Photo: People Magazine

Last year, the relationship between pop megastar Taylor Swift and NFL Superstar Travis Kelce took the sports, music, and pop culture worlds by storm. With everyone from Sports Illustrated to People Magazine covering the relationship, attention grew from a kiss shared by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on the field following his victory in Super Bowl 58. But how their relationship got to this point is actually a long and interesting story, that began well before she made her first appearance supporting Kelce.

On July 8th 2023, Travis Kelce attended the Eras Tour performance at Arrowhead Stadium, home stadium of the Kansas City Chiefs. A few weeks later on an episode of his podcast “New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce”, he explained that following the concert he wanted to give her a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it. But was disappointed to learn that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows saying quote “She doesn’t meet anyone or at least didn’t want to meet me”. About a month later Kelce appeared on an episode of the Pat Mcafee Show. When asked about the rumors that he and Taylor Swift were in a relationship he responded by saying quote, “I threw the ball in her court” and invited her to a game at Arrowhead by saying, “I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead now it’s time for you to see me rock the stage in arrowhead.”

3 days after his interview on the Pat Mcafee show on September 24th, during the Chiefs week 3 game vs the Chicago Bears, Taylor Swift was seen in a box at the stadium alongside Kelce’s mother Donna Kelce. The two were seen celebrating when Travis scored a touchdown during the Chiefs 41 to 10 drubbing the Bears. After the game the two were filmed leaving the stadium together. The following week, the NFL continued the relationship’s publicity by using Swift’s song “Welcome To New York” during advertisements for the Chiefs week three matchup. Swift once more was there along with many other high profile celebrities, this would become a trend for Swift as she was seen at the Chiefs next 3 games. In addition to her appearances at games, the new couple were also spotted out in public at many events including an SNL after party where the pair were seen holding hands.

With the international leg of the Eras Tour beginning, and the Kansas City Chiefs having a dead week it was time to reverse the roles. Kelce traveled to Swift’s concert in Buenos Aires on November 11th. He was spotted dancing and singing along but it was Swift’s lyrical choice that grabbed the audience’s attention. During her performance of her song “Karma”, Swift changed the lyric from “karma is the guy on the screen coming straight home to me” to “karma is the guy on Chiefs coming straight home to me”. Following the Superbowl many people were not sure if the relationship would make it through the offseason. But it appeared as if their relationship was as strong as ever, Kelce even performed at an Eras Tour performance at London’s Wembley Stadium. Kelce appeared on stage as a backup dancer during the Tortured Poets Department set in a tuxedo and a top hat. 

With Kelce’s first game coming up this week, we will have to wait and see what happens with this relationship throughout the season but if one thing is certain, it is that this will remain a primetime love story.