Travis Kelce expresses disappointment at Saquon Barkley's contract

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 9, 2025, 02:41 IST

Text Size

Small
Medium
Large

Philadelphia Eagles fans celebrated Saquon Barkley's contract extension after his record-breaking 2,000-yard season. Kansas City Chiefs' Travis Kelce expressed his disappointment over the extension on his podcast while his brother, Jason Kelce, defended the Eagles' incentive-based approach that is common in NFL contracts, highlighting varying viewpoints on the deal.

Travis Kelce expresses disappointment at Saquon Barkley's contract

Travis Kelce had a strong response to Saquon Barkley's contract. Source: X

The Philadelphia Eagles fans were overjoyed with the extension of Saquon Barkley's contract, especially after the star running back's record-breaking 2,000-yard season. The two-year extension reportedly makes Barkley the highest-paid running back in the league. However, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce recently spoke about the extension on his podcast and had an interesting response.

What did Travis Kelce say about Saquon Barkley's contract?

Speaking on the "New Heights" podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, former Eagles center Jason Kelce, Travis was quick to express his disappointment.
“Eww," Kelce said while discussing Barkley’s extended contract. "I don't like that one bit. ... Does he have to get a 2,000-yard season every year?”

Saquon Barkley signed a 2 year, $41,200,000 contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, including $36,000,000 guaranteed, and an average annual salary of $20,600,000. The deal which includes $36 million guaranteed at signing, makes Barkley the NFL's first running back getting more than $20 million per year. The deal reportedly includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing and the ability to earn $15 million in incentives.
Meanwhile, Jason Kelce defended the Eagles' approach and pointed out that incentives tied to performance were common in NFL contracts. "The way I used to be structured, there'd be like playoff incentives, Super Bowl incentives, Pro Bowls, All-Pros," Jason explained. "And then with running backs, you usually add in yards."
Travis, however, had a different issue. "So you have to rely on someone's vote to get your incentive? That's (expletive) up," he said.
Although Travis Kelce may have reservations about the terms of his contract, it's important to recognize that Barkley's contract came after an exceptional single-season showing in NFL history. The former Offensive Player of the Year joined an elite group as one of only nine players to rush for 2,000 yards, breaking the NFL record for total rushing yards in a season, including playoffs.

About the Author

TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article