He’s team captain and she’s on the bleachers.
Taylor Swift went public with her and Travis Kelce’s romance in September 2023, two months after he expressed interest in the Grammy winner on his “New Heights” podcast.
Not only did the singer start showing support at the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s NFL games, but she attended afterparties and even helped celebrate his birthday.
The unexpected duo’s budding romance marked Kelce’s first since his 2022 split from on-again, off-again girlfriend Kayla Nicole.
Swift, for her part, dated Joe Alwyn from 2016 to 2023 before having a brief fling with rocker Matty Healy of the 1975.
Take a look at how Swift from from being Kelce’s crush to a staple at Arrowhead stadium.
Celebrity crush
Long before romance rumors, Kelce admitted on AfterBuzz TV that he wanted to smooch Swift during a game of “Kiss, Marry, Kill.”
Meanwhile, he chose to kill Ariana Grande and marry Katy Perry.
Kelce was doing press to promote his “Catching Kelce” dating show, where he narrowed a pool of women down from 50 to one, at the time.
Concert snub
Kelce tried — and failed — to give Swift his phone number at the Kansas City, Mo., stop of her Eras Tour in July 2023, which left the athlete feeling “butthurt.”
He told podcast listeners that he put his number on a friendship bracelet, but was unable to give it to the singer because she “didn’t want to meet” him.
“She doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Kelce explained. “I took it personal.”
Romance rumors
Two months after Kelce shot his shot, The Messenger reported that he had been “quietly hanging out” with the songwriter.
“She saw him when she was in NYC a few weeks ago,” a source told the outlet.
Notably, Kelce confirmed on a podcast episode the previous month that he had recently been in New York.
Hint, hint
Despite the tight end claiming in September 2023 that he was “still searching” for love, his brother, Jason Kelce, hinted at Travis’ romance with Swift on multiple occasions.
The Philadelphia Eagles player cryptically told “Thursday Night Football” viewers that his younger sibling was “having fun,” but wouldn’t comment further.
He later said on the “WIP Morning Show” that speculation was “100 percent true” — only to walk the “joke” back.
New jewels
Swift made headlines when she rocked an opal necklace, which is Kelce’s birthstone, amid the swirling romance rumors.
Kelce also rocked telling jewelry that same month, as he was photographed wearing a beaded friendship bracelet on his wrist featuring lyrics from one of Swift’s songs at a Kelce Car Jam charity event.
No. 1 fan
Days after Travis admitted to inviting Swift to his game against the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, the performer watched the sporting event from his suite.
Swift dressed for the occasion in the team’s colors, cheered enthusiastically for her rumored beau’s touchdown and chatted with his mom, Donna Kelce.
She and Travis looked cozy leaving the match together and drove off in the NFL player’s getaway car.
Post-game PDA
The “affectionate” pair subsequently partied with his friends and family members at the Prime Social rooftop bar in Kansas City.
An eyewitness told Page Six that Travis and Swift “left together” after 1 a.m.
Days later, a photo emerged of Swift cuddled up to Travis as she chatted with his pals.
Getting giddy
While Swift kept quiet about her game day with Travis, he gushed about how “ballsy” her presence was — and how “amazing” she looked — on a “New Heights” podcast episode the following week.
“Everybody in the suite had nothing but good things to say about her,” he said. “Everybody was talking about her in great light and on top of that, the day went perfect for Chiefs.”
Swift even traveled to the game with Travis’ loved ones from his $1 million mansion, according to a picture obtained by the Daily Mail.
Sales spike
After Swift’s surprise appearance at the Chiefs game, Travis’ jersey sales spiked nearly 400 percent, according to a spokesperson for the NFL’s official e-commerce partner, Fanatics.
In fact, many styles of his jersey even sold out.
As Swifties snapped up merch, reports swirled that Swift would attend Travis’ game against the New York Jets the following week.
Round two
Swift did indeed make an appearance at the Kansas City Chiefs’ October 2023 game at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey — and she brought an entourage of A-list pals!
Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner and more stars helped Swift cheer on her man as he played in a tough match against the New York Jets.
The night before the game, the “Anti-Hero” singer enjoyed a girls’ night out in NYC with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany Mahomes, in tow, while Travis had dinner with friends.
Although they spent Saturday evening separately, Travis was photographed leaving Swift’s Manhattan apartment on Sunday morning before he made his way to the stadium.
Continued comments
While Travis previously said he planned to keep quiet about Swift “moving forward,” he “liked” a video of her on social media and gave Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson “big time” credit for his budding romance.
Additionally, Travis told “Chasin’ It” podcast listeners that he couldn’t “be mad at how it’s all played out” while smiling over Swift.
He also joked on “New Heights” that she put him “on the map.”
Mama bear
Donna appeared to give Swift her seal of approval in October 2023 by posting a video of herself hugging the “Cruel Summer” singer.
“Donna likes Taylor and thinks she’s very sweet and down to earth,” People magazine subsequently reported.
However, Travis’ mom didn’t want to talk about Swift during a “Today” show appearance, simply saying meeting her was “OK.”
Best birthday
While Travis spent his actual birthday — Oct. 5 — with friends, he and Swift secretly celebrated together, as well.
Page Six confirmed that the “Cruel Summer” songstress flew into Kansas City on Oct. 6 to have a “chill night” with the athlete before jetting off again the following day.
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Travis did not offer any details about their time together, choosing to avoid the subject completely on his “New Heights” podcast just days later.
No-show
Despite hints that she’d be there, Swift was a no-show at Travis’ game against the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 8.
While some fans believe the singer to be the team’s good luck charm, the Chiefs still pulled out a 27-20 win against their midwestern foes.
Game night
Swift flew straight from her “Eras Tour” movie premiere in Los Angeles to Kansas City to watch her rumored beau take on the Denver Broncos for “Thursday Night Football.”
The Grammy winner cheered from the Kelce suite at Arrowhead Stadium alongside Travis’ parents and her new pal Brittany.
Swift rocked a Chiefs jacket from Andrews’ clothing line paired with a Balenciaga corset top that costs a whopping $3,190.
TMZ reported that the musician and pro athlete would be spending the weekend together since he had several days off from football practice.
