Taylor Swift is opening up about her relationship with football player Travis Kelce.
In an interview with Time magazine, which named the pop star the 2023 Person of the Year, she revealed when they first started dating and that their relationship is going to stay in the public eye.
Swift told the magazine that prior to her first appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game, she and the NFL star had already been “hanging out.”
“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” she told Time.
“We started hanging out right after that,” she said. “So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other. By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple.”
She added that the Sept. 24 game had definitely not been their first date.
“We would never be psychotic enough to hard-launch a first date,” she said.
Read on for a timeline of their relationship so far.
May 12: Taylor Swift says she’s an Eagles fan
Taylor Swift, who was born in Pennsylvania, in 2020 released the song “Gold Rush,” which features the lyrics, “My Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door.”
During her May 12 Philadelphia stop on the “Eras Tour,” Swift cleared up speculation about the lyrics by revealing that she was referring to the NFL team, not the “Hotel California” band.
“Guys, like, c’mon. I’m from Philly. Of course it’s the team,” she said onstage in a video shared by the NFL.
In February, Swift’s team lost to the Kansas City Chiefs at the 2023 Super Bowl. The game made headlines for being the first time brothers played against each other in the championship game.
Enter: Travis Kelce.
July 8: Travis Kelce attends ‘Eras Tour’ stop in Kansas City
Travis Kelce, on the heels of his Super Bowl victory over brother Jason Kelce, attended one of Swift’s “Eras Tour” concerts like millions of fans this summer. But while Swifties were looking forward to hearing some of the musician’s biggest hits, he arrived with a plan to get Swift’s attention.
The athlete shared on the July 26 episode of the “New Heights” podcast, which he co-hosts with his brother, that he created a friendship bracelet with his phone number and wanted to give it to Swift at one of her Arrowhead Stadium shows in Kansas City.
“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings. So I was a little butthurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” Travis Kelce explained on the podcast July 26.
He was bummed but still appreciated Swift’s impressive performance. “She doesn’t meet anybody or at least she didn’t want to meet me, so I took it personal. But it was an unbelievable show,” he said.
Jason Kelce chimed in and joked, “She probably just hasn’t gotten over the Super Bowl yet. She’s a big Eagles fan, so maybe she just made something up and just didn’t want to talk to you.”
Aug. 2: Travis Kelce is asked about Taylor Swift by a reporter
NFL Network reporter Andrew Siciliano in an Aug. 2 interview asked the Chiefs tight end about the pop star.
As soon as Siciliano mentioned the “Anti-Hero” singer’s name in the video, Travis Kelce started laughing. The journalist then started to ask about his previous attempt to get Swift’s attention.
“I said what I said,” Travis Kelce replied. “And I meant what I said when I said it.”
He continued, “You know, what? It is what it is. I’m not going to talk about my personal life. I know what you writers want to hear. And you want to hear more about that, and I’m not going to give you anything.”
Siciliano pressed on, wondering if Swift reached out to Travis Kelce.
“And that’s going to wrap it up here at NFL training camp,” he playfully said before the clip ended, skirting the question.
Late August: Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift hang out in New York
Kelce and Swift hung out in New York more than a month before Swift attended the Chiefs-Bears game Sept. 24, a source close to the situation told TODAY — meaning they linked up sometime before the end of August.
Sept. 15: Jason Kelce addresses dating rumors involving brother Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift
In September — two months after Travis Kelce said he tried to make a move on Swift — the dating rumors stayed strong, and Travis Kelce’s brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, weighed in on several occasions.
After Philadelphia defeated the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 14, analyst and retired NFL star Tony Gonzalez unexpectedly referenced Swift in an interview with Jason Kelce and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. He couched the question by saying his 15-year-old daughter is “a big fan of a certain pop star.”
“You have a family member, a brother, and I’ve been hearing rumors. … Can you comment?” he asked Jason Kelce.
“I’ve seen these rumors,” the Jason Kelce responded. “I cannot comment.”
He added, “Ever since ‘Catching Kelce,’ everybody’s been infatuated with Travis’ love life, so I don’t really know what’s going on there. I know Trav is having fun and we’ll see what happens with whoever he ends up with,” before laughing. (Travis Kelce’s search for love was documented on the E! reality series “Catching Kelce” in 2016.)
