Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was met with enthusiastic support from both his fans and those of his girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift, during the Chiefs’ training camp on Sunday, July 28th.
As Kelce and other players participated in an autograph day at the Missouri Western State University camp venue, a significant number of “Swifties” turned out to show their love for the athlete.
Among the devoted Swift fans was Tur Lee, who traveled from Dallas sporting a “Taylor’s Boyfriend” shirt and sunglasses adorned with charms spelling out song titles.
“I’m obsessed with football, obviously, and I’m obsessed with Taylor Swift,” Lee told NFL Network. “I think it’s really cool that fans are showing up. It’s two fandoms that I don’t think anyone would have ever expected to converge together.”
Another Swifty, Rebecca Jones, wore a custom Chiefs jersey with “Traylor” on the back, a playful combination of Travis and Taylor’s names. “The pair’s relationship has been a positive thing for everyone to look at,” Jones said. “I’m hoping their love continues to blossom.”
Fans have been speculating about the couple’s future, especially after the Kelce brothers promoted the wedding planning company Zola on their podcast, “New Heights.” Travis and Jason Kelce’s lighthearted discussion about weddings, along with the episode title “Travis’s New Ring,” led many to believe that an engagement announcement could be imminent.
Hannah Calhoun, a 16-year-old Swifty from Lexington, Kentucky, drove to the camp with her parents, eager to see Kelce. Armed with friendship bracelets and a sign that read, “Travis, I have a blank space so come write your name,” she expressed her admiration for both Swift and Kelce. “I love Taylor, and I think she’s a great role model,” said Hannah’s mom, Allison. “We thought, let’s do this, let’s go out and see Travis Kelce.”
Longtime Chiefs fans also acknowledged the excitement Swift has brought to the franchise. Kelly Anderson, a lifelong Kansas City resident, remarked, “I’ve been a Kelce fan from before he started dating Swift. I just think it’s really cool that he’s bringing so much attention to Kansas City, and I love watching their love story unfold.”
Kelce and the Chiefs are in the midst of training camp, which runs from July 21st through August 15th, as they prepare for the upcoming NFL season. The reigning Super Bowl champions will face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a preseason game on August 10th, before the regular season opener against the Baltimore Ravens on September 5th.
During the offseason, Kelce enjoyed time with Swift, attending several of her European Eras Tour concerts, including stops in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. In a memorable moment in London, Kelce even took the stage during one of Swift’s outfit changes, stepping in as a backup dancer and carrying her to a red couch center stage.
Beyond their professional commitments, the couple has also enjoyed vacations together, visiting the Bahamas in March and embarking on a romantic getaway to Italy in May. As the NFL season approaches, Kelce can count on the support of not only Chiefs fans but also Swifties, who have embraced him as one of their own.