One year ago today, Taylor Swift made headlines when she attended her first Kansas City Chiefs game, marking the beginning of her public relationship with tight end Travis Kelce. The singer was spotted cheering for Kelce during the Chiefs’ victory over the Chicago Bears on September 24, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium, sparking widespread speculation about their romance.
At the time, Swift’s relationship with Kelce remained unconfirmed. Earlier that summer, Kelce had expressed disappointment after attempting to share his phone number with Swift at her concert on July 8, stating that he was “disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows.”
In the days leading up to Swift’s first game, Kelce remained coy about the relationship. During a September 14 interview, his brother Jason remarked, “I cannot comment on the speculation,” indicating uncertainty regarding Kelce’s love life. However, just days before the game, Kelce took to The Pat McAfee Show, revealing he had invited Swift to join him at Arrowhead Stadium, where she had previously performed during her Eras Tour.
To the surprise of many fans who anticipated she would decline the invitation, Swift attended the game, cheering enthusiastically as Kelce scored a touchdown from his family suite, alongside his mother, Donna. After the Chiefs triumphed over the Bears with a decisive 41-10 victory, Swift and Kelce were seen leaving the stadium together in his vintage 1970 Chevelle convertible.
As speculation mounted, Swift continued to attend additional Chiefs games, keeping their relationship status somewhat ambiguous. Kelce acknowledged her presence on his podcast, stating, “Shout out to Taylor for pulling up. That was pretty ballsy,” just a few days after their first game together.
Swift returned to support Kelce at another game on October 1, bringing celebrity friends, including Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, to a matchup against the New York Jets. In a sign of the growing fanfare surrounding their relationship, the NFL even incorporated Swift’s song “Welcome to New York” into promotional material for the game.
Following her Eras Tour film premiere, Swift made a point to attend a Chiefs game the very next day. On October 14, the couple further solidified their relationship status with surprise appearances on Saturday Night Live, where they were seen holding hands after dinner at the Waverly Inn.
Throughout the 2023 season, Swift attended a total of 13 Chiefs games, culminating in their Super Bowl LVIII victory. Kelce reciprocated her support by attending her concert in Buenos Aires during the Chiefs’ bye week, where Swift gave him a shoutout by altering the lyrics to her song “Karma,” leading to a beaming smile from Kelce.
In December, Swift publicly acknowledged her relationship with Kelce for the first time during her interview as Time’s 2023 Person of the Year. She clarified that their relationship had already begun by the time she attended the game in September, dispelling rumors that it was their first date.
Most recently, at the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Swift thanked Kelce for his support, marking the first occasion she publicly named him. “Everything this man touches turns to happiness and fun and magic,” she said during her acceptance speech, further highlighting their close bond.
As Swift continues to support Kelce, she has attended 15 Chiefs games since their relationship began, and fans eagerly anticipate her presence at future matchups.
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