“I think everybody is just overwhelmed.”
If you’ve spent any time watching football this fall (or, you know, scrolling through social media or news websites for more than 10 seconds), then you’ve probably noticed that the NFL is having a bit of a moment with Taylor Swift. No, we’re not just talking about the fact that NFL player Travis Kelce is reportedly dating her — we’re also talking about the fact that the NFL itself, as a literal institution, can’t seem to get enough of her these days.
At every Chiefs game Swift has attended (which is a resounding two, so far), the camera has taken quite a few opportunities to check in on her. We’ve watched her cheer, eat chicken fingers, and talk to Kelce’s mom — and all of it has been heavily, unbelievably monitored, to a surprising extent even for someone as globally famous as she is. Even Patriots coach (and famed dating guru?) Bill Belichick has weighed in on the relationship. And while all this coverage has been entertaining, it’s also been…a lot.
Swift, for her part, has said nothing about the nonstop coverage. She likely never will. It’s been about a decade since she has given any response about her private life beyond some variation of “no comment.” But Kelce has spoken out about the news frenzy — and his response speaks volumes.
Here’s what Kelce has to say.
Travis Kelce addresses the NFL’s newfound obsession with Taylor Swift
In a recent episode of the podcast New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce (which, you might have guessed, he co-hosts with his brother, fellow NFL player Jason Kelce), Kelce explained how he feels about the ongoing spotlight on Swift.
“I think everybody is just overwhelmed with [her presence],” Kelce explained. “I think it’s fun when they show who is at the game. I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, and brings a little bit more to what you’re watching. But at the same time, I think they’re overdoing it a little bit for sure. Especially my situation.”
“Basketball has it figured out,” his brother noted. “They show them once or twice but then they get back to the game. NFL is like, ‘Look at all these A-list celebrities at the game! Keep showing them! Show ’em, show ’em…’ You [should] show them once, let [fans] know they’re there. And after touchdowns, you get a little clip, but don’t go overboard with it. People are there to watch the game, right?”
“Yeah,” Kelce said, “they’re not there to get thrown on the TV. Because you never know, you [might] get caught [eating] a big ol’ cheeseburger, and you look like an idiot, you know what I mean?…You just don’t want to be on TV at all times.”
Kelce takes responsibility for his newfound romantic spotlight
In an earlier podcast episode with his brother, Kelce took full responsibility for the media circus that has developed around his interactions with Swift.
“I know I brought all of this attention to me,” he said. “I did the whole friendship bracelet thing, and told everybody how butt-hurt I was I didn’t get to meet Taylor.”
(A little background: It became a trend to bring — and exchange — friendship bracelets at the Eras Tour, and Kelce previously said that he brought a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it and tried to get the bracelet to Swift at a concert. At the time, he said that this effort was a failure — but now, it’s looking like the most successful pick-up attempt in human history.)
Kelce went on to reinforce the importance of keeping certain details of this relationship private, moving forward. “You know, it is my personal life,” he said. “I want to respect both of our lives. She’s not in the media as much as I am doing this show every single week and having fun during the NFL season and on other guys’ shows like the Pat McAfee Show and any other show that I go on from here on out. Like you said on that Thursday night game, I’m enjoying life and I sure as hell enjoyed this weekend. Moving forward, I think me talking about sports will have to be kinda where I keep it.”
