TIME OUT!
TAYLOR SWIFT AND BOYFRIEND TRAVIS KELCE’S
FUTURE SHIFTS AS HE ANNOUNCES HE’S BACK IN THE GAME.
TRAVIS KELCE refuses to go out on a low note. After breaking the news that he’s not retiring following the Kansas City Chiefs’ disastrous Super Bowl LIX performance, the tight end elaborated on his decision on the March 5 episode of his New Heights cast, telling brother Jason Kelce that the big loss left a “bad taste” in his mouth and that he believes he can play “at a higher level” than he did last season. “The biggest thing,” he added, “is that I f**king love playing the game of football.”
While his fans were thrilled to hear he’s not calling it quits, it wouldn’t be surprising if his girlfriend of nearly two years, Taylor Swift , weren’t feeling quite so celebratory. Swifties have been certain that the 35-yearold “Fortnight” singer had been counting on Travis, also 35, to hang up his football jersey so they could move on to their next chapter. (In early December, she triumphantly ended her 152-date Eras Tour.) “The idea was Travis would win the Super Bowl and go out in a blaze of glory, so they’d have more time to be together and could plan a wedding “He wants to play next and a baby,” says the season and win this time,” source. “Fans want says a source of Travis. them to start a family — the sooner the better.”
FIGHTING SPIRIT
“He wants to play next season and win this time,” says a source of Travis.
FEELING SLIGHTED
If there’s anyone able to understand Travis’ competitive spirit, it’s Taylor. The music powerhouse has sold more than 114 million albums worldwide, and her Eras Tour was the first to gross $1 billion. “It’s understandable he doesn’t want to go out with a loss,” says the source. In a text message to Pat McAfee that the ESPN host shared on his talk show Feb. 27, the NFL star said he’s determined to return to the field stronger than ever. “I’m coming back for sure,” read the message. “Gonna try and get to the best shape I’ve been this offseason and get back to the mountaintop.”
Still, some fret his drive is causing tension for the couple, who reportedly enjoyed a private romantic vacation abroad after the Super Bowl and were spotted on a recent date night in an undisclosed city (they’re splitting their time between Travis’ $6 million Kansas City mansion and Taylor’s $18 million NYC townhouse). Says the source, “It wouldn’t be surprising if Taylor’s ego was bruised that he chose his career over her.”
Fans believe the 14-time Grammy winner has a very specific timeline in mind when it comes to getting married and starting a family. “Taylor has her future planned out to a tee,” says the source, noting that some speculate she wouldn’t want to get pregnant while Travis is playing. “He’ll be so busy training, and then when football season kicks off, he’ll be focused on the game and winning,” explains the source. Fellow football wives Brittany Mahomes (who has three kids with Travis’ longtime teammate Patrick ) and Jason’s wife, Kylie (now pregnant with her fourth daughter after welcoming their first three children before Jason retired from the Philadelphia Eagles last March), are proof that growing a family doesn’t have to wait until after a dad hangs up his cleats — but the source opines Taylor would prefer to wait. Once pregnant, says the source, “it seems likely she’d want Travis’ total undivided attention.”
MAYBE BABY
A source says the feeling is Taylor is willing to wait to start a family “until it’s perfect timing.”
CLOCK TICKING
It’s near-certain this will be Travis’ last season as he faces the toll playing football takes on his body. The weeks of will he/won’t he following the Super Bowl loss made many recall another gridiron great who had trouble saying goodbye to the game. Yes, the situation has drawn some comparisons to the travails of Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady and his ex-wife, Gisele Bündchen. The GOAT famously un-retired in 2022, and a fedup Gisele filed for divorce later that year. The source says Taylor and Travis would laugh such analogies off. “It’s comparing apples to oranges.”
Shifting gears, Taylor will surely make the most of Travis’ upcoming season, says the source. She’ll be there on game day, buddying up to Trav’s family and the other wives and girlfriends of Chiefs players. “She’s looking forward to being the best WAG that ever was!”