A timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce: From the Eras tour to Green Bay and beyond
A lot has happened with Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift over the past six months.
Or, at least, people have been talking a lot about it.
From Swift’s July 8 show at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, when Kelce first reportedly sought the superstar singer’s attention, to Swift’s surprise appearance at a Chiefs game on Sept. 24 and many more appearances after, the pair’s relationship has fascinated the world. And much of the drama has taken place right here in Kansas City.
The latest development Wednesday came from her interview with Time Magazine, which named her 2023’s “Person of the Year. Swift said in the interview that she and Kelce were a couple by the time she showed up to the Sept. 24 game in Kansas City.
Here’s a timeline to review what has happened so far.
July 8: The Eras tour
When Swift performed at Arrowhead Stadium on July 8 as part of her Eras tour, Kelce, along with Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, were there.
The tight end and the Mahomes family watched her 3-hour show from the suites, and Kelce was spotted trading friendship bracelets with other fans inside the stadium.
While at the show, Kelce tried to meet Swift before she went on stage, as he later revealed on the July 26 episode of his “New Heights” podcast, which he hosts with his brother Jason.
“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. So I was a little butthurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” Travis Kelce said. “If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it. All right now.”
Jason asked: “Your number as in 87 or your phone number?”
Travis: “You know which one. She doesn’t meet anybody and at least she didn’t want to meet me so I, um, I took that personal. But it was an unbelievable show and I’ve only seen Arrowhead filled like that for Chiefs games with that much excitement, and yeah, everybody was dressed in pink and purple going crazy. It was a wild show.
Aug. 2: Training camp questions
When Kelce joined “Inside Training Camp Live” on the NFL Network on Aug. 2, broadcaster Andrew Siciliano asked him about shooting his shot at Arrowhead.
“I said what I said and I meant what I said when I said it,” Kelce told Siciliano. “It is what it is. I’m not going to talk about my personal life. I know what you writers want to hear. You want to hear more about that, and I’m not going to give you anything.”
Siciliano followed up and asked him if Swift had reached out.
“And that’s going to wrap it up here,” Kelce said. Siciliano’s cohost, Michael Robinson, laughed.
Sept. 12: ‘Quietly hanging out’
Two months after the concert, The Messenger reported that Kelce and Swift had been “quietly hanging out” in New York.
The Messenger’s Lanae Brody and Christina Dugan Ramirez wrote: “Taylor and Travis have been quietly hanging out. She saw him when she was in NYC a few weeks ago.”
No other details have been revealed from that meetup since.
Sept. 21: The invitation
Kelce appeared on the Sept. 21 edition of “The Pat McAfee Show,” where he admitted he and Swift had been in contact. It came after McAfee asked if Kelce hated all the rumors being shared.
“No, I mean it’s life, baby. I threw it out there. I threw the ball in her court,” Kelce said.
“And I told her I’ve seen you rock the stage at Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage at Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit. So we’ll see what happens in the near future.”
Sept. 24: Welcome to Kansas City
Before the Sept. 24 Chiefs game in Kansas City, which had a 3:25 p.m. kickoff, Swift was at Kelce’s house meeting his friends and family, according to British celebrity news site Daily Mail.
The outlet also reported that Swift spent around an hour inside the house before leaving.
In a video Daily Mail obtained, Swift was shown walking on the sidewalk near Kelce’s house boarding a party bus to go to Arrowhead Stadium.
The arrival at Arrowhead
At Arrowhead, Swift simply walked into the stadium to arrive at the suite occupied by Kelce’s family and friends, TMZ reported. Fans in the suites can get into Arrowhead 30 minutes before the rest of the ticket holders.
A shot captured by TMZ shows Swift being escorted into the stadium by a security guard before kickoff.
Swift’s appearance at the game, a surprise to most of the public, captivated millions.
Fox Sports cameras later showed Swift sharing a laugh with Donna Kelce, and the Fox broadcasters promised viewers would see more clips during the game.
One of these clips: an excited Swift celebrating a Kelce touchdown reception in Kansas City’s 41-10 victory.
In the getaway car
After the game ended, a video of Kelce and Swift leaving the stadium was posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, by WGN News sports anchor Jarrett Payton, son of Chicago Bears legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton.
The duo were then seen driving near the River Market in a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, one of the most well-known muscle cars ever to hit the market.
Private dinner on the Country Club Plaza
At 8 p.m. on the night of Sept. 24, Kelce and Swift reportedly rented out a restaurant, even paying for the tabs of everyone dining there at the time.
