ESPN highlighted this achievement on Twitter, noting that no tight end has ever been a part of the 99 Club as frequently as Kelce.
A source told NatFL that the Chiefs star couldn’t contain his excitement and called Taylor Swift to share his joy. A witness at the scene exclusively reported hearing Kelce say, “Baby, I did it! Baby, please congratulate me on this amazing thing.”
In a recent clip shared on Twitter by Madden NFL 25, Kelce bragged about his latest achievement, saying, “Everybody, 99 again!” The nine-time Pro Bowler added, “I got the Xbox… oh my gosh! Always excited to be part of the 99 Club. Now I have to prove I’m worthy of 99. Proud to be in the Madden Club.”
To commemorate this honor, Kelce received a special Madden 99 gift: a gold microphone, perfect for recording his “New Heights” podcast with his older brother, Jason Kelce. With another Madden 99 rating in hand, Kelce joins his former teammate Tyreek Hill in the exclusive club.
Sports caster and ESPN “Get Up” host Mike Greenberg covered Kelce’s accomplishment on Thursday, impressing fans with his knowledge of Kelce’s superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift. Greenberg shared that Kelce, 34, received the highest rating among all offensive tight ends in the league. While announcing this big achievement, Greenberg made a subtle reference to Swift’s discography, noting, “It’s the first day of August, so it’s a big day for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce.”
Swifties quickly caught on to Greenberg’s reference to Swift’s song “August,” celebrating the new month and Kelce’s achievement on social media. “I’m surprised they know about ‘August,'” one person wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Another user added, “August isn’t exactly something that non-Swifties are familiar with. You must love it when the ESPN team can use that reference so seamlessly.”
Swift fans had a blast online, welcoming August with no shortage of memes circulating on social media. “Happy salty air month and rust on the door month to all who celebrate,” one fan wrote on X, referring to the song’s opening lyrics.
Swift spent the first day of August performing in Warsaw, Poland, as part of the European leg of her “Eras” tour. She will play two more shows in Warsaw this weekend before heading to Vienna next week.