Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have been spending months together under the radar before they were spotted together in public for the first time on Sunday.
The pop superstar supported the Kansas City Chiefs star, both 33, as his team destroyed the Chicago Bears, then enjoyed an “affectionate” dinner together afterward, but that was reportedly just their most high-profile gathering yet.
Sources with direct knowledge of the couple claim that TMZ Monday that the two have hung out together “several times” in recent months.
It’s not clear exactly when the two started seeing each other in person, but Travis had revealed about his New heights podcast in July that he had hoped to introduce himself to Taylor when he attended one of her Eras Tour stops.
“I wanted to give Taylor Swift (a bracelet) with my number on it,” the tight end shared, but he found that the singer’s dedication to putting on the best performance possible made it impossible to talk to her.
Keeping it a secret: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, both 33, have hung out “several times” in recent months, sources claimed to TMZ on Monday; seen on Sunday in Kansas City, Missouri
Under the radar: They were first spotted together after attending Sunday’s Kansas City Chiefs-Chicago Bears game, but previously spent time together in a “very private environment” so as not to attract attention; seen on Sunday
‘I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs she sings, so I was a bit of a pain in the ass. I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets. I made it for her,” he said.
Taylor cemented the budding courtship at Sunday’s game when she arrived alone — aside from her usual bodyguards — to cheer on Travis from a box.
However, the sources explained to the station that the Lavender Haze singer’s previous encounters with the NFL star took place in a “very private setting” so as not to attract attention.
It seems like she’s now moving toward a more open relationship with Travis, though the sources also stressed that the two aren’t “officially” dating, even though things are clearly heating up between them.
In another sign that Kansas City Chiefs star Taylor is getting closer, she met his parents at Sunday’s game.
The hitmaker could be seen cheering on Travis as he stood next to his mother Donna, and Travis’ father Ed was also in attendance.
Meeting parents for the first time is often stressful, but the sources shared that the first meeting went “really well,” and Taylor especially seems to have won over Donna, who called her a “nice person.”
Although she has now met Travis’ parents, Taylor has yet to meet his brother Jason Kelce, who plays for the Philadelphia Eagles and co-hosts the New Heights podcast with his sibling.
Milestone: Another sign that Kansas City Chiefs star Taylor is growing closer was when she met his parents Donna and Ed at Sunday’s game
Success! Sources shared that the first meeting went “really well,” and that Taylor especially seems to have won over Donna, who called her a “nice person”
PDA: Then they rented out a restaurant, and sources said they held hands and Taylor even sat on Travis’ lap; seen on Sunday
Although Taylor and Travis appeared to keep the PDA to a minimum while heading to the Prime Social Rooftop in Kansas City after Sunday’s game, eyewitnesses spotted them holding hands once they got inside the restaurant.
The PDA escalated when Taylor reportedly sat on the footballer’s lap at one point.
The dinner was only somewhat private, as Travis’ family, including his mother Donna, also showed up, and some of his teammates came along as well.
An eyewitness said this earlier Entertainment tonight that it was Travis who bought out the restaurant for the after party.
‘Taylor arrived dressed in a denim dress and was seen snacking, drinking cocktails and dancing next to Travis,” they said.
Another restaurant told ET that restaurant staff told them there would be a “hard close” at 8 p.m., and waitstaff handed out boxes before the deadline, while letting them know they had to leave the premises before then. .
However, to reduce the inconvenience, they were offered free drinks at the restaurant’s sister location.
Although some customers apparently asked if the closure was related to Travis and Taylor, staff reportedly remained tight-lipped.
Not entirely true: Sources said the two are not “officially” dating, even though things are heating up; seen in July in Hollywood
Staying busy: They’ll be busy for the next few months as Travis focuses on soccer while Taylor heads out on tour again in the US and then on an international leg of her Eras Tour; seen in March
A Swift fan previously claimed on TikTok that the pop star had paid for the meals of customers who were still dining when it was time to empty the restaurant.
While it seems like Taylor and Travis are definitely headed toward an official relationship, their busy schedules could complicate things in the coming months.
Travis will focus on games with the Chiefs as the team hopes to reach the Super Bowl in February.
In the meantime, Taylor will return to her grueling touring schedule and will follow up a series of US dates with an international leg in mid-October.