NYT: Travis Kelce only had relative fame before he started seeing Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s weeks-long relationship is now being covered by the paper of record, the New York Times. Instead of going to a Nazi diner in Ohio to see what Trump supporters think of the Swift-Kelce alliance, the Times took a different tack: “Travis Kelce Was a Star. Taylor Swift Put Him in Another Orbit.” It’s true! The football guys don’t want to admit it, but it’s true. Travis Kelce was a huge NFL star and every football fan in America knew his name. But “dating Taylor Swift” has him in a completely different level of global stardom.
Despite Kelce’s relative fame in the sports world, becoming part of the frenzied conversation around Swift’s every move is another ballgame. Kelce now has 3.2 million followers on Instagram. Swift has 273 million.
“This puts him on a completely different plane from where he was as a celebrity,” said Daniel Durbin, a professor of communication at the University of Southern California. “This is celebrity on steroids, and it has a powerful impact.”
That Kelce and Swift were in the same stadium this weekend brought together two fandoms that don’t often overlap. A spokesman for Fanatics, the N.F.L.’s official retailer, said that sales of Kelce’s jersey had spiked by 400 percent as of Monday.
Coaches and players from across the N.F.L. also took notice. Bill Belichick, the Patriots coach known for gruff answers to reporters’ questions, said on a radio show that “Travis Kelce’s had a lot of big catches in his career — this would be the biggest.” The star Cowboys defender Micah Parsons posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that one woman “can change your life!!!”
That Instagram follower count is telling – while a football player having 3.2 million followers is HUGE, it really is nothing compared to Taylor’s cultural ubiquity. Not only did the Kelce jersey sell out – Swifties wanted to own the exact one Taylor wore to the game – the Chiefs game also had huge TV ratings, with 24.3 million tuning in, especially once Fox put the camera on Taylor.
Meanwhile, Taylor didn’t leave Kansas City until Tuesday – she was spotted boarding one of her private planes at Kansas City International Airport, with her security people in tow. So… she spent a few nights in Kansas City. I wonder what she and Travis did on Monday.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid, Cover Images.
HOLLYWOOD, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – JULY 11: American football tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League Travis Kelce arrives at the Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Quarterback’ Season 1 held at the Netflix Tudum Theater on July 11, 2023 in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 788661092, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Travis Kelce, Credit line: Xavier Collin / Image Press Agency / Avalon 
New York City, NY – Travis Kelce arrives at the SNL dinner at Lattanzi in New York City Pictured: Travis Kelce BACKGRID USA 28 FEBRUARY 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: BlayzenPhotos / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* 
New York, NY – Pop star Taylor Swift arrives in a denim mini dress at The Ned NoMad MTV VMAs after party in New York City. Pictured: Taylor Swift BACKGRID USA 12 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
New York, NY – Pop star Taylor Swift arrives in a denim mini dress at The Ned NoMad MTV VMAs after party in New York City. Pictured: Taylor Swift BACKGRID USA 12 SEPTEMBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* 
New York, NY – Taylor Swift and Sophie Turner were spotted leaving the luxurious Barrière Fouquet Hotel in New York City after enjoying dinner together. Pictured: Taylor Swift BACKGRID USA 22 SEPTEMBER 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: TatianaK / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication* 
Kansas City, KS – Pop star Taylor Swift is spotted on TV cheering for her rumored new boyfriend Travis Kelce at the Kansas City Chiefs vs Chicago Bears game in Kansas City. Pictured: Taylor Swift BACKGRID USA 25 SEPTEMBER 2023 BYLINE MUST READ: MACE / BACKGRID USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 held at the Prudential Centre in Newark. Featuring: Taylor Swift Where: New Jersey, United States When: 12 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY** 
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 held at the Prudential Centre in Newark. Featuring: Taylor Swift Where: New Jersey, United States When: 12 Sep 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY** 
MTV Video Music Awards 2023 held at the Prudential Centre in Newark. Featuring: Taylor Swift Where: Newark, New Jersey, United States When: 12 Sep 2023 Credit: Abaca Press/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWtnbH5ze82yq5isopbDqr%2B%2BpJylm5WUvK%2B42JifmpyPp7KtrdOirZ6Xlpa6pqvBnp2oqpWUtaar0q2Yq6yVmay0scSipaCXpJbGrbvRmKqwoZapfA%3D%3D