Travis Kelce Brings Major ‘First’ to Relationships for Taylor Swift
Travis Kelce is bringing something new relationships for Taylor Swift. An author says the NFL player is different—in a good way—than the Grammy winner’s past boyfriends in a way that “works” for them as a couple. Ahead, what Kelce brings to Swift’s relationships she’s “never” had before.
Travis Kelce is on Taylor Swift’s ‘level’ but not in her ‘world’
Speaking to Yahoo Entertainment about Swift and Kelce’s relationship, Kathlenne Perricone, author of Taylor Swift Is Life: A Superfan’s Guide to All the Things We Love About Taylor Swift, explained what makes their relationship different from Swift’s past romances.
“For the first time in her life, she is with a man who a) is on her level. And b) is on her level but not in her world,” Perricone said. “There’s no competition. There’s no crossover—unless he suddenly picks up a guitar or she picks up a football.”
For that reason, “they can support each other,” the author said. And support each other they certainly have. Swift attended 13 games of Kelce’s during the 2023-24 football season, ending with the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Kelce’s been in the crowd for 14 of Swift’s international stops on her Eras Tour.
Dating rumors began in September 2023. Swift attended a Chiefs game before they confirmed their romance with some PDA a month later.
Kelce being ‘openly proud’ to be with her is also new
The Chiefs tight end, according to the author, brings something else that’s new for Swift in relationships. He’s a boyfriend who is very publicly “proud to be with her.”
“She has never, ever, ever, ever had a man who has even been so openly proud to be with her,” Perricone said, referencing Kelce hyping Swift up to fans at one of her concerts. “I think [in] her last relationship,” with actor Joe Alwyn, “we didn’t know much about because it seems he more so was very private.”
Kelce made a friendship bracelet for the “Down Bad” singer before shouting her out on his “New Heights” podcast in July 2023. He shared his disappointment that he couldn’t give Swift the bracelet with his phone number on it at one of her concerts.
“I think maybe she didn’t feel like she could shine. To quote her, she wasn’t ‘bejeweled,’” she continued in reference to a track from Swift’s Midnights album. “And Travis really does. He seems to really respect her and that’s obviously the basis of any good relationship.”
“Looking at the guys she’s dated in the past, I never would have put her with someone like him—despite ‘You Belong With Me’ and the cheerleader-quarterback aspect to it. It just works.”
Swift and Kelce are having a ‘good time’ as football resumes, touring pauses
Swift and Kelce encapsulated Perricone’s comments during a whirlwind weekend following the Chiefs’ season opener on September 5, 2024. The “Fortnight” singer cheered her NFL player boyfriend on when the Chiefs took on the Baltimore Ravens in their first regular-season game. (She was joined by Kelce’s parents, Donna and Ed.)
Following the game, the two were, per People, seen leaving Arrowhead Stadium holding hands before a source claimed they were “letting loose” at an afterparty where “a good time was definitely had.”
The weekend continued with Swift and Kelce sightings in New York. They were spotted going out to dinner multiple times and heading to a music studio, before attending the U.S. Open men’s singles final at Arthur Ashe Stadium with Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and his wife, Brittany Mahomes.
Swift’s shoutout to Kelce in her 2024 MTV VMAs acceptance speech for her “Fortnight” music video underscored it even further (via MTV). She thanked the Super Bowl winner for bringing “happiness and fun and magic” to the set.
Swift is currently on a break from her Eras Tour, which is set to resume in mid-October. Meanwhile, football season is, of course, underway for Kelce.
