At football games, Travis Kelce rules the field. But at Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour shows, he’s happy just be part of the sideline crew, according to Andy Reid.
In an interview with The Athletic‘s Scoop City podcast posted Tuesday (July 16), the Kansas City Chiefs coach opened up about his star player spending a good chunk of the offseason traveling the world with his superstar girlfriend. “I think there’s a great escape for him,” Reid told hosts Dianna Russini and Chase Daniel of the Eras shows Kelce has frequently attended this summer.
“I said that about Taylor, too,” he continued. “I mean, she comes to the game, she can kind of escape having to be the show. Travis can do that when he goes to her concerts — she’s the star, and he can be hanging out there and be the support or the waterboy.”
Of the increase in public attention Kelce has faced since he started dating Swift last year, Reid said, “I think it’s great for him.”
“He can handle it,” the coach continued. “As a matter of fact, I think he probably loves it to a point … It depends on the people involved. She gets all that. He’s kind of grown into it.”
Reid has only had kind things to say about the “Anti-Hero” singer since her romance with the offensive lineman took over the NFL during the 2023-24 season, all the way up through the Super Bowl, which the Chiefs won with Swift cheering them on in a box suite at Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium. In January, he called the musician a “good girl” on Let’s Go With Tom Brady, Larry Fitzgerald and Jim Gray and added, “I’m happy for Trav.”
Kelce’s appearances at the Eras Tour — and hopes of another onstage cameo — may start to decrease as the Chiefs get ready to start training camp later this month. Kelce and teammate Patrick Mahomes recently spent one of their last free weekends at Swift’s concert in Amsterdam, after which the players had a double date with the 14-time Grammy winner and Brittany Mahomes, who is married to the quarterback.
Swift has since taken her Eras showcase to Zürich and, most recently, Milan. She’ll next set up shop in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, for three concerts at Veltins-Arena July 17-19.
“WOW. MILAN,” Swift wrote on Instagram following her tenure in Italy. “Those were truly 2 of my favorite crowds ever. The passion and generosity you showed us… it was a dream come true to perform for you … We’ll be back!! 🇮🇹 🫶”