He added, “Ever since ‘Catching Kelce,’ everybody’s been infatuated with Travis’ love life, so I don’t really know what’s going on there. I know Trav is having fun and we’ll see what happens with whoever he ends up with,” before laughing. (Travis Kelce’s search for love was documented on the E! reality series “Catching Kelce” in 2016.)
Jason Kelce later backtracked during a Sept. 20 appearance on 94 WIP.
“Tony kind of blindsided me with that question on Thursday night,” he said. “It’s hard to answer because I don’t really know a lot about what’s happening with Travis’ love life. His business is his business. I stay out of that world. But having said that, I think he’s doing great. I think it’s all 100% true. I hope that this s— goes a mile.”
Sept. 17: Travis Kelce’s dating life becomes the talk of the NFL
Travis Kelce’s public attempt at courting Swift stoked rumors that the two might be romantically linked.
As a result, NFL commentators took every opportunity to link the pair together, even while Travis Kelce was playing on the field.
“Touchdown, Travis Kelce! Kelce finds a blank space for the score,” commentator Ian Eagle said during the Kansas City Chiefs’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, Sept. 18, making a reference to Swift’s song “Blank Space.”
Rich Eisen, host of the “Rich Eisen Show,” also took part in the fun on his show, according to a TikTok compilation of several Swift song puns he was able to sneak into his program.
“Even though that bone bruise and the injury one would think is delicate, he’s been able to shake it off,” Eisen said of Travis Kelce, referencing Swift’s songs “Delicate” and “Shake It Off.”
Sept. 21: Travis Kelce addresses the dating rumors
In a Sept. 21 visit to “The Pat McAfee Show,” Travis Kelce responded to brother Jason’s comments to Tony Gonzalez the week before.
“No one actually knows what’s going on, especially when you got Jason Kelce on live television telling people both sides, he doesn’t know, it’s true, it’s this and that,” Travis Kelce said.
“The guy is absolutely ridiculous, can’t stay out of the freaking headlines,” he joked. “Please everybody, stop asking my brother about my love life.”
Travis Kelce also addressed the dating rumors head on.
“I threw the ball in her court. I told her, I’ve seen you rock a stage in Arrowhead and you might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead,” he said. “We’ll see what happens in the near future.”
McAfee, correctly, took this to mean that Swift would appear at an upcoming game. However, some of the show’s crew were left confused about the status of the relationship.
“All right, so we got to the bottom of it,” McAfee said after the interview.
“Did we?” a co-host asked.
Sept. 24: Taylor Swift attends her first Chiefs game
During the game Sept. 24, Swift enthusiastically cheered for Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs while seated next to his mom, Donna Kelce.
In clips shared on ESPN’s social media pages, Swift wore a red and white jacket and sported her signature red lipstick for the game.
Swift and Donna Kelce seemed to share a few laughs throughout the game.
The Fox broadcast also captured Swift throwing her hands in the air and celebrating when Travis Kelce scored a touchdown in the third quarter. The Grammy winner appeared to shout, “Let’s f—— go!” before excitedly banging her hands on the glass in the player’s box.
During the game, Fox announcers repeatedly chimed in about the possible romance between Swift and Travis Kelce in between plays.
“I mean, I think the secret’s out,” one NFL commentator said.
Sept. 27: Travis Kelce says his personal life will stay out of the spotlight
On the Sept. 27 episode of “New Heights,” Travis Kelce reacted to the mania around Swift’s attendance at the Chiefs game.
“I just thought it was awesome how everybody in the suite had nothing but great things to say about her. You know, the friends and family. She looked amazing,” he said. “Everybody was talking about her in a great light and on top of that, the day went perfect for Chiefs fans, of course.”
He said the experience marks “a game I’ll remember.”
“To see the slow-motion chest bumps, to see the high fives with mom, to see how Chiefs Kingdom was all excited that she was there, that s— was absolutely hysterical,” Travis Kelce said. “It was definitely a game I’ll remember, that’s for damn sure.”
“And then we just slid off in the getaway car at the end,” he added, using a Swift song title to reference the viral photos of them leaving Arrowhead Stadium together in a convertible.
But he also said he plans to keep his personal life private.
