Travis Kelce’s Chiefs Family Reveals How Taylor Swift Changed Him
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Originally appeared on E! Online
Taylor Swift has enchanted another member of Chiefs Kingdom.
Defensive backs coach Dave Merritt sang the praises of Travis Kelce's girlfriend while explaining the impact he believes the Grammy winner had on the star tight end and the Kansas City team leading up to their 2024 Super Bowl victory.
"She actually affected the team in a positive way" he said on the Feb. 23 episode of The Sports Shop With Reese & Kmac, released less than two weeks after the big game. "Everybody was excited that Travis was happy. So when my player, my brother, is happy beside me, that helps me and that encourages me."
As Dave noted, he's seen a change in Travis since he began dating Taylor over the summer. "And so Travis came in there a different man," he added. "So she helped us."
"She won a Super Bowl in her first year in the NFL," the coach joked. "How about that?"
The "Blank Space" attended most of the Chiefs' games this season, with their TV broadcasts and live streams regularly featuring live footage of her cheering on her boyfriend inside a stadium suite, which drew mixed reactions from viewers.
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However, as Dave pointed out, "When she started to come around, it was privately. She was coming into the stadiums without people really knowing until the camera put the big spotlight on her."
"When she started to come around, it was privately," Dave recalled about Taylor. "She was coming into the stadiums without people really knowing until the camera put the big spotlight on her."
He continued, "But upon meeting her, I felt like she actually added to what it was that we were trying to do. Because there were so many people that were hating the fact that she was being shown on TV, that you know what, you're part of our family because you're now with Travis, so therefore you're our little sister or you're whatever it may be, you're part of family."
Speaking of family, Taylor often brought her own family members and joined Travis' loved ones, including his mom Donna Kelce, inside those stadium suites. And she's won over the hearts of many of Travis' teammates in a special way: Baking.
In fact, head coach Andy Reid told NFL on NBC Feb. 27 that the singer made the offensive linemen homemade pop tarts. "It was over," he joked. "She knew right where to go."
Keep reading to look back at Taylor and Travis' complete love story...
<p>July 2023: So, Make the Friendship Bracelets</p>
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's love story began in July 2023, when the singer's Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.
"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," Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. "So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn't get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her."
<p>Summer 2023: This Is Him Trying</p>
After publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as "metal as hell"—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.
"I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court," he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. "I told her, you know, 'I've seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one's a little more lit.' So, we'll see what happens in the near future."
<p>August 2023: Enchanted to Meet You</p>
Travis was rocking a mustache—which he debuted in August during training camp—when he was first introduced to Taylor.
As he later noted of the era, "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."
<p>September 2023: Sparks Fly</p>
By early September, a source close to the situation told E! News that Travis and Taylor were "texting and talking here and there."
"It's been very low-key," the insider explained, "as he's been in season."
<p>September 2023: Cheer Captain</p>
Accepting Travis' invite, Taylor joined the athlete's mom Donna Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium to watch him and the Chiefs take on the Chicago Bears. After the game, Taylor and Travis were seen packing PDA at a local bar.
Though folklore had it that it was the couple's first in-person meeting, the "Karma" singer later clarified the two had spent a "significant amount of time" getting to know each other beforehand.
As Taylor noted, "We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."
<p>October 2023: Team Up</p>
As an indication that the relationship was heating up, Taylor brought her squad—including friends Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman, Sabrina Carpenter and Antoni Porowski—to watch the Chiefs play against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
<p>October 2023: It's Nice to Have a Friend</p>
Another sign that Travis could be The 1? Taylor started bonding with Brittany Mahomes—the wife of Travis' BFF and teammate Patrick Mahomes—in and outside of NFL games.
<p>October 2023: Welcome to New York</p>
The couple took their romance to TV, making a surprise appearance on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live. Their Big Apple takeover also included the after-party for the NBC sketch show and a date night at the Waverly Inn.
<p>November 2023: Karma Is Her Boyfriend</p>
During a bye week, Travis traveled down to Argentina to catch the South American leg of Taylor's Eras Tour. Not only did the NFL star bond with Taylor's dad, Scott Swift, at the Nov. 11 show in Buenos Aires, but he also got a special shoutout from the stage.
"Karma is that guy on the Chiefs," Taylor sang, "coming straight home to me."
After the show, the Midnights artist was seen running up to Travis backstage and greeting him with a passionate kiss.
<p>December 2024: Speak Now</p>
Taylor addressed the lavender craze surrounding her appearances at Travis' games.
"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 told Time. "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."
<p>December 2023: You, Who Charmed Her Dad</p>
The music superstar turned Travis' Dec. 17 game into a family affair, bringing her dad to cheer on her man.
<p>January 2024: All the Midnights</p>
Taylor and Travis spent their first New Year's Eve together, sharing a romantic kiss when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1.
<p>January 2024: Chosen Family</p>
Continuing to bond with Travis' family, Taylor hung out with his brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce at the Chiefs' game against the Buffalo Bills.
<p>January 2024: Saved by the Perfect Kiss</p>
Taylor joined Travis on the football field when the Chiefs won the AFC Championship, a victory that cemented the team's spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The couple shared a celebratory kiss before exchanging the L-word.
"Tay, I'm gonna enjoy with the guys," he told her. "I love you—so much it's not funny."
<p>February 2024: Super Bowl Champs</p>
The pair locked lips on the field after Travis led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.
<p>February 2024: TikTok Official</p>
Taylor posted footage of Travis on social media for the first time Feb. 12, poking fun at how she took her parents clubbing with the athlete after the Super Bowl.
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