Travis Kelce admits he had to step back and refocus after explosion in fame from Taylor Swift relationship – as Pat McAfee compares his status to Kim Kardashian in new interview

Travis Kelce admitted he had to dial back his personal life to make sure his Kansas City Chiefs teammates knew his focus was 100 percent on the team amid his relationship with Taylor Swift.

The star tight end was thrust into the spotlight after his romance with the pop star went public in September and America’s favorite couple dominated headlines as the singer attended several of his matches, including a loving display after the Chiefs AFC win Championship.

The NFL star admitted he had to take a step back and look at people’s perception of him amid the whirlwind romance when ESPN host Pat McAfee compared his new-found fame to the Kardashians.

‘I had to turn it back 100 percent. Everyone in this building knows my intentions. “Football is my main focus right now,” Kelce said Wednesday during a guest appearance on the Pat McAfee show.

Travis Kelce kisses Taylor Swift after leading his Chiefs team to a Super Bowl berth

America’s favorite couple had a moment to celebrate with the eyes of the world on them

‘Many people count on me in this city, in this construction and in this organization. So this is my No. 1 focus at that moment and besides, it’s in my heart to be able to pour everything I have onto the field.

“There have been some perceptions — and people can perceive whatever they want — but I wanted to make sure the men and women in this building knew that I was 100 percent focused on this team and getting this team to where we were this week go to.

“And I had to 100 percent look back and take a step back and look at how I was portraying myself to the world and make sure everyone knew I was focused, while still enjoying my life off the field.”

McAfee then praised the two-time Super Bowl winner for being a “gentleman” during his very public relationship with the 12-time Grammy Award winner and for sharing the spotlight with her.

“We’re just trying to bring in the good ones and win them over one by one, baby,” Travis added.

The A-List couple hugged and kissed on the M&T Bank Stadium field in the aftermath of a stunning victory for the Chiefs over the Baltimore Ravens – who were tipped as strong favorites to win.

Kelce found his girlfriend while waiting for the AFC Championship trophy presentation in emotional scenes and Swift looked almost teary as the pair had a moment to celebrate together with the eyes of the world on them. And when Kelce came on stage and grabbed the microphone, he was euphoric – channeling the Beastie Boys by shouting, “You gotta fight for your right to party!”.

Swift now turns her attention to four nights of her blockbuster Eras Tour in the Japanese capital from February 7 to 10 before racing back to Allegiant Stadium for the biggest night in the American sporting calendar. But she is expected to make the journey to be there for Kelce.

She and Travis took center stage during the post-match celebrations, but during the showdown itself, the singer appeared frustrated as he appeared mid-stage on CBS coverage. She could clearly be seen saying “go away, please” as the camera remained focused on her in a VIP suite as she promoted next weekend’s Grammy Awards.

However, she will have to accept it on February 11 as she will travel thousands of miles to create the game. The 17-hour time difference works to her advantage on her return to the US from Japan and it will be the 13th Chiefs game this season that Swift will have cheered on the team for – her lucky number.

Kelce reached new heights of fame in 2023 after winning his second Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs, hosting Saturday Night Live and going public with his romance with Taylor Swift.

But both Kelce and Swift have faced questions with some fans and analysts blaming the singer for the Chiefs star’s dip in production this season.

“It would be foolish to say I haven’t noticed it going up,” he said when asked about his rising fame during a press conference before the AFC Championship game.

“I think the Super Bowl helped with that and obviously the way I live my life off the field certainly helps,” he added with a sly smile. “But I owe this to myself and I like to have fun with it and make sure my focus is here in this building.”

The tight end admitted his new relationship with the global superstar and the high profile that comes with it comes with challenges, especially when it comes to questions about his on-field performance.

“It’s just the outside noise and dealing with everyone’s perspective,” he said.

“You hear it all season through the media when I haven’t had success or when things aren’t going well, that we may not be focused, but when you’re in this building you know what’s going on. So you have to distribute what you hear and make sure you stay on task and give everyone in the building and on that team the right perception.”

But he insisted he and the 12-time Grammy Award winner would tune out the noise and focus on their relationship.

“As long as we are happy, we cannot listen to the noise from outside,” he added.