KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Saturday, Travis Kelce, tight end for the Chiefs, showcased an impressive performance on the field, much to the delight of pop icon Taylor Swift, who was present to support him alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Kelce recorded seven receptions for 117 yards and scored a touchdown during the match, contributing significantly to Kansas City’s 23-14 win over the Houston Texans. This victory marks the Chiefs’ seventh consecutive appearance in the AFC Championship Game.
“I believe that when you step onto the football field, there’s always something to prove,” Kelce remarked, acknowledging that while his regular season was moderate by his standards, he consistently raises his game during the playoffs.
“It’s not just a simple flip of a switch to turn it on,” he continued. “It’s a result of everyone in that building spending weeks preparing physically to be ready for the playoffs. Today, we played at our best. It felt fantastic.”
Swift and Clark were quite animated throughout the game, with Clark, a lifelong Chiefs supporter, sporting a parka in the team’s red colors. Swift arrived at the venue significantly earlier than usual, roughly two hours before kickoff on a chilly day, dressed in almost full Chanel attire, which included a black-and-white tweed jacket, a quarter-zip romper, and pearl accessories.
The romance between Swift and Kelce began last season after he extended an invitation to her to attend a game against the Bears. Their relationship has since blossomed, attracting media attention as they are frequently spotted together globally. Recently, Swift has been spending more time in Kansas City, particularly after concluding her historic Eras Tour last month.
The Chiefs entered the playoffs strong, having secured a first-round bye with a 15-2 regular season record, earning them the top seed. With their recent victory over the Texans, they are now one step closer to making NFL history by potentially winning three consecutive Super Bowls, with their next challenge against either the Bills or the Ravens.
Swift had notably been present at the Chiefs’ last Super Bowl victory in Las Vegas, flying back from a concert in Tokyo to witness the team defeat the 49ers in February. There’s a strong possibility she’ll follow the Chiefs to New Orleans should they reach the Super Bowl again.
“Right now, we’re celebrating this win. Tonight is about enjoying it,” Kelce stated. “But our focus is fully on the upcoming AFC Championship Game. You can’t achieve a three-peat by overlooking it.”
Kelce has notably set records with this game, marking his 14th consecutive playoff appearance with at least 70 receiving yards and the 15th consecutive game with a minimum of five catches, both being NFL milestones. Additionally, he extended his playoff receptions record to 172 and tied Jerry Rice for the most playoff games with at least 100 receiving yards, achieving this in nine out of his twelve seasons.
Kelce’s pursuit of further records is imminent as he requires just 226 additional yards to surpass Rice’s postseason record of 2,245 and three more touchdown receptions to break Rice’s Hall of Fame record of 22.
“It’s playoff Kelce. He’s a true leader,” said Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who remains undefeated at 7-0 in divisional playoff games. “He thrives in moments like these and is always prepared for crucial plays.”
