It’s business as usual for Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs as they touched down in Pittsburgh on Christmas Eve for their highly anticipated game against the Steelers. Despite the busy schedule and spending Christmas Eve away from his girlfriend Taylor Swift, Kelce’s festive spirit was unmistakable.
The Super Bowl-winning tight end stepped off the plane wearing a Santa hat, showing he was ready to embrace the holiday cheer, even as the team prepared for a tough road game.
This marks the second year in a row that the Chiefs will be playing on Christmas Day. Last year, the team had a home game in Kansas City against the Las Vegas Raiders, which ended in a surprising loss.
This year, however, the Chiefs are on the road, determined to secure a win that would clinch the AFC’s top seed heading into the postseason.
After arriving in Pittsburgh, Kelce and Swift were spotted entering an upscale restaurant, both wearing red hats. It’s believed the couple attended a Chiefs’ Christmas party before the big game against the Steelers. The Chiefs shared photos of the team arriving in Pittsburgh, with quarterback Patrick Mahomes leading the charge. Despite dealing with a high ankle sprain in recent weeks, Mahomes appeared to be in good spirits, marching down the plane steps without any signs of pain, holding two bags of luggage. Mahomes, who is currently tied with Tony Gonzalez for the most touchdowns in Chiefs history (76), will be aiming to break that record in the upcoming game.
As for Kelce, the Steelers’ head coach, Mike Tomlin, has nothing but praise for the star player. Though Kelce’s stats this season may not reach the explosive heights of his previous campaigns, Tomlin admires Kelce’s unselfish play and his significant contributions to the team’s success. “He’s an unbelievably unselfish player,” Tomlin said, adding that Kelce’s understated work is just as crucial to the Chiefs as his big plays.
While it’s still unclear if Swift will be attending the game to cheer on Kelce in Pittsburgh, it would mark her first road game of the NFL season. Swift often traveled to road games last season but has stayed mainly at Arrowhead Stadium this year. With the conclusion of her Eras tour, it’s possible she’ll join Kelce at the game, especially considering the importance of this matchup for the Chiefs’ pursuit of a third consecutive Super Bowl title.
The game against the Steelers is crucial for both teams. With the Steelers holding a 10-5 record and vying for the AFC North title alongside the Baltimore Ravens, a victory against the Chiefs would significantly impact their playoff positioning. The Chiefs, on the other hand, are focused on maintaining their dominance and securing the top seed in the AFC.
After Wednesday’s Christmas Day game, the Chiefs will close out their regular season on January 5th with a road game against the Denver Broncos, before turning their attention fully to the postseason.
