Who is Travis Kelce: the man who made global social media "explode" when he proposed to Taylor Swift?

Taylor Swift caused a social media "explosion" when she confirmed her engagement to her boyfriend - football star Travis Kelce . She posted the information on Instagram with the humorous status: "Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married".

This is a sweet ending to a love story that began in the summer of 2023. The couple went public with their relationship in October 2023 and have been together since then at many music and sports events. Taylor has been seen in the stands cheering for Travis at Kansas City Chiefs games, while he has been present at Eras Tour concerts many times. Their love is even considered a rare bridge between two "universes" - music and sports - with a strong influence in popular culture.

Who is Travis Kelce - Taylor Swift's future husband?

Travis Michael Kelce was born on October 5, 1989, in Westlake, Ohio, USA. He grew up in a family with a great love for sports: his father, Ed Kelce, who worked in the steel industry, his mother, Donna, a former banker, and his brother, Jason Kelce, who later became an NFL star – all contributed to Travis' passion for football from a young age.

At Cleveland Heights High School, Kelce excelled in three sports: football, basketball and baseball. He excelled as a quarterback as a senior, recording more than 2,500 total yards and 10 touchdown runs and 21 passes, earning him All‑Lake Erie League honors.

Despite being considered a two-star recruit, Kelce accepted a scholarship to the University of Cincinnati, where he joined the Bearcats and went through a rollercoaster ride. After being dismissed in 2010 for a drug violation, he returned in 2012, racking up 45 catches, 722 yards, and eight touchdowns—earning him college football’s Tight End of the Year.

In the 2013 NFL draft, Kelce was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (63rd overall), the same coach Andy Reid who had drafted his brother, Jason Kelce, the year before. Despite suffering an early-season injury that cost him most of his first season, Kelce quickly bounced back in the following seasons.

From there, he began to set a series of records. He is the first tight end to have seven consecutive seasons with 1,000 receiving yards; the record for most receiving yards in a season with 1,416 in 2020; and the fastest tight end to reach 10,000 receiving yards.

By the end of 2024, Kelce will have more than 1,000 catches, more than 12,000 yards, and 77 touchdowns—passing Tony Gonzalez for the franchise all-time record. He also holds the postseason records for most catches, most postseason games with 100+ yards, most postseason touchdowns by a tight end, and most total postseason receiving yards.

Kelce's athletic accomplishments include three Super Bowl rings (LIV, LVII, LVIII), 10 Pro Bowl appearances (2015–2024), four first-team All‑Pro and three second-team All‑Pro selections, and being named to the NFL's 2010s All-Decade Team.

ESPN, TalkSport and some experts even ranked him among the best tight ends in history, ranked 4th—only behind famous names like Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates or Rob Gronkowski.

Kelce’s life off the field is just as colorful and rich. He and his brother Jason co-founded the popular podcast “New Heights,” where they share their NFL, life, pop culture, and behind-the-scenes stories. The podcast quickly became a phenomenon, topping the sports podcast charts in the U.S. and around the world, and winning Sports Podcast of the Year from Sports Illustrated and Best Sports Podcast at the 2025 iHeartRadio Awards.

Kelce has also appeared in many television shows: he hosted "Catching Kelce" (2016), had a cameo in "Moonbase 8", hosted "Saturday Night Live" (2023), and appeared in documentaries, feature films, and even took on a producer role in a few film projects.

Kelce is no slouch in the business and advertising arena either. He has collaborated with a host of major brands including Nike, McDonald's, Pfizer, Bud Light, created "Kelce's Krunch" cereal and the nutrition brand Hilo Nutrition. He owns the fashion brand Tru Kolors, developed Nike x Kelce sneakers and started Kelce Jam - a music and sports festival in Kansas City that attracts tens of thousands of attendees and more than a million online views.

He's also invested in startups and brands like Keto, Casa Azul (tequila), Garage Beer (with his brother), and co-founded the restaurant 1587 Prime with Patrick Mahomes. In 2025, Kelce also launched a fashion collaboration with American Eagle (the Tru Kolors line) and a Prime Video game show called "Are You Smarter than a Celebrity?".

In addition to his talent and fame, Kelce has also worked to spread social values through his Eighty-Seven & Running Foundation, which supports education, housing improvements, and school meals, among other community projects. He has also been a vocal advocate for social justice, having supported the Black Lives Matter movement and publicly calling for respect for the LGBT community in American soccer.

The new power couple of entertainment and sports

Kelce embarked on a remarkable love journey when he publicly dated and officially got engaged to singer Taylor Swift. They met on the podcast "New Heights" and gradually became the nation's "super couple", dubbed "America's royal couple."

Swift's presence has brought millions of new fans to the NFL and the Chiefs — helping to break television viewing, ticket sales and merchandise records.

As of 2025, Kelce is estimated to have a net worth of $70 million, largely from his NFL contract, podcast, branding, and endorsements. He also signed a $100 million deal with Amazon Wondery for "New Heights," benefiting from merchandise sales and several major endorsement deals.

With Taylor Swift's illustrious music career and Travis Kelce's NFL record, the two are expected to become one of the world's most powerful couples. Their wedding promises to attract global attention, not only from fans but also from the media, entertainment and sports world.

From a love story that began with the "red thread" of music and sports, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are writing a new chapter with a sweet engagement ceremony - opening up the prospect of a dream wedding, where the "pop princess" and the "football star" officially become one family.

Taylor Swift officially becomes 'someone else's wife', close-up of 'eye-catching' engagement ring Bảo Yến13:42:11 27/08/2025Following in the footsteps of her close friend Selena Gomez, Taylor Swift has just made the global media explode with the news of her engagement to Travis Kelce. So after 2 years of dating, this couple will soon be living together.