Travis Kelce was a two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs star before he started dating Taylor Swift. But even he admitted that the added attention from the paparazzi and millions of others was an adjustment.
Despite the off-court spotlight, Kelce’s on-court production has shone brightly.
His mother, Donna Kelce, who rose to prominence this year after her sons — the oldest is Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles — reached the Super Bowl, isn’t surprised that Travis has taken on the added pressure.
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Taylor Swift missed Travis Kelce’s last concert and will soon begin her “The Eras Tour” dates in South America. (Getty Images)
“Travis is the type of person where if you’re going to say he’s not good enough or he’s not going to be able to handle it, it just pushes him harder,” Donna Kelce told Fox News Digital while discussing her new. partnership with Barefoot Wines, the official wine sponsor of the NFL. “It’s a fire inside him to prove everyone wrong.
“Because some people said he won’t be able to handle the season, he won’t be a good footballer. But it turns out that the more he’s pushed or challenged, he takes it to a new level. “
There was a group that thought Kelce’s relationship with Swift would affect how he plays for the Chiefs, but the 34-year-old is enjoying quite the season so far, even with Kansas City dropping its last game against the Denver Broncos .
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No, Swift wasn’t in it, and the Chiefs certainly heard it from fans in the stands and on social media. The Broncos even took a jab at their relationship when they played Swift’s songs over the loudspeakers at Highmark Stadium in Denver after their 24-9 win.
But Kelce still had a decent day with 58 yards on six catches (nine targets). The previous week, he exploded against the AFC West rival Los Angeles Chargers, totaling 179 yards (the second-most of his career) on 12 catches with one touchdown.
Travis Kelce and Donna Kelce arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ at the TUDUM Theater on July 11, 2023. (Steve Granitz/FilmMagic)
Even after a down week by his standards, Kelce leads all tight ends in the NFL in receiving yards (583) and receptions (54) and is second in touchdowns (4). He did so while also dealing with injuries, including a bruised knee that caused him to miss the Week 1 opener against the Detroit Lions.
Kelce admitted it took some getting used to the extra media attention. He should also know that his fans are fired up over the relationship, as “Swifties” collectively want Kelce to perform well every week.
His social media has seen huge gains in his followers and because of his relationship. Kelce has gained more than 1.1 million Instagram followers since Swift’s first appearance at a Chiefs game — the Chicago Bears’ 41-10 Kansas City win. The number continues to grow.
Then again, Kelce isn’t new to stardom. But there are levels to being a celebrity, and Swift’s fame was certainly above his before they became an item.
Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up for the preseason game against the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 19, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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But that hasn’t stopped Kelce from dominating on the gridiron while enjoying himself off it. And coming from a mother who has seen him face adversity and challenges throughout his life, it’s no surprise that he continues to impact the Chiefs on a weekly basis.
