Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce faced questions about his rumored relationship with pop superstar Taylor Swift during a press conference in Germany on Friday. Asked point blank if he was “in love” with Swift, Kelce demurred, saying he wants to keep his “personal relationship personal.”
The Chiefs are in Germany ahead of their Week 10 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. But Kelce, 33, couldn’t avoid inquiries about his budding romance with Swift, 32, that has drawn major media attention in recent weeks.
When first askedaout the “latest status” of their relationship, Kelce revealed, “I got to see her last week. That’s the latest status right there.” Pressed further if he was in love with the singer, the NFL star replied, “I’m gonna keep my personal relationship personal.”
Rumors of a romance first sparked when Swift was spotted at the Chiefs’ September 24th home game sitting in the same suite as Kelce’s mother. Since then, she has attended three more Kansas City games, most recently on October 22nd.
The two made surprise appearances together on Saturday Night Live on October 14th before being photographed holding hands at the after-party. They were then seen on a dinner date in New York the next evening.
But with Swift’s ‘Eras’ world tour resuming November 9th in Argentina, she may be unable to attend Sunday’s NFL International Series game in Frankfurt.
In his typical light-hearted fashion, Kelce jokedaout the effect of Swift’s presence on the field. “When I mention her and everybody knows she’s at the game, the Vegas over/under on my catches goes up and down, the spread goes up and down,” he said. “I don’t want to mess with any of that stuff so I’m just gonna keep it to myself.”
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The two-time All Pro’s production has increased markedly with Swift cheering him on this season. In the four games she’s attended, Kelce has averaged 108 receiving yards. In three games without her, that number drops to just 50 yards.
But Kelce emphasized football remains his focus, saying he’s “not worriedaout anything else outside of football during the football season.”
The Chiefs currently sit atop the AFC West at 6-2 as they seek a fifth consecutive division title. Kelce continues to play at an elite level in his 10th NFL season, recording 44 catches for 455 yards and 7 touchdowns so far.
At age 33, the veteran tight end knows he has limited years left to win another championship. With quarterback Patrick Mahomes also bothered by an ankle injury, Kelce’s performance and leadership will be crucial for Kansas City’s Super Bowl hopes.
Meanwhile, Swift is embarking on the international leg of her blockbuster ‘Eras’ tour beginning November 9th. After shows across South America, she’ll hit Europe and Australia in 2023 before returning to the US next spring.
The globe-spanning tour represents a triumphant comeback for Swift after years away from touring. It also coincides with her ongoing effort to re-record her first six albums in order to control her master recordings.
Given their massive individual success and fame, interest in Kelce and Swift’s budding relationship has skyrocketed. From TMZ to ESPN, entertainment and sports outlets have fixated on the sports-pop culture crossover pairing.
Both stars have generally avoided commenting much on their romance in public. But the attention and speculation surrounding the relationship continues to grow, especially with Swift attending several Chiefs games this season.
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While fans won’t get definitive answers from the extremely private couple, Kelce did confirm he saw Swift just last week before traveling to Germany.
For now, supporters will have to settle for occasional paparazzi sightings of the two out together in between their busy schedules.
But if Swift’s attendance does in fact boost Kelce’s play, Chiefs fans may be hoping she makes the overseas trip to Germany this weekend.