“What’s real is that it’s my personal life and I want to respect both of our lives,” he said. “She’s not in the media as much as I am.
“So everything moving forward, I think me talking about sports and saying, ‘All right now,’ would have to be kind of where I keep it.”
Oct. 1: Taylor Swift attends Chiefs-Jets game in New Jersey
Swift attended at her second Chiefs game on Oct. 1 — this time at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where the Chiefs won 23-20 over the New York Jets.
Swift was spotted at the game with an entourage of famous friends, including Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman and more.
The night before the game, the singer was spotted grabbing dinner with her girlfriends and Brittany Mahomes, who’s married to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Swift performed at MetLife Stadium May 26, 27 and 28 on the “Eras Tour.”
Oct. 2: Travis Kelce thanks Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson for their plea to Taylor Swift to go on a date with him
Back in August, sports reporters Erin Andrews and Charissa Thompson had made a plea on their podcast to Taylor Swift to go out with Travis Kelce. In early October, amid all the frenzy around the Swift and Kelce, Thompson re-shared that clip on Instagram.
“Taylor, I don’t know what you are doing in your life right now besides rocking the world,” Andrews began in the clip, which Thompson said was recorded on Aug. 3. “Please try our friend Travis. He is fantastic. … Take us up on this, go on a date with this guy. Do it for America.”
Thompson responded saying she was about to say the same thing.
“Do it for yourself, do it for us and do it for the people, because there is no one that would give you a better time than this guy,” Thompson said.
Kelce commented on the post on Oct. 2 with two laughing emoji.
“You two are something else!!” he said, adding two raising hands emoji. “I owe you big time!!”
During an Oct. 17 appearance on TODAY, Andrews gushed about playing a small role in their romance.
Oct. 6: Donna Kelce addresses romance rumors, reveals what she hopes for Travis in a partner
During a visit to TODAY on Oct. 6, Travis Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce, discussed how life has changed since being spotted with Taylor Swift at a Chiefs game while rumors of a relationship continue to swirl.
“It truly feels like I’m in some kind of an alternate universe,” Kelce said. “It’s just really, really strange, but it’s fun. It’s a great ride.”
Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb couldn’t help but ask about the possible romance.
Donna Kelce responded, “I honestly can’t tell you. It’s just too new.”
While speaking to TODAY.com, the NFL mom said she’s seen some of the people son Travis Kelce has dated, but she doesn’t think much about the kind of person he’ll end up with.
“I want to see that smile on his face, the brightness, the sparkle in his eyes, like Jason has,” she said, referring to son Jason Kelce’s love for wife Kylie. “That’s what I want to see, and I hope I’ll see that some day.”
Oct. 6: Travis Kelce says he’s ‘even more on top of the world’ amid Taylor Swift relationship buzz
During a press conference Oct. 6, the Chiefs tight end addressed the adjustment to the newfound fame and attention amid Swift’s latest appearances, despite already being in the limelight following the 2023 Super Bowl.
“As all the attention comes, it feels like I was on top of the world after the Super Bowl and right now, even more on top of the world. So it’s fun,” he said.
Travis Kelce then said he’s “rolling with” the constant attention from paparazzi and attempting to separate work and play.
“We’re learning with the paparazzi just taking photos from all over the place. But at the same time, it comes with it,” he continued. “You got a lot of people that care about Taylor for good reason. You just got to keep living and learning and enjoying the moments. At the end of the day, I’ve always been pretty good at compartmentalizing and being able to stay focused in this building.”
Oct. 12: Taylor Swift attends Chiefs-Broncos game
Fresh off her red carpet appearance at the premiere of the “Eras Tour” concert film in Los Angeles, Swift was spotted back in the player’s box at Arrowhead Stadium Oct. 12 as the Chiefs took on the Denver Broncos.
Wearing a black tank top and a red Chiefs jacket from Erin Andrews’ brand, Swift cheered on Kelce’s team alongside his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce, and Brittany Mahomes.
During the game, Swift was photographed chatting with Donna Kelce, who sported a TODAY friendship bracelet, as well as Ed Kelce.
While Travis Kelce was initially listed as “questionable” to play after a non-contact ankle injury sustained Oct. 8 against the Minnesota Vikings, he had a season-high record game with nine catches for 124 yards.