The restaurant was said to be Prime Social, a rooftop cocktail lounge at 4622 Pennsylvania Ave. on the Country Club Plaza.
“The two were very affectionate with one another but kept things fun and light-hearted,” an anonymous source told ET entertainment news outlet. “Travis’ teammates also showed up to the after-party, as well as his mom, Donna Kelce. The party lasted until 2 a.m.”
Sept. 26: Goodbye, Taylor (for now)
Entertainment news site PageSix reported that Swift stayed in Kansas City for two nights, leaving early in the morning on Sept. 26.
In a video obtained by Page Six, she was spotted arriving directly on the tarmac of the Kansas City International Airport in a silver SUV, where her private jet awaited her.
PageSix says Swift jumped out of the vehicle and was rushed inside the jet while being covered by several black umbrellas after the car parked.
Oct. 1: Welcome to New York
Swift attended the Chiefs game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey on Oct. 1., arriving around 20 minutes before kickoff.
In her suite were some of her famous friends: Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Sophie Turner and Hugh Jackman.
It was a tightly contested game, as the Chiefs held on to defeat the Jets 23-20.
Also in attendance: actor/Shawnee Mission West graduate Paul Rudd.
Oct. 6: Kelce tells all
The tight end took a few minutes on Oct. 6 to speak with local reporters. One of the topics? His newfound fame since being associated with Swift.
“I brought this to myself,” Kelce said. “I’ve been fortunate enough to have fun with it, and that’s all that really matters, that it’s not (ticking) anybody off over here, at least.
“I’m having fun with it ... making sure my focus is winning the game, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”
Oct. 12: Thursday Night Football
Swift skipped the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis on Oct. 8, a game in which Kelce suffered an ankle injury but came back and helped the Chiefs win 27-20.
She did show up at Thursday Night Football for their game against AFC West rivals Denver Broncos on Oct. 12. She sat in a suite with Donna Kelce and Brittany Mahomes, chatting with the two throughout the game. She even hugged Brittany Mahomes after Kelce’s 40-yard catch.
Oct. 14: Saturday Night Live
Following the Chiefs’ 19-8 win over the Broncos, Swift and Kelce made their way to New York City.
They both made cameo appearances on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live.
Kelce appeared in the cold open, which starred Kenan Thompson as Fox Sports’ Curt Menefee, who is host of “Fox NFL Sunday.” As Menefee tries to focus on football, the other studio members Howie Long (Mikey Day), Jimmy Johnson (James Austin Johnson), Michael Strahan (Devon Walker) and Terry Bradshaw (Molly Kearney) spar over who is a bigger fan of Swift.
Pete Davidson, who was this episode’s host, later plays a sideline reporter who also is enamored with Swift.
At the end of the skit, the NFL broadcast is headed to a commercial and a frustrated Menefee says, “When we get back, we are going to speak with someone who actually wants to talk football.” The camera then cuts to Kelce.
Swift’s cameo took place when she introduced hip-hop artist Ice Spice for her second musical performance.
Later in the night, Swift and Kelce were spotted holding hands exiting a restaurant.
Kelce said on his podcast that they planned to attend “SNL” to see Ice Spice, but they made cameos at the behest of producer Lorne Michaels.
“We showed up at ‘SNL’ having the idea of going in support of Ice Spice,” Kelce said. “Her and Taylor are good friends. I’ve always wanted to meet Pete Davidson. I’ve been a fan of his for quite a while since he was on ‘SNL.’
Oct. 18: A new house in Leawood?
Rumors had been swirling for months that Kelce was moving out of the Briarcliff neighborhood in Kansas City, and TMZ reported on Oct. 18 that he bought a new home in Kansas City for “just under $6 million.”
The house reportedly is in “a gated community, and it’s a straight-up mansion … 6 bedrooms, 6 baths and over 16,000 square feet of living space,” the celebrity website reported.
The Leawood Chamber of Commerce and the Johnson County Democratic Party each welcomed Kelce to Johnson County on their Facebook pages on Oct. 19, confirming that he moved into the area.
The listing on Realtor.com describes the home as an “elegant estate home in Leawood. Luxury nestled into nature and privacy.” It sits on about 3.3 acres.
Kelce made the move because his home in Briarcliff became a “tourist attraction,” according to TMZ. A Daily Mail story included video, apparently from a neighbor, showing Swift leaving the Briarcliff home before heading to Arrowhead Stadium for the Sept. 24 game.
Oct. 22: Back at Arrowhead
With the extended rest, Kelce returned to Kansas City for another AFC West clash, this time against the Los Angeles Chargers. Swift was in attendance for this one, and saw Kelce’s best performance of the season so far.
