The annual average of $15 million makes Kittle the highest-paid tight end in football history. The deal significantly eclipsed the multi-year contract that pays Austin Hooper of the Cleveland Browns an average of $10.5 million and the one-year, $10.6 million deal for Hunter Henry of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Shortly after the details of Kittle's deal were made public, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs agreed to an extension that will average about $14.3 million per year.
Kittle's teammates reacted on social media to his contract details, which were first reported by Ian Rapoport and Mike Silver of NFL Network and the Pardon My Take podcast.
"He's the best blocking tight end, best catching tight end, best tight end in the league," pass rusher Dee Ford said Thursday of Kittle. "... I'm proud of him. He really deserves every penny."
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