Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was already well known in football circles.
A frequent first-round draft pick, he is the biggest positional asset in the crazy world of fantasy football. Kelce is also well on his way to being inducted into the Hall of Fame as an unguarded giant.
Kelce was already a prominent figure in the sports world before the month of September. His candid interviews and touchdown celebrations are only dwarfed by his skills.
It seems like a lifetime ago that the 34-year-old missed the Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions. This was also the case when, a week later, he faked his injury and turned his limp into a twerk, even though he knew all the cameras in Kansas City were already on him.
Then his fame rose beyond any fame associated only with the gridiron. This is what happens when you date Taylor Swift. This is what happens when you date the most popular celebrity in the world.
Travis Kelce was famous before his romance with Taylor Swift, but his popularity has exploded
Swift and Kelce have been hanging out a lot since their rumored romance began in September
Kelce caused this whirlwind himself, and he admitted as much on his podcast New Heights, which he co-hosts with his older brother and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
How big the storm surrounding Swift and Kelce’s romance has become couldn’t be predicted, perhaps apart from anything Swift touches these days it seems to raise several tax brackets.
The next chapter of the Kelce Swift circus coincides with the biggest game of the NFL season, Monday night in Kansas City, with the 8-1 Eagles traveling to Missouri’s largest city.
Yes, the same Eagles team with Jason Kelce running the ball, a future Hall of Fame offensive player in his opinion.
Swift’s attendance is yet to be announced. But considering how many cameras there will be, is there a shot she’ll miss with Thanksgiving just around the corner?
How Kelce balances his booming celebrity profile and all the exploits that come with it is currently in the spotlight.
Trying to be one of Swift’s romantic partners, about whom she hasn’t yet written a breakup song, puts her under scrutiny, even as she’s considered one of the biggest stars in America’s most popular sports league.
Jason Kelce, Travis’ brother, is a center for the Philadelphia Eagles and a future Hall of Famer
Kelce has been around Swift for the past two months, including her shows in Argentina
Travis Kelce was spotted at Game 1 of the World Series in Texas less than 48 hours before Kansas City’s game against the Denver Broncos on October 27th. He was out until the early hours of Saturday morning, singing along to Swift’s “Love Story” at a bar.
Of course, the Chiefs were embarrassed on the road that day by an average-at-best Broncos team.
During a weekend trip to New York City with Swift, Kelce also made a cameo appearance on Saturday Night Live.
There was also Kansas City’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Germany, where Kelce looked good, but not at his best, as his team won 21-14.
As for the Chiefs’ bye week, which separates contests between the Dolphins and Eagles, Kelce was in Argentina, attending one of his girlfriend’s Eras Tour shows from a massive stadium in Buenos Aires.
Swift changed her lyrics to honor her friend and ran into his arms after the show and gave him a big kiss, knowing full well that she was being caught by thousands of cell phone cameras at the time.
Each of his teammates is not under the microscope and could be just as busy in their free time as Kelce.
Kelce was selected to the Pro Bowl eight times with the Chiefs and was a two-time Super Bowl champion
Travis and Jason are two years apart in age and both have had long careers in the NFL
Kelce still ranks second among tight ends this season, behind only Minnesota Vikings starter TJ Hockenson.
Despite playing in two fewer games than Hockenson, Kelce has 57 catches for 597 yards and four touchdowns this season. The Vikings star has 681 yards.
And Monday features a rematch of Super Bowl LVII, a regular-season spectacle akin to a Swift concert.
Donna and Ed Kelce as well as Andrea and Scott Swift are reportedly set to attend the showdown, while Taylor herself is yet to be confirmed.
More cameras will be trained on the younger Kelce than anyone else at Arrowhead Stadium, including his girlfriend.
Much is expected of Kelce in the biggest regular season game of his career. And it’s time to show that the extra time in the spotlight hasn’t hurt his game.