Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was already well-known in football circles.
He has the biggest positional advantage in the crazy world of fantasy football as a common first-round draft pick. Kelce is also well on his way to becoming a Hall of Famer as an unguarded behemoth.
Kelce was already a transcendent figure in the sports world before September. His candid interviews and touchdown celebrations pale in comparison to his skills.
It seems like forever since the 34-year-old missed the Chiefs’ season opener against the Detroit Lions. That includes when he faked his injury a week later and turned his limp into a twerk, knowing all the cameras in Kansas City were already on him.
Then his level of celebrity rose beyond any level that just had to do with the playing field. That’s what happens when you date Taylor Swift. That’s what happens when you date the most popular celebrity in the world.
Travis Kelce was famous before his romance with Taylor Swift, but his fame has exploded
Swift and Kelce have been spending a lot of time together since their rumored romance began in September
Kelce brought this whirlwind on himself and he admitted as much on his podcast: New heightswhich he hosts with older brother and Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce.
How big the storm surrounding Swift and Kelce’s romance has become couldn’t have been predicted, perhaps aside from everything Swift touches these days, Swift seems to be moving up several tax brackets.
The next chapter of the Kelce-Swift circus coincides with the biggest game of the NFL season, which takes place Monday night in Kansas City, bringing the league’s top 8-1 Eagles to Missouri’s largest city.
Yes, that same Eagles team with Jason Kelce walking the ball, a future Hall of Fame offensive lineman in his own right.
Swift’s presence is announced. But come on, how many cameras will there be, is there a shot she’s missing with Thanksgiving right around the corner?
How Kelce balances his blossoming celebrity profile, and all the exploits that come with it, is currently in the spotlight.
Trying to be one of Swift’s romantic partners that she hasn’t yet written a breakup song about involves being under a microscope, even by the standards of 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 27. He was out into the early Saturday morning hours, 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.
Kelce also made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live during a weekend trip to New York City with Swift.
There was also Kansas City’s game against the Miami Dolphins in Germany, where Kelce looked decent, but not at his best, as his team won 21-14.
As for the Chiefs’ bye week, which separated the games between the Dolphins and Eagles, Kelce was in Argentina, where he attended one of his girlfriend’s shows at The Eras tour from a huge stadium in Buenos Aires.
Swift changed her lyrics to honor her friend and also ran into his arms after the show and gave him a huge kiss, well aware of the thousands of cell phone cameras trained on her at the time.
All of his teammates are not under a microscope and can be just as busy as Kelce during their time off.
Kelce is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs
Travis and Jason are two years apart in age and both have had long careers in the NFL
Kelce still ranks second in receiving yards among tight ends this season, behind only Minnesota Vikings’ starter TJ Hockenson.
Even 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 will feature a Super Bowl LVII rematch, a regular-season spectacle that resembles, well, a Swift concert.
Donna and Ed Kelce, as well as Andrea and Scott Swift, do reportedly set to be present for the confrontation, while Taylor herself is unconfirmed.
There will be more cameras on the younger Kelce than anyone else at Arrowhead Stadium, including his girlfriend.
In the biggest regular season game of his career, a lot is expected of Kelce. And it’s time to show that the extra time in the spotlight hasn’t taken a toll on his game.