Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has jokingly taken some credit for playing matchmaker between star tight end Travis Kelce and music superstar Taylor Swift.
In a recent interview on the sports talk show The Five Spot, Reid revealed he actually first met Swift years ago through her father when she was very young.
“I knew her from Philadelphia, her dad was a big NFL fan,” Reid said. “So I had met her when she was real young, and her dad.”
Reid was referring to Scott Swift, Taylor’s father who worked as a financial advisor in Philadelphia where Reid coached the Eagles from 1999 to 2012 before joining the Chiefs.
When host Donovan McNabb asked Reid point blank if he was a “Swiftie”, Reid laughed and said “I joked about setting Kelce up, and, you know, I’m just saying!”
While Reid was likely just having fun with the idea he played any real role, he did seem genuinely appreciative of the positive attention Swift has brought to the Chiefs.
“She’s a good girl, she’s into it, we’re glad she’s here,” Reid stated.
Swift’s high-profile romance with Kelce has led to increased interest, ratings and support for Reid’s Chiefs this season. She has been spotted energetically cheering on Kelce from the stands during several recent games.
Meanwhile, sports broadcaster Erin Andrews is also cheekily taking some credit for matchmaking between the music icon and the NFL star player.
During an August episode of her Calm Down podcast with Charissa Thompson, Andrews directly appealed to Swift saying “Please try our friend Travis. He is fantastic!”
Appearing on Late Night With Seth Meyers this week, Andrews joked “We hope to officiate the wedding. We hope to be there when he proposes, all the things.”
Kelce himself appreciatively replied to a video clip of Andrews and Thompson’s podcast moment on Instagram saying “You two are something else!! I owe you big time!!”
How the Swift-Kelce Romance Blossomed
Swift and Kelce first sparked dating rumors in early October when they were spotted getting dinner together in Kansas City after Kelce’s Chiefs game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Since then, the pair’s relationship has quickly heated up with PDA-filled public dates in New York City and Los Angeles over the past couple weeks.
They were even captured dancing together at a star-studded Halloween party hosted by actress Zoey Deutch.
According to sources, Swift appreciates Kelce’s “kindness, drive to succeed, wittiness, patience, maturity and stability.”
While some have questioned whether this is just a short-lived celebrity fling, insiders say the connection seems real. As one source stated, “She is enjoying getting to know Travis, and seeing where things go.”
Boosting Chiefs Fandom
Swift’s high-profile Chiefs fangirling has led to a spike in interest, ratings and support for the team.
TV viewership jumped a staggering 27% for the Chiefs-Raiders game following news of Swift’s initial Kansas City visit.
Likewise, Swift’s Instagram post cheering Kelce after a recent win over the San Francisco 49ers earned nearly 4 million likes within just a few hours.
The romance has introduced Swift’s legion of fans to the NFL and motivated many who’d never previously cared about football to passionately root for the Chiefs.
As coach Reid stated, “We’re glad she’s here” bringing newfound fandom to the franchise.
Overall, the Swift-Kelce pairing has been a public relations dream for Reid and the Chiefs organization. With Swift often seen enthusiastically cheering on Kelce and the team, her star power and influence continues boosting interest in the Chiefs.
Key Takeaways
- Chiefs coach Andy Reid claims he knew Taylor Swift as a child through her NFL-loving father
- Reid jokes he deserves credit for “setting up” Swift and Travis Kelce
- Sports broadcaster Erin Andrews also jokingly takes credit for matchmaking between the stars
- Swift and Kelce’s romance has brought huge attention, ratings boosts and new fans to the Chiefs
- Reid says he appreciates the interest Swift has generated and is “glad she’s here”
- The high-profile relationship has been a PR dream for raising the Chiefs’ profile this season
So while Reid and Andrews are clearly just having fun with the tongue-in-cheek matchmaking claims, Swift’s Chiefs super-fandom has delivered real benefits to the franchise. Her headline-grabbing romance with Kelce has shined an even bigger spotlight on the organization.
