All these years later, Taylor Swift is still the girl on the bleachers.
Over the last several months, the Midnights star and Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce have kindled an apparent romance that’s taken the entertainment world by storm. The crossover of sports and music has gotten even the NFL involved, issuing a statement about just how much they’ve tapped into Swift attending games in promo material.
“The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real-time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport,” the NFL said.
It seems that everyone is talking about the pair, and although they have yet to confirm they’re officially dating, their romance is panning out to make the duo the entertainment world’s hottest new couple.
From trading friendship bracelets at the Eras Tour to Swift enjoying games with her A-list besties, here’s a complete timeline of Swift and Kelce’s romance:
July 2023 — Travis Kelce Becomes a Swiftie at the Eras Tour
It all started with a visit to one of her shows. On July 8, Travis Kelce was spotted attending Swift’s Eras Tour stop in Kansas City, where he watched the show from a private box. During the show, he was seen meeting with fans and trading friendship bracelets.
Kelce later revealed on his podcast New Heights that he attempted to meet the Fearless singer after the show to shoot his shot, but failed.
“If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it,” he said later that month.
September 2023 — Travis Kelce Confirms He Reached Out to Swift
The rumors of Swift and Kelce’s relationship began to swirl in mid-September, so much that Kelce’s brother and fellow football star Jason Kelce was asked about it multiple times: “I’ve seen these rumors. I cannot comment.”
But when Kelce visited The Pat McAfee Show on Sept. 21, the player confirmed that he had “thrown the ball in her court” and invited her to one of his football games.
David Eulitt/Getty Images
“I threw it out there,” he said. “I threw the ball in her court and, you know, I told her, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead, and you might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead and see which one is a little more lit.’”
“So we’ll see what happens in the near future,” he added.
September 2023 — Taylor Swift Attends Her First Chiefs Game
And then she went to his game. During the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears, Swift could be seen in one of the suite boxes next to Kelce’s mom. Donna. At one point, the camera panned over to show her wearing Chiefs colors and cheering enthusiastically.
During the game, Swift’s enthusiasm continued as she celebrated Kelce’s touchdown with a “Let’s fucking go!” while clapping and jumping excitedly alongside others in the box.
At the time, a source told People that Kelce and Swift had been “hanging out” and were still in the “super, super early days” of getting to know each other. “They’re having fun,” the source told the outlet. “This was Taylor’s first time meeting his mom and dad, and everyone was enjoying themselves.”
A few days after the game, Kelce talked about Swift on his podcast and thanked her for “pulling up” to his game, saying he “sure as hell enjoyed this weekend.”
“I just thought it was awesome how everybody in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her, the friends and family. She looked amazing, and everybody was talking about her in great light,” he said. He later said he was going to “respect both of our lives” when talking about the relationship.
Oct. 1, 2023 — Taylor Swift Attends Chiefs Game No. 2 With A-List Friends
Taylor Swift brought out her famous friends to see her new man during the Chiefs game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.
Swift was spotted in a box alongside Blake Lively, Sabrina Carpenter, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner, and Antoni Porowski. Before the match, the Today Show shared an ad for the game using Swift’s song “Welcome to New York.”
But while the gathering appeared like ideal Swiftie squad goals — hanging out on a Sunday night with friends to cheer on the person she is (likely) dating, not everyone was excited for yet another game that wasn’t fully focused on the field. Some football fans pleaded on X, formerly Twitter, for broadcasters to stop talking about Swift and keep the conversation and cameras completely on football.
Oct. 4, 2023 — Travis Kelce Claims NFL’s Swift Coverage Is Going Overboard, and the League Responds
During an episode of New Heights, Kelce admitted that the National Football League had been taking their coverage of Swift attending the team’s games a bit far.
“I think it’s fun when they show who all is at the game,” Kelce said. “I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching. But at the same time, they’re overdoing it a little bit for sure… especially my situation. I think they’re trying to have fun with it.”
Not mentioning Swift directly, Jason alluded to the fact that the NFL isn’t used to handling stars of her magnitude during their games for longer than the duration of a halftime show.
“The NFL is not used to celebrities coming to the games,” he added. “Basketball has it figured out… [celebrities are] courtside, they show them once or twice, and then they get back to the game. The NFL is like, ‘Look at all these A-list celebrities at the game! Show them! Show them!’ Dude, show them once and get a little clip, but you can’t be overboard with it.”
The NFL issued a statement responding to Kelce’s comments defending itself.
“We frequently change our bios and profile imagery based on what’s happening in and around our games, as well as culturally,” the statement read. “The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real-time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport.”
Oct. 13, 2023 — Taylor Swift Pulls Up to Another Travis Kelce Game, a Day After ‘Eras Tour’ Premiere
Taylor Swift is jetsetting for her man. Just hours after attending the premiere of her Eras Tour concert film, the singer was spotted in the stands of the Chiefs versus Broncos game at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium.
