Travis Kelce revealed that he had ‘somebody playing Cupid’ on his behalf when speaking about his relationship with Taylor Swift.
Details continue to be revealed about the early beginnings of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship.
The pop super star and NFL champ’s relationship has been on display since making their romance public in October 2023.
And the two had an incredible week at the top of their games in February 2024, with Swift breaking the record for most album of the year Grammys shortly before jetting to her Eras Tour dates in Tokyo — then turning right around to watch Kelce win the Super Bowl (and congratulate him with a kiss on the field) one week later.
The pair have surely proved that their commitment to supporting each other amid their respectively busy work schedules. But who linked Swift and Kelce in the first place?
In a candid interview for the cover of WSJ Magazine’s December/January issue, the NFL superstar shared how his romance with the singer came to be after he attended her Eras Tour in July.
During a previous episode of his New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce podcast, Kelce revealed that he had planned to give Swift his digits via friendship bracelet when she performed at Arrowhead Stadium, but didn’t get the opportunity to do so.
Thankfully for Kelce, there was an “invisible string” leading him to Swift: he told WSJ. Magazine he “had somebody playing Cupid” on his behalf.
Swift, too, gave further insight into the early days of their courtship when she was named Time’s 2023 Person of the Year — and Kelce recently clarified their dating timeline a bit further.
Here’s everything we know about how the couple got together.
Swift and Kelce’s relationship timeline first started in July 2023, when the NFL football star was spotted attending her Eras Tour at Arrowhead Stadium where he plays football for the Kansas City Chiefs. The football star was seen watching the show from his private box as well as trading friendship bracelets with fans inside the venue.
Though Kelce had plans to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it, the two didn’t actually connect after the show. “I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs she sings, so I was a little butthurt that I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her,” Kelce explained on his podcast.
Even though that didn’t work out, Kelce explained in November 2023 that, following his failed attempt to get her his number, he got some help from people close to Swift to get her attention. “There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was, in her corner [who said]: Yo! Did you know he was coming? I had somebody playing Cupid,” Kelce told WSJ. Magazine, adding that he eventually found that out from Swift when she contacted him directly.
Kelce added that a few members of the Swift family even assisted in helping him get her attention. “She’ll probably hate me for saying this, but…when she came to Arrowhead, they gave her the big locker room as a dressing room, and her little cousins were taking pictures…in front of my locker,” he said.
Even though that didn’t work out, Kelce explained in November 2023 that, following his failed attempt to get her his number, he got some help from people close to Swift to get her attention. “There were definitely people she knew that knew who I was, in her corner [who said]: Yo! Did you know he was coming? I had somebody playing Cupid,” Kelce told WSJ. Magazine, adding that he eventually found that out from Swift when she contacted him directly.
Kelce added that a few members of the Swift family even assisted in helping him get her attention. “She’ll probably hate me for saying this, but…when she came to Arrowhead, they gave her the big locker room as a dressing room, and her little cousins were taking pictures…in front of my locker,” he said.
So who exactly was the “Cupid” in Swift and Kelce’s romance? There are several people who could have connected the singer and football star as they have a few mutual friends.
For starters, both Kelce and Swift are chummy with actor Miles Teller. In 2022, Kelce joined Teller and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for golfing practice ahead of the American Century Championship. Meanwhile, Teller previously costarred in Swift’s “I Bet You Think About Me” music video alongside his wife Keleigh Sperry. The couple also attended Swift’s Eras Tour in New Jersey alongside football star Aaron Rodgers in May 2023.
Additionally, one of Swift’s Eras Tour backup dancers has a fun Kansas City Chiefs connection. Kameron Saunders, who has gained a following online for his fun “Bejeweled” dance during the concert, is the brother of football player Khalen Saunders, who played on the Kanas City Chiefs with Kelce from 2019 to 2022.
Another person who could have played matchmaker for Swift and Kelce is NFL broadcaster Erin Andrews. In fact, Andrews previously asked Swift to “please try our friend Travis” during an episode of her podcast in August. “He is fantastic,” Andrews said at the time, adding, “Taylor, I know we’re not the best of friends, we’re not even friends, but I consider you one. Take us up on this. Go on a date with this guy. Do it for America.”
After Swift and Kelce actually got together, Andrews reflected on the podcast moment during Late Night with Seth Meyers, joking that she played a vital role in their romance. “Travis was very open about not getting to meet her. And so we were just being really candid because we love him. We’re good friends of his and we just were like, ‘Taylor, date this guy. I mean, he’s good looking,’“ Andrews told the host. “He’s just such a great, great guy. And so we threw it out there and they got together. Of course, we’re getting all the credit now,” she added.