Before the game, Swift hung out with Kelce’s family and friends at his Briarcliff home. She met former Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl quarterback Bernie Kosar.
Back in the suite with Brittany Mahomes, fans spotted her bracelet with Kelce’s jersey number, 87, surrounded by gold beads and two red hearts.
“87+13= 100,” E! News wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Taylor Swift is wearing her (heart) on her sleeve at today’s Chiefs game.
Kelce finished the game with 179 yards and a touchdown on 12 catches, and the Chiefs defeated the Chargers 31-17.
‘Home of the Chiefs’
Fans at the game on Oct. 22 recorded Swift during the national anthem, and noticed she made one lyric change that Kansas Citians know all too well.
While the performer sings “Home of the brave,” fans in Kansas City finish it with “Home of the Chiefs,” and Swift joined in with the rest of the stadium.
This was not the first time Swift sang “Home of the Chiefs,” as she also sang it during the national anthem before the game against the Jets on Oct. 1.
Oct. 25: Dinner at Piropos
Swift and Kelce had dinner at Piropos, an Argentinian steakhouse located at 4141 N. Mulberry Drive, according to a report by The Daily Mail.
While Piropos co-owner Gary Worden would not elaborate too much, he did confirm that they had dinner at his restaurant on Oct. 25, a few days after the Chiefs’ game against the Chargers.
“Travis has been to Piropos a number of times and we were delighted to have him and Taylor visit earlier in the week,” Worden told The Star. “Everyone was excited to have them in the restaurant.”
Nov. 3: ‘Are you in love?’
While in Frankfurt, Germany, for the Chiefs’ game against the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 5, Kelce faced the greatest heat of any Kansas City Chiefs player while seated at an elevated table in front of
Following the Chiefs’ afternoon practice, a reporter was direct with her questioning of Kelce as it related to his relationship with pop star Taylor Swift.
“What is the latest status,” she asked, “and are you in love?”
The words were so blunt that three of Kelce’s teammates — defensive end Chris Jones, safety Justin Reid and kicker Harrison Butker — all reacted at the table next to him.
“Oooh-wee,” Jones said into his microphone. “Spicing it up!”
Chiefs safety Justin Reid smiled and took a drink of water, while kicker Harrison Butker leaned back in his chair and laughed.
“The latest status is I got to see her last week,” Kelce said. “That’s the latest status right there.”
The reporter followed up: “Are you in love?”
“I’m going to keep my personal relationship personal,” he said.
Nov. 11: The Eras Tour in Argentina
The Chiefs’ bye week took place after their Nov. 5 win over the Miami Dolphins, which they played in Frankfurt, Germany. The bye week also matched with Swift’s first set of Eras Tour performances in South America, starting with three shows from Nov. 10-12 in Buenos Aires.
Swifties were speculating if Kelce would show up, and their speculations were correct. Kelce was in the VIP section for the Nov. 11 show, watching the show with Swift’s dad, Scott.
This marked the first time Kelce has reciprocated and gone to see Swift on the job, not counting the Eras Tour show in July at Arrowhead where he tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number.
Kelce arrived in Argentina on Nov. 10 when Swift was scheduled to perform the second of three back-to-back concerts. But that show was rescheduled to Nov. 12 because of bad weather. Swift and Kelce used the unexpected night off to have dinner at a Buenos Aires steakhouse, raising a ruckus when they walked in with Swift’s father. Restaurant patrons applauded and cheered as the new celebrity couple walked past.
‘Karma is the guy on the Chiefs’
An unexpected lyric change sent Swifties all over the world into a frenzy.
The last song Swift performs during her setlist is “Karma,” one of the lead singles from her 2022 album “Midnights.” In the bridge, Swift sings “Karma is the guy on the screen/Coming straight home to me.”
With Kelce in attendance, she made one small change and sang, “Karma is the guy on the Chiefs/Coming straight home to me.”
Kelce could not believe it. Her father, wearing a Chiefs lanyard, gave him a friendly tap on the arm as fans recording his reaction screamed.
After the concert, fans recorded Swift walking backstage and running straight into the arms of Kelce.
Nov. 20: Families almost meet up
The Philadelphia Eagles played the Chiefs on Nov. 20, meaning Travis’ brother Jason Kelce would be in town, which also means their mother and father, Donna and Ed, would also be there to watch their sons play against each other. Jason’s wife, Kylie, was also going to be there.