Swift was seen chatting in one of the suites with Kelce’s mother, and in some photos, the superstar could be seen whispering in her ear as she smiled. Before the game, Amazon Prime captured Swift walking into the stadium wearing a Kansas City Chiefs jacket while surrounded by a security team.
Swift’s visit to Arrowhead Stadium comes a few days after Kelce said that the frenzy over his relationship with Swift would not impact his performance on the field.
“I’ve always been pretty good about compartmentalizing and being able to stay focused in this building,” Kelce said after the Chiefs wrapped Friday’s practice, per ESPN. “I think it’s always been that for me. No matter what’s going on in my life, good or bad, I think this is one place I can get away and just being locked in and focused and always check myself and my ego at the door and make sure that I come in with a clear mind.”
Oct. 14, 2023 — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Both Make Surprise Appearances on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live made its grand return with host Pete Davidson helming an episode mining an endless well of Taylor Swift-related content. In one skit, the comedian played a sideline reporter paying more attention to whether the singer was in the stands of a Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets game than anything happening on the field.
“There was a rumor online she was coming to cheer on Travis Kelce’s brother, Jason, who plays for the Eagles. Duh!” said Davidson, decked out in a pink cowboy hat and Eras tour merch. “But so far, no sign of blondie. I’m starting to wonder why I’m even here.”
There was no sign of Swift, at least in that moment, but Kelce did make a surprise appearance at the end of the skit, exclaiming “Yes, please!” when Kenan Thompson begged to shift the discussion back to football.
SNL couldn’t get the singer to join in on a skit, but she did pop up later in the show to introduce musical guest Ice Spice for her second performance of the night.
Oct. 15, 2023 — Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift Step Out in NYC
Stepping out hand-in-hand for the first time, Kelce and Swift spent a weekend together in New York. Clips captured from throughout the night show Kelce and Swift attached at the hip, holding hands and hugging while at the party and on their way to dinner.
The pair arrived at the Saturday Night Live after-party together late in the night. According to Entertainment Tonight, “at one point, [Kelce] actually told her security guard that he could step aside, like he’d take it from here.”
Oct. 22, 2023 — Swift Attends Fourth Chiefs Game
Taylor Swift once again returned to Arrowhead Stadium for a Chiefs game — and once again the Chiefs won, with Kelce scoring a touchdown in the victory. This was Swift’s fourth Chiefs game, and the team has won every game she’s attended so far, potentially giving her lucky charm status. (Ok, the Chiefs have, technically, won all of their games since week two of the NFL season — before Swift fully entered the picture — but who’s counting.)
Swift was seen heading into Arrowhead in a red Chiefs sweatshirt as fans screamed her name, and she waved and smiled in response. During the game, Swift was spotted laughing and dancing with Brittany Lynne, wife of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahome, as well as Brittany and Patrick’s baby, Patrick “Bronze” Lavon Mahomes III.
Nov. 10, 2023 — Kelce Touches Down in Argentina for the Eras Tour and Earns Some Good Karma
Swift resumed the Eras tour in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Thursday, Nov. 9 after a nearly three-month long break. Booked to perform three shows at Estadio River Plate, the singer was joined by Kelce ahead of the second show on Friday. The concert was ultimately rescheduled due to weather conditions, freeing up Swift’s schedule for the night. During a recent episode of the New Heights podcast, which Kelce hosts with his brother Jason, the athlete hinted at potential vacation plans, saying: “I might just say fuck it and go somewhere nice. My skin’s getting real pale, so I’ve got to go someplace sunny. Some place south, closer to the equator.”
To show her appreciation for Kelce making the long trip south, Swift tweaked the lyrics to “Karma” during her show, Saturday, Nov. 11, singing, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me.” Immediately after the show, fan footage showed Swift running into Kelce’s arms and kissing him backstage.
Nov. 20, 2023 — Kelce Shares Details of the Start of Their Love Story
Kelce sat down for an interview with WSJ Magazine and shared a bit more about how his romance with Swift started.
“There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was, in her corner [who said]: Yo! Did you know he was coming?” Kelce told the outlet. “I had somebody playing cupid. [Swift] told me exactly what was going on and how I got lucky enough to get her to reach out.”
Kelce told the outlet that when she performed at the Eras Tour at the Chiefs’ Arrowhead Stadium, she got the team’s locker room and her “little cousins were taking pictures in front of my locker.”
Several months later, Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes visited the Pat McAfee Show and said he wanted to “take some of the credit” for connecting the couple. “I was the one who invited Travis to the first Taylor concert when the friendship bracelet [idea came up]. He was sitting in my suite, so I feel like I was the matchmaker,” Mahomes said.