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The Chiefs won 19-8.
Oct. 14 + 15: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce make ‘SNL’ cameos and are seen out in NYC
From Los Angeles, to Kansas City to New York: Swift and Travis Kelce showed up on “Saturday Night Live” in surprise appearances, and then hit Nobu in Midtown Manhattan for dinner. The pair were photographed walking hand-in-hand when they arrived and left.
Photos and videos from paparazzi show that Travis Kelce held the door for Swift and helped her step out of the car. The two then interlocked fingers and went on their way.
During “SNL,” Kelce made a cameo at the end of the a sketch poking fun at the NFL’s recent spotlight on his rumored relationship. Taylor Swift also briefly appeared to introduce musical guest Ice Spice. Swift and the rapper collaborated earlier this year for a remix of “Karma,” released as part of a deluxe edition of Swift’s 10th studio album, “Midnights.” On the Oct. 18 episode of “New Heights,” Kelce said it was “electric” to be back in Studio 8H for “SNL.”
The next night on Oct. 15, the singer and football star showed another public display of affection when they were photographed holding hands outside of Waverly Inn in New York City.
Oct. 20: Travis Kelce discusses how his look has changed since meeting Taylor Swift
Kelce shared on Oct. 20 that the first time he met Swift he was rocking a mustache, which is now “slowly starting to disappear.”
“I’ll tell you what, man, that ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit, and I had it when I met Taylor for the first time,” he said at a press conference ahead of Sunday’s Kansas City Chiefs game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Since the moment they first met is not publicly known, this comment, of course, led Swifties to track down when exactly this could have been.
While the tight end notably had a mustache during Swift’s first game at Arrowhead Stadium back on Sept. 24, the mustache made its debut at training camp on Aug. 2, according to the Kansas City Star.
Travis Kelce previously discussed the ‘stache on the Aug. 31 episode of “New Heights.” He said he has styled his facial hair that way every training camp for the past few years to imitate his coach.
“Have you found out what Taylor Swift thinks of your mustache?” Jason Kelce cheekily asked, likely poking fun of his brother’s famous failed attempt to give her a friendship bracelet during her Kansas City stop on the “Eras Tour” in July.
“Yeah, we’re not going to bring up Taylor Swift in this episode, but something tells me she’s going to like it,” he responded.
Oct. 22: Taylor Swift attends her fourth Chiefs game
Swift attended the Chargers-Chiefs game on Oct. 22, marking her fourth appearance at the team’s games this season. At the game, she wore a red Chiefs sweatshirt and gold friendship bracelet with the number 87, which is his jersey number.
Kelce scored a touchdown in the second quarter, and the Chiefs won 31-17 — meaning the Chiefs at this point in the timeline are 4-0 with Swift in attendance.
Swift and Kelce were also seen in a few snaps with Kelce’s teammate Mecole Hardman, Jr. and his girlfriend Chariah Gordon.
Two of the pics show Swift smiling, while another shows her giving Kelce a sweet peck on the cheek while holding his shoulder.
The photo sent the internet into overdrive as Swifties gushed over how the photo appeared to be the first of the pair sharing a kiss.
Oct. 24: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce go on a date night in Kansas City
Swift and Kelce were spotted out on a date night in Kansas City on Oct. 24, according to photos published in The Daily Mail.
The pair arrived at Argentinean steakhouse Piropos in Kelce’s Rolls Royce, and dined for several hours, according to The Daily Mail. The publication reported the restaurant normally closes at 9 p.m., but stayed open late for the couple, who at one point were the sole customers in the establishment.
Swift and Kelce were seen holding hands when they left their romantic dinner, according to the photos.
Oct. 25: Travis Kelce comments on his stats while Taylor Swift attends his games
On the Oct. 25 episode of “New Heights,” Jason Kelce told his brother about his stats this season, which appear to improve when Swift is in attendance.
“When T-Swift is at the game, you are averaging 99 yards, and when you are left with only your friends and remaining family there, you are at 46.5 yards,” he told his brother.
Kelce said he liked how the CBS graphic worded it: “As it says in the edit or whatever, ‘Left to his own devices.’”
“Well put,” he added. “It’s kind of hard for me to wrap my head around that sentence, but yeah.”