Swift’s dad, Scott, is an Eagles fan, and their worlds were set to collide on Monday Night Football, according to Entertainment Tonight. Swift’s parents and Kelce’s parents were going to meet each other for the first time during the Super Bowl LVII rematch.
While it was reported to happen, the parents did not meet each other. Swift’s Nov. 18 show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil was postponed after a fan died at her show on Nov. 17.
“I’m writing this from my dressing room in the stadium,” Swift wrote on her Instagram account. “The decision has been made to postpone tonight’s show due to the extreme temperatures in Rio. The safety and well being of my fans, fellow performers, and crew has to and always will come first.”
Wall Street Journal interview
Before the game, the Wall Street Journal released its December-January magazine interview with Kelce, where he opened up on a wide variety of topics, including his relationship with Swift.
The interview revealed that there were people within Swift’s circle who were trying to play matchmaker.
“There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was in her corner (who said): ‘Yo! Did you know he was coming?” Kelce said. “I had someone playing Cupid.”
The interview discussed how they were in contact with each other before they met in person for the first time and how their views on family and work are similar.
“Everybody knows I’m a family guy,” Kelce said. “Her team is her family. Her family does a lot of stuff in terms of the tour, the marketing, being around, so I think she has a lot of those values as well, which is right up my alley.”
“Obviously I’ve never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them … but at the same time I’m not running from any of it,” Kelce said. “The scrutiny she gets, how much she has a magnifying glass on her, every single day, paparazzi outside her house, outside every restaurant she goes to, after every flight she gets off, and she’s just living, enjoying life. When she acts like that I better not be the one acting all strange.”
Kelce made it clear that he was a Swiftie before they started dating and said that his favorite album is “1989.” They also broke out into a duet of “Teenage Dirtbag” by Wheatus around a firepit when Swift visited him in Kansas City.
Dec. 1: It’s a Miracle
It’s holiday pop-up bar season in Kansas City, and Swift and Kelce were spotted at Miracle’s Crossroads location on Dec. 1. The bar hosted a party in a semiprivate back room attended by Chiefs players and significant others, including Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and his wife, Brittany, according to People and E! Online.
A video shows Swift talking to Brittany Mahomes with Kelce standing nearby, his back to the camera. The quarterback’s wife, a co-owner of the KC Current soccer team, is wearing a brown reindeer onesie. Her husband wore one, too, as Brittany showed in photos on her Instagram account. One showed the Mahomeses posing with Chiefs tight end Blake Bell and his wife, Lyndsay Bell, who wore matching Christmas tree onesies.
The bar would not confirm that they were in attendance, but reposted images on Instagram of several national headlines that mentioned the party Swift attended there.
Dec. 3: Visit to Green Bay
There is a first for everything, and the Chiefs’ game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday marked the first time Swift saw the Chiefs lose in person.
Swift was in a suite with Brittany Mahomes and friends at Lambeau Field to support Kelce for the first time since Oct. 22.
Swift’s appearance at Lambeau wasn’t a surprise. Packers coach Matt LeFleur said he’d been told the popular singer was coming to the game. Mahomes joined Swift on her private jet for the flight from Kansas City to Wisconsin, according to The Daily Mail.
Swift wasn’t the only celebrity in attendance for the game. Simone Biles, a multiple-time Olympic gold medalist, was there to support her husband and Packers safety Jonathan Owens.
Dec. 6: Time’s ‘Person of the Year’
Time Magazine named Swift their “Person of the Year” for 2023, and their interview with the pop superstar, they asked about her relationship with Kelce. It was in this interview that Swift revealed that by the time she showed up to the Sept. 24 game, they were already a couple.
“This all started when Travis very adorably put me on blast on his podcast, which I thought was metal as hell,” Swift told Time. “We started hanging out right after that. So we actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew, which I’m grateful for, because we got to get to know each other.
“By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
What’s next?
You can expect to see Swift at future games, according to her interview with Time.
“When you say a relationship is public, that means 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,” Swift 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. And we’re just proud of each other.”
Swift’s next leg of her Eras tour picks up Feb. 7, 2024 in Tokyo, so Kansas City may see plenty more of her around town for the next few months. The Chiefs have five regular season games left, and with playoff game likely, Swift may stick around to watch Kelce and team chase a third Super Bowl since he was drafted in 2013.
“I’m just there to support Travis,” Swift said to Time. “I have no awareness of if I’m being shown too much and pissing off a few dads, Brads, and Chads.”
The Star’s Pete Grathoff and Lisa Gutierrez contributed.
This story was originally published October 12, 2023 at 6:02 PM.
