One of the interesting storylines throughout the 2023 NFL season has been the romantic relationship Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce has had with pop sensation Taylor Swift. Swift has been seen at a number of Chiefs games, and her presence has either been lauded or criticized by the public at large.
Some have cynically wondered if Swift dating Kelce is merely a ploy, or perhaps a precursor to her dumping him only so she could write a song about another failed relationship.
But according to the father of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Swift has been good-natured and likable.
“She’s down to earth. I actually walked up and introduced myself to her and she said she knew who I was because she had watched the ‘Quarterback’ series,” he said, referring to the Netflix show.
“She took a picture with me and my wife and also took a picture with me and my daughter [Zoe]. So, I mean she was genuine. Every time I’ve hung out with her she just acts like a normal person.”
NFL News & Rumors: Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs Updates
In addition, Kelce’s father Ed got a good impression of Swift when she was seen cleaning up some garbage inside of the suite she watched a game in while at Arrowhead Stadium earlier this season.
“I’ll tell you something very special that I noticed about Taylor the first time I met her,” Ed told People magazine.
“We’re sitting in the suite, she gets up and in the front room, she gets up to go get a drink or something and she starts picking up empty bottles, cans, plates that are scattered around. Because in the suites everybody gets stuff and you empty it down wherever you can.”
Ed continues, “And I’m just thinking, I don’t think she got the diva memo. She didn’t get the spoiled musician. She doesn’t know how to pull that off. And that really to me said a whole lot.”
The younger Kelce’s numbers have been down this season, but one shouldn’t blame that on Taylor Swift’s influence. Kansas City doesn’t have the type of reliable wide receiver production it has had in previous years, which has allowed opposing defenses to key on him and prevent the younger Mahomes from getting the ball to him.
The tight end had 984 receiving yards during the regular season, which was his lowest output in that category since the 2015 season, which was the first time he was named to the Pro Bowl. Since then, he has been named to the Pro Bowl every single year.
But in Sunday’s epic battle versus the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round of the playoffs, the younger Kelce was largely his old self. He caught five passes for 75 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas City outlasted Josh Allen and crew, 27-24.
He will have to be his vintage self again this Sunday when his team plays in its sixth straight AFC Championship Game, this time against Lamar Jackson and the favored Baltimore Ravens.
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