KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs showcased an impressive performance that delighted pop icon Taylor Swift, who was watching from a suite alongside WNBA star Caitlin Clark. Kelce had a standout game, catching seven passes for 117 yards and scoring a touchdown, contributing significantly to the Chiefs’ 23-14 victory over the Houston Texans. This win propelled Kansas City to the AFC championship game for the seventh consecutive year.
Kelce expressed his mindset heading into the game, emphasizing the need to prove oneself every time he steps onto the field. Despite a regular season that did not meet his high standards, he tends to rise to the occasion during the playoffs. “I wish it was something like it was just a flip of the switch and I could just turn it on like that,” he noted, reflecting on the preparation and teamwork that led to their performance. “But I think it was everybody in that building, all week long, all, really, the past two to three weeks figuring out how to get our bodies the best rest and ready for the playoffs for a run like this. And, man, we came out firing on all cylinders today. That felt really good.”
Throughout the game, Swift and Clark were notably supportive, with Clark donning a parka in the Chiefs’ red color. Swift, making a grand entrance two hours before the game in the chilly weather, wore a fashionable ensemble nearly entirely from Chanel, which included a black-and-white tweed jacket and elegant accessories.
The relationship between Kelce and Swift began last season when he invited her to watch him play, leading to a whirlwind romance that has since captured the attention of fans and cameras alike. Recently, Swift has been frequently seen in Kansas City after concluding her highly successful Eras Tour last month.
Having secured a first-round bye in the playoffs by achieving a stellar 15-2 record in the regular season, the Chiefs continued their playoff journey with the recent victory against the Texans. They are now set to face either the Buffalo Bills or the Baltimore Ravens next weekend, inching closer to the unprecedented goal of winning three consecutive Super Bowls.
Swift had previously attended the latest Super Bowl in Las Vegas, flying back from a concert overseas to support the Chiefs as they triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers last February. There is a strong possibility she will travel to New Orleans if the Chiefs make it to the championship game again.
“Right now, this one was great. We’re going to enjoy this one tonight,” Kelce remarked after the game. “But the task at hand is going to be that AFC championship. You don’t get a three-peat by looking past that.”
Kelce set multiple records with this performance—marking his 14th consecutive playoff game with at least 70 receiving yards and his 15th straight game with five or more catches, both of which are NFL records. He also extended his playoff receptions record to 172 and became the player with the most playoff games with over 100 receiving yards, breaking a tie with Jerry Rice with this latest achievement.
As he continues to play at such a high level, Kelce could potentially break two more records soon—requiring just 226 yards to surpass Rice’s all-time postseason record of 2,245 yards, and needing three additional touchdown receptions to break Rice’s record of 22.
“It’s playoff Trav. He’s a leader, man,” said Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who has an undefeated record of 7-0 in divisional playoff rounds. “This is what he lives for, is playing in these moments, having the chance to make big-time plays.”