Swifties looked beyond the stats though, and began to fixate on how Jason Kelce appeared to inadvertently refer to Swift as family.
“jason saying that when taylor isn’t at the game travis is only left with his ‘remaining family’ in attendance DID THEY JUST CALL TAYLOR FAMILY I AM NOT OKAY,” one user wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Nov. 10: Travis Kelce travels to Argentina for Taylor Swift’s ‘Eras Tour’
As Taylor Swift kicks off the South American leg of her “Eras Tour,” Travis Kelce traveled to Argentina Nov. 10, a source close to the couple confirms to NBC News.
Her three shows scheduled for Buenos Aires began Nov. 9, but the Nov. 10 performance was postponed Friday afternoon due to adverse weather.
Instead, the two were spotted at around 11:45 local time at Elena restaurant at the Four Seasons in Buenos Aires, Tory Barron, who captured the couple on video, told TODAY.com.
Barron said Swift and Kelce were leaving a private room in the video where they had dinner and were exiting through the kitchen. She added that the whole restaurant was “incredibly respectful and excited to have them there.”
Due to the Chiefs bye week, Kelce doesn’t have a game until Nov. 20, when the Kansas City team takes on the Philadelphia Eagles, the team Swift has historically supported.
Prior to his South American appearance, Kelce seemed to hint to his trip to Argentina during an episode of his “New Heights” podcast.
“I might just say f— it and just go somewhere nice,” the tight end said. “My skin’s getting really pale so I gotta go somewhere south, somewhere closer to the equator.”
Nov. 11: ‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs’
While performing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, with Kelce in the audience, Swift changed the lyrics to one of her songs in honor of the football player.
“Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me,” she sang, swapping in “Chiefs” for “screen,” a lyric believed to be in reference to her ex, actor Joe Alwyn.
After the show ended, multiple fans captured videos of Swift running into Kelce’s arms backstage and sharing a kiss.
Many fans interpreted the kiss as the couple’s public confirmation of their romantic relationship or “hard launch.”
Nov. 20: Travis Kelce opens up about how he’s ‘never dated’ anyone like Taylor Swift
In an interview with WSJ. Magazine published Nov. 20, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end reminisced that he’d tried to meet Swift at her Arrowhead concert in July, alluding to people “playing Cupid” for the two of them, although he didn’t specify who.
“There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was, in her corner (who said): Yo! Did you know he was coming? I had somebody playing Cupid,” Kelce said to the WSJ. (Swift would later tell Time that they started talking soon after that and “hung out” prior her first appearance at a Chiefs game.)
He also recalled his and Swift’s first date, which he says took place in New York (but keeps mum about when that actually happened).
“When I met her in New York, we had already kind of been talking, so I knew we could have a nice dinner and, like, a conversation, and what goes from there will go from there,” Kelce told WSJ.
He said he managed to keep his nerves at bay, but his friends and family — not so much.
“Everybody around me telling me: Don’t f— this up! And me sitting here saying: Yeah—got it.”
He also revealed that he’s never “dated anyone” with the “kind of aura” that Swift has, and reflected on how she manages to enjoy her life despite the “scrutiny” she regularly faces.
“Obviously I’ve never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them…. I’ve never dealt with it,” he shared during the interview. “But at the same time, I’m not running away from any of it…. The scrutiny she gets, how much she has a magnifying glass on her, every single day, paparazzi outside her house, outside every restaurant she goes to, after every flight she gets off, and she’s just living, enjoying life. When she acts like that I better not be the one acting all strange.”
December 2023: Taylor Swift speaks publicly about their relationship for the first time
Swift hadn’t really spoken about her relationship with Kelce until she was named Time’s 2023 Person of the Year in December 2023.
In a story published on Dec. 6, Swift explained that they’d started dating after Kelce “adorably put me on blast” on his podcast and didn’t go public until her first appearance at a Kansas City Chiefs game on Sept. 24.
She said they’ve been happy to be out in the public, supporting each other, seemingly in contrast, to when Swift dated Joe Alwyn. With Alwyn, Swift kept her relationship under wraps and the two were rarely seen together.
“When you say a relationship is public, that means I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she said. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone. And we’re just proud of each other.”
