Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end, will take the field in the team’s first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, August 10th.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Kelce, alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and other key starters, will see some action during the game.
Reid’s decision to play his star players, including the 34-year-old Kelce, contrasts with the approach of many NFL coaches who often rest their top athletes during the preseason.
“I’m going to play everybody,” Reid stated during a media session on Wednesday, August 7th. “All those young guys, I’d love to see how they compete. The higher draft picks are going to be in there against a little bit better competition, so I want to see how they handle that.”:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/travis-kelce-taylor-swift-091523-6e514207e6af492b9e2f87e004b05bab.jpg)
While Reid plans to give his stars some time on the field, their participation will be limited to just one quarter. “I allow them to get into the swing of things, and the ones know how to do that,” Reid explained. “But somewhere you’ve got to get on there and shoot, and so it gives them an opportunity to do that.”
Kelce and his teammates reported to training camp in July, after a busy offseason for Kelce, who spent much of his time traveling with his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift. The couple, who began dating in July 2023, quickly became a favorite among fans, with Swift frequently attending Kelce’s games last season, including Super Bowl 58, where the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 25 to 22.
Swift, 34, has been on the European leg of her “Eras Tour” since May. However, her plans took a sudden and serious turn when her scheduled shows in Vienna were canceled due to an alleged terrorist plot targeting the performances. The concerts, set to begin on Thursday, August 8th, were called off after two suspects were taken into custody, with a third arrest following shortly after.
In a statement released by concert organizers Barracuda Music, it was confirmed that the shows were canceled for safety reasons. “With confirmation from government officials of a planned terrorist attack at Ernst Happel Stadium, we have no choice but to cancel the three scheduled shows for everyone’s safety,” the statement read.
Neither Swift nor Kelce have publicly commented on the alleged terror plot or the canceled shows. With Swift’s Vienna concerts now off the table, the singer reportedly returned to the United States for safety. Fans are now speculating whether Swift will attend the Chiefs vs. Jaguars preseason game to support Kelce from the stands.
As the Chiefs gear up for their first preseason clash, all eyes will be on Kelce and his performance, while Swifties will be on the lookout for any signs of their favorite pop star in the crowd.
4o