Dec. 6, 2023 — Swift Speaks About Kelce Romance for the First Time
As Taylor Swift earned the title of 2023 Person of the Year by Time, the singer spoke about how she met Kelce for the first time — and how she felt when he shot his shot with the friendship bracelet.
“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” she told the magazine. “We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other.”
Swift explained that by the time she attended her first Chiefs game, the two were already a couple. “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date,” Swift added. The singer also said that she saw attending his football games as “showing up for each other” even if people are watching closely.
“The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone,” she said. “And we’re just proud of each other.”
Super Bowl 2024 — Swift and Kelce Share a Kiss After Big Game Win
Leading up to the Super Bowl in early February, Swift was a staple in the stands, including during a Christmas Day match, and later at multiple playoff matches to start 2024.
“She’s all in,” Kelce even said of Swift ahead of the Super Bowl. “She’s part of Chiefs Kingdom 100%.”
Then, for Kelce’s Big Game, Swift flew straight from Japan to Sin City after wrapping her last show in Tokyo as part of her Eras Tour to Las Vegas to watch Kelce play. The pop star arrived with friends Blake Lively, Ice Spice, and Ashley Avignone.
After Kelce’s Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22, photos and videos showed Swift embracing Kelce, and kissing him in front of the cameras. It was a massive celebration for Kelce and crew.
Feb. 23, 2024 — Travis Supports Taylor’s Eras Tour in Australia
Swift started her Eras Tour dates in Australia just a few weeks after Kelce’s Super Bowl win, and Kelce was along for the ride.
Ahead of one of her shows in Sydney, Swift and Kelce got to feed kangaroos and walk around the Sydney Zoo. Then, during Swift’s show, Kelce was spotted in the crowd wearing friendship bracelets and taking a selfie with Rita Ora, who was there too.
The couple was also captured by fans as they shared a smooch after the show. (Kelce has been seen in the crowd at numerous Eras Tour shows since then.)
April 14, 2024 — Swift and Kelce Dance at Coachella
Taylor and Travis were among the stars spotted dancing along to Ice Spice, Dom Dolla, and Bleachers at Coachella. The couple were spotted watching Swift’s collaborator Jack Antonoff in the designated artist guest area of the Mojave stage.
Swift was seen wearing a “New Heights” cap, referencing Kelce’s podcast with his brother Jason, while Kelce wore a “Happy Gilmore” hat.
Shortly after, Swift and Kelce were seen in the crowd during Ice Spice’s set, just alongside Sabrina Carpenter and Barry Keoghan. And later, Kelce was recorded picking up Swift so she could get a better look at the stage during Dom Dolla’s set.
The couple was also photographed walking around the festival grounds hand-in-hand while hanging with Spice.
April 19, 2024 — Taylor Drops The Tortured Poets Department with Some Reference to Kelce Romance
The Swifties quickly speculated about the contents of Swift’s lyrics on The Tortured Poets Department, and believed that some of the storytelling on “So High School” annd “So Alchemy” are about her relationship with Kelce.
“I feel so high school every time I look at you / I wanna find you in a crowd just to hide from you,” she sings adding how their romance started “in the blink of a crinkling eye.”
“Get my car door, isn’t that sweet? / Then pull me to the backsеat / No one’s evеr had me, not like you,” Swift sings later in the track, with fans thinking she’s nodding to videos that circulated of Kelce opening the car door for Swift and driving her around Kansas City.
While speaking exclusively with Rolling Stone at Kelce Jam, the Chiefs tight end revealed his favorite album released in the past year. “I’m a little biased, but Tortured Poets Department might be it,” he said.
June 2024 — Travis and Taylor Meet Prince William, Travis Performs With Swift
Things were magical (and royal) for Swift and Kelce during the London shows of the Eras Tour.
During one of the first nights, Swift snapped a selfie with Prince William, Prince George, and Prince Charlotte, alongside Kelce, their marking first post together on Instagram: “Happy Bday M8! London shows are off to a splendid start.”
Then, at her next show, during the intro to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart,” Kelce appeared as one of her dancers and carried her to the couch during a vaudeville-styled segment of her show. Before she sang the next track, Swift was spotted blowing a kiss to Kelce as he left the stage.
“I’m still cracking up/swooning over @killatrav’s Eras Tour debut 🥰,” wrote Swift on Instagram after the show. “Never going to forget these shows.”
Kelce later revealed on his New Heights podcast that it was his idea to join Swift onstage for the Eras Tour.
“I was just like, ‘What? I would love to do that, are you kidding me?” he said. “I’ve seen the show enough — might as well put me to work here.’”
“When everyone found out that it was me — because it took a second for everyone to figure it out — that moment was pretty jarring. I was just like, ‘Oh shit,’ ” he said. “And you don’t realize how big that damn stage is. It is easily as big as a football stadium … it’s way bigger than I could have ever imagined.”
He noted that it was an “honor” to stand beside a “true showman” like her.
