYTue, March 24, 2026 at 9:04 PM UTC
0
Fourteen years ago, Taylor Swift pleaded in a song for a perfect man to "Stay, Stay, Stay" in her life. In 2026, Swift's fiancé, Travis Kelce, heeded her advice in his own way: staying with the Kansas City Chiefs for a 14th season.
Kelce staved off retirement for at least one more season when he signed a three-year, $53.7 million extension with the Chiefs on March 23. Only $12 million is guaranteed in case the veteran tight end decides to retire after his 14th NFL season in 2026.
Over his first 13 years in the NFL, Kelce has made a name for himself on the field, in the record books and at the bank. The Chiefs' veteran has been one of the most productive tight ends in NFL history by statistical standards, which in turn has earned him the most career earnings by any player at his position.
Here's a closer look at Kelce's career by the numbers, from earnings to stats to milestones – both past and present – ahead of the 2026 season:
NFL NEWS, TAKES, FANTASY ADVICE: USA TODAY Sports has you covered with our NFL vodcast
1 / 0Travis Kelce, Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs star, through the years
Dec. 14, 2025: Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce reacts after catching a pas against the Los Angeles Chargers at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs lost the game, 16-13, and were eliminated from playoff contention, ending a 10-season postseason streak.
Travis Kelce career earnings
Figures according to Spotrac.
Total career earnings: $111,194,254
$168,929,254 presuming full max value of new contract
Earnings by year:
2013: $1,108,304
2014: $531,000
2015: $678,000
2016: $10.65 million
2017: $3.419 million
2018: $8.05 million
2019: $8.75 million
2020: $9.294 million
2021: $11.81 million
2022: $10.5 million
2023: $12.16 million
2024: $17 million
2025: $17.25 million
2026: $12 million guaranteed
Travis Kelce career stats -
Games: 192
Targets: 1,508
Receptions: 1,080
Receiving yards: 13,002
Receiving TDs: 82
Yards per reception: 12
Kelce's 12 receiving yards in Week 18 of the 2025 season pushed him over 13,000 receiving yards for his career, making him the third tight end to ever cross that mark. His three catches in that game vaulted him over Terrell Owens for the eighth-most receptions in NFL history with 1,080. Kelce is the active leader in career receptions.
In 2025, he led Chiefs pass-catchers in targets (108), receptions (76), receiving yards (851), receiving touchdowns (5) and receiving first downs (45).
Advertisement
Kelce has been selected for the Pro Bowl for 11 consecutive seasons. The veteran tight end also received first-team All-Pro honors in 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022.
Travis Kelce career milestones
During Kelce's 13 years in the NFL, the Chiefs' tight end already holds several NFL and Chiefs franchise records.
No player in NFL history has as many playoff receptions (178), 100-yard playoff games (9) or Super Bowl receptions (35) as Kelce. The veteran pass-catcher also holds several records at his position, like most 1,000-yard seasons by a tight end (7), most single-season receiving yards as a tight end (1,416) and 100-yard games by a tight end (38).
Kelce is the Chiefs' franchise record-holder for career receptions (1,080), career receiving yards (13,002) and total touchdowns (84).
Kelce is also nearing several notable career milestones entering his 14th season. A few of those milestones are within reach during the 2026 season, while a handful of others could be reached if he plays all three seasons on his latest contract extension.
In 2026:
Kelce can move as high as fifth on the all-time career receptions list – ahead of Marvin Harrison – with 23 catches.
Kelce can enter a tie with Hall of Fame guard Will Shields for most Pro Bowl selections as a Chief (12).
With 800 more receiving yards, Kelce could jump to 14th in all-time career receiving yards. With 1,000 yards this year, he would move to 13th. With 1,003 yards, he would jump in front of James Lofton for 12th.
Kelce needs three touchdown receptions to get to 85 and move into the top-20 all-time.
Beyond:
Kelce needs to average 82 catches per season over his three-year contract extension to surpass Tony Gonzalez for most career receptions by a tight end.
The Chiefs' tight end needs 45 more receiving yards to surpass Jason Witten for second-most all-time by a tight end. To surpass Gonzalez, Kelce would need 2,126 yards, or an average of 709 per season over the next three years.
If Kelce makes the Pro Bowl in each of the next three seasons, he'd tie Gonzalez for most Pro Bowl selections by a tight end in NFL history. That would put the veteran in a five-way tie for second-most Pro Bowl selections by any player behind only Tom Brady (15), and in a three-way tie for most consecutive Pro Bowls in history (Merlin Olsen, Bruce Matthews each made 14 in a row).
To catch Antonio Gates for most receiving touchdowns by a tight end, Kelce would need to score 34 more (35 to surpass Gates) in three seasons – an average of more than 11 touchdowns per year. Kelce has only had one season with more than 11 touchdowns: 2022, when he had 12.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Kelce contract: Chiefs TE earnings, stats and career milestones
Source: “AOL Sports”
