Global pop icon Taylor Swift and American football legend Travis Kelce are setting the internet alight with their blossoming romance.

The couple went public with their relationship in October 2023, following relentless speculation in the press that they were dating.
_{© Brian Friedman / Shutterstock.com | © Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com}
It emerged that they had been an item since September, but that they had tried to keep their romance under wraps initially to get to know each other better. However, when two high profile celebrities who are constantly chased by the paparazzi start dating, it’s almost impossible to keep anything a secret.

Now they’re speaking freely about their relationship and have been photographed on numerous dates – Swift has been spotted at games cheering on her boyfriend. They caused the internet to explode on 28th January by kissing on the playing field following Kelce’s team the Kansas City Chiefs’ victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

So just how did the international pop sensation and the American National Football League’s dynamic tight end cross paths in the first place?

TAYLOR SWIFT BOYFRIEND

Speculation has always been intense about whether Taylor Swift is dating, with her legion of fans, known as “Swifties”, eagerly following the star’s social media updates. The 34-year-old famously dated One Direction singer Harry Styles in 2012, before they split in 2013.

Social media went wild at the 2023 Grammys in February, when 14-times Award winner Swift publicly supported her ex after he was heckled during his live performance. Not only did she get up to dance, in the spotlight of the world’s media, but she also went over to his table afterwards to chat, prompting Swifties to speculate there may be a reunion on the cards.

However, this wasn’t about to happen, especially since the Pennsylvania-born star and philanthropist was destined to meet her future boyfriend Kelce a few months later.

TRAVIS KELCE CAREER

Travis Kelce, also 34, has been excelling at American football since his days as a student in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where he grew up. He also played baseball and basketball at Cleveland Heights High School but stood out as a football player and was inundated with university scholarship offers as a result.

Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce, his older brother, are two of the most well-known names in American football in the past decade.

Jason, 36, currently plays centre for the Philadelphia Eagles. Like Travis, he played American football at Cleveland Heights High School.

The brothers co-host a podcast called New Heights, covering different popular culture topics, including football.

FIRST MEETING

Since his romance with Swift went public, Travis has revealed more details of their famous meeting.

While Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are now inextricably linked in almost every media report, their romance was nearly thwarted before it began.

Kelce revealed he had hoped to introduce himself to Swift when he went to watch her perform on her Eras Tour at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on 7th July 2023. He planned their meeting meticulously, after being inspired by the lyrics of Swift’s 2022 hit, You’re On Your Own, Kid.

The trend among Swifties was to exchange homemade bracelets at gigs during the Eras Tour, based on the lyrics, “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment and taste it.” He intended giving the singer a homemade friendship bracelet with his phone number attached. However, to his dismay, he was told Swift didn’t speak before or after shows, as she sang 44 hits and wanted to rest her voice.

Subsequently, during his podcast, he admitted to feeling “a little hurt” that he didn’t get to hand her the bracelet and said he “took it personally”. However, he said someone had “played Cupid” on his behalf following his admission, although didn’t reveal who.

FIRST DATE

Rumours about their romance were already circulating by early September, but both were coy about whether they were an item.

According to Kelce, they spoke quite a bit, before finally meeting in person for dinner in New York for their first date in early September.

Swift surprised fans by turning up to watch Kelce play when the Kansas City Chiefs beat Chicago Bears on 24th September, especially because she was sitting in the player’s own suite with his mother, Donna.

After the match, Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift left the stadium together, a moment captured by sports reporter Jarrett Payton, who shared it on social media.

Swift smiled at Payton and said, “Hey!”, while Kelce asked the anchorman, “How you doing?” before they drove off together in Kelce’s convertible.

In an interview with Time magazine, Swift revealed they were already dating at that time, saying they had spent a “significant amount of time together” before the press found out.

Due to their respective busy careers, critics said they would find it difficult to make the relationship work, but they have proved the doubters wrong so far.

IMPACT ON NFL

Embracing the support of Taylor Swift, NFL bosses say her relationship with Kelce and her attendance at games has generated unprecedented extra income.

Swift was spotted wearing a bespoke Chiefs’ jacket specially designed by Kristin Juszczyk on 13th January at Kelce’s playoff game. The red puffer jacket had “Kelce” written on it, plus “87”, his jersey number, emblazoned in yellow and white text, alongside NFL logos and the words “Chiefs Kingdom”.

Her connection has generated an estimated £262.4 million in equivalent brand value for the NFL and the Chiefs, according to a detailed analysis. Sales of Kelce shirts have increased by 400% and some fans have even bought replica jerseys with Swift’s name printed on the back.

Other players have voiced a generally positive reaction to the relationship, saying it’s bringing new viewers to the sport. In an interview on CBS News, Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes said once Kelce started dating Swift, his teammates realised “how cool a person” she was. He says she’s now “part of the team”.

Jason Kelce also spoke highly of his brother’s girlfriend, saying he has been “fortunate to meet her” and describing her as a “genuine, down-to-earth person”. Thousands of fans will agree, as Swift is considered an excellent role model for young females.