Derek Jeter Says Taylor Swift's Romance with Travis Kelce 'Puts the Sports World in the Spotlight' (Exclusive)

"Sports and music have been intertwined for a long, long time," the famed athlete tells PEOPLE exclusively

Derek Jeter is rooting for "Traylor!"

While chatting with PEOPLE about a ceremony to unveil new baseball and softball fields for young athletes at his alma mater, Kalamazoo Central High School in Michigan, the famed athlete, 49, also opens up about Taylor Swift's romance with Travis Kelce and how it is linking the entertainment and sports worlds.

Noting that he thinks "sports and music have been intertwined for a long, long time," Jeter says, "In that sense, I don't think it's anything new."

"I think anytime you get a new set of eyes, a new demographic that's paying attention to sports, [it's great]," he continues. "I think Taylor Swift has a lot of fans anyway, so I don't necessarily think it's like, 'Oh, she's got a new set of fans now.' They probably were fans anyway. But I think it just puts the sports world into the spotlight."

"But, hey, if you go back over the years, it is funny. You always hear people say that a lot of entertainers want to be athletes, and then you look at athletes and they want to be entertainers themselves," adds Jeter. "I think those worlds have coincided for quite some time."

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Related: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s Relationship Timeline

Swift, 33, first sparked dating rumors in September after she attended a handful of Kelce's Kansas City Chiefs football games.

The two then confirmed their romance in October as they stepped out holding hands at a Saturday Night Live afterparty.

Following their various outings together in the weeks to follow, including Kelce, 34, attending her Eras Tour overseas, a source told PEOPLE things are getting "more serious" between Swift and the NFL star.

"It's quickly turning more serious. They share a strong work ethic and have a huge appreciation for life and their careers, strong family bond and values," the source said, adding that Kelce is also "sweet, goofy and just a blast to be around."

Related: Derek Jeter and Hannah Davis Jeter's Relationship Timeline

Jeter himself has had his fair share of famous relationships throughout the years, with stars including Mariah Carey, Vanessa Lachey and Minka Kelly.

He later found his one true love in wife Hannah Davis Jeter, however. The pair first met in 2012 through mutual friends, before they got engaged in November 2015 and tied the knot in July 2016.

Jeter and his wife of seven years share four children together: daughters River Rose, 23 months, Story Grey, 4, and Bella Raine, 6, plus son Kaius Green, 6 months.

"I didn't know what to expect before I became a father, but just to see them learn every day, the curiosity they have [is amazing]," Jeter tells PEOPLE. "Even when I leave for a day or two, I come back home, and it seems like they've grown so much."

He adds: "It's fun to see them smile. It's fun to see them on a daily basis just learn so much."

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