Travis Kelce Has Been Surpassed
Last offseason, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce signed a new contract with the team that made him the highest-paid tight end in the league – and also the highest-paid tight end of all time. But Kelce no longer holds that title.
On Thursday afternoon, NFL insider Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that star tight end Trey McBride had signed a new contract with the Arizona Cardinals, which made him the highest-paid tight end in the league, surpassing Kelce.
"Arizona Cardinals are making Pro-Bowl TE Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with a four-year, $76 million extension," Schefter reported in a post on X, citing McBride's agents.
"The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and a $19 million average per year, the highest ever for any NFL tight end," Schefter added.
Arizona Cardinals are making Pro-Bowl TE Trey McBride the highest-paid tight end in NFL history with a four-year, $76 million extension, per agents @MSWENSON78 @CJLaBoy @dhendrickson41 of @wassermannfl.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 3, 2025
The deal includes $43 million guaranteed and a $19 million average per year,… pic.twitter.com/Gil0BQKxhq
Kelce's deal, which he signed with the Chiefs last season, paid him an average of $17.1 million per season.
While Kelce has established himself as one of the most dominant and accomplished tight ends in the history of the game, McBride was undeniably more productive than him last season.
Statistically, Kelce had the worst season of his career in 2024, posting career-low stats in every major receiving metric. His production dipped in yards per game, yards per reception, and yards after the catch, and he finished the season with fewer touchdowns than in any season since taking over as a starter.
Meanwhile, McBride had more catches, more yards, more yards per reception, and more yards after the catch. However, he did have one fewer touchdown than Kelce, as he only found the end zone once last season.
Kelce will be back with the Chiefs again next season, where he will have a chance to bounce back from what was a disappointing season with the team, and prove once again that he is the top tight end in the league.