Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop superstar girlfriend Taylor Swift made headlines at the fifth annual Tight End University in Nashville.
The power couple made their first public red carpet appearance together at the event’s opening night on June 23, creating buzz that continued throughout the three-day summit when videos of their “Love Story” sing-along went viral across social media platforms.
Swift Steals the Show at TEU 2025
Tight End University, the annual gathering of the league’s premier tight ends, was founded by Kelce, San Francisco 49ers star George Kittle, and former Pro Bowl standout Greg Olsen in 2021. Now in its fifth year, the Nashville event transformed from a training summit into a star-studded celebration with Swift’s magnetic presence throughout the three-day affair.
Swift didn’t just attend as a supportive girlfriend. She surprised attendees with a show-stopping performance of her 2014 hit “Shake It Off” alongside country music star Kane Brown at the “Tight Ends & Friends” concert on June 24 at Brooklyn Bowl. The performance marked her first live appearance since concluding her record-breaking Eras Tour in December 2024.
Taylor, Travis and George Kittle singing “Love Story”!!!! pic.twitter.com/juF5sPJqVt
— 🏈👑 | fan acct. (@TayvisHaze) June 27, 2025
However, the moment that truly captured fans’ hearts came when Swift, Kelce, and Kittle were caught on camera belting out her 2008 classic “Love Story” together. In the viral video shared by Kittle on Instagram, the trio sang with infectious enthusiasm, with Kittle filming himself and Swift dancing and singing before panning to show Kelce grinning and joining in the chorus.
From Friendship Bracelet to Love Story
The couple’s romance began when Kelce mentioned on his “New Heights” podcast with brother Jason Kelce that he attended Swift’s Eras Tour concert at Arrowhead Stadium in July 2023.
The tight end had crafted a friendship bracelet – a beloved tradition among “Swifties” – hoping to give Swift his phone number, but never got the opportunity due to her pre-show protocols.
Swift first appeared at Arrowhead Stadium on September 24, 2023, watching the Chiefs defeat the Chicago Bears while sitting alongside Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce.
The appearance launched a media frenzy, though Swift later clarified they had been privately dating before going public. “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date,” she explained in a December 2023 TIME interview.
Swift became a regular fixture at Chiefs games whenever her demanding tour schedule allowed, attending 15 games total and witnessing Kansas City’s journey to three consecutive Super Bowl appearances.
Looking Ahead After Super Bowl Setback
Kelce enters his 13th NFL season coming off a challenging 2024 campaign. The future Hall of Famer posted career-low numbers with 823 receiving yards and three touchdowns, his lowest totals since his rookie year. The Chiefs’ season ended in disappointment with a 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in February 2025, denying Kansas City a historic three-peat.
After initially considering retirement following the Super Bowl defeat, Kelce announced his return for the 2025 season, motivated by the bitter taste of the championship loss. “I got a bad taste in my mouth with how I ended last year,” Kelce said on his podcast. “I can’t go out like that.”
With Swift’s Eras Tour concluded for several months now, the couple can focus on supporting each other’s careers without the demanding travel schedule that previously limited their time together.
For Kelce, that means pursuing one final Super Bowl run alongside quarterback Patrick Mahomes and head coach Andy Reid, aiming to add a fourth championship to his already Hall of Fame-caliber resume.