Taylor Swift was secretly attending Kansas City Chiefs games before anyone knew, according to the team’s coach.
Swift, 34, immediately made headlines when she first appeared in the team’s skybox last fall to cheer on her boyfriend Travis Kelce as their relationship blossomed.
The “Cruel Summer” singer was first spotted on camera at the Chiefs’ home game against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 24 during Week 3 of the season.
But Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt says in a new interview that she’s been appearing in the crowd at Chiefs games before that.
“When she started coming, it was private. She was coming to stadiums without people knowing until the camera put a big spotlight on it, Merritt said on “The Sports Shop with Reese and K-Mac” podcast, which aired last Friday.
Timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship
Rapper Ice Spice, singer Taylor Swift and actress Blake Lively react before Super Bowl LVIII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Merritt talked about meeting Swift for the first time and said he believes the pop singer’s presence in Kansas City has helped the team throughout the season.
“When I met her, I felt like she really added to what we were trying to do,” Merritt said. “Because there were so many people who hated the fact that it was on TV. [We were like], you know what? You’re part of our family because you’re with Travis, so you’re our little sister. You are part of our family.”
Merritt continued, “She’s actually been a positive influence on the team. It was not a negative way. Everyone was excited that Travis was happy. So when my player, my brother, is happy next to me it helps me and it encourages me. Travis came in as a different man.”
Travis Kelce is supporting Taylor Swift at her first Eras tour show in Sydney — and he’s wearing friendship bracelets!
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
Team Nwachukwu/Getty
Kelce, also 34, has been the talk of the NFL all season because of his play on the field and his connection off it at a high position.
Rumors of their budding romance started floating around the internet early in the season after Kelce made a joke about him New heights podcast that he tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it when she had her Eras Tour concert in Kansas City last July.
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Swift confirmed in an interview with Time Magazine at the end of last year that “immediately after that we started hanging out.” The “Love Story” singer also indicated at the time that she and Kelce had been seeing each other privately before she began sitting in the team’s skybox last September alongside Kelce’s family and friends.
“We actually had a significant amount of time that no one knew about, which I’m grateful for, because we got to know each other,” Swift said.
Taylor Swift Will Be Supported by Travis Kelce on Tour, Source Says: ‘He’s Excited to Appear’ (Exclusive)
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.
Ezra Shaw/Getty
Swift went on to appear at many Chiefs games throughout the season, and the team would eventually win their second consecutive Super Bowl with the support of the pop star there.
Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift dance to ‘Love Story’ (and share a kiss!) at the 2024 Super Bowl afterparty.
An insider told PEOPLE earlier this month that Kelce and Swift are now “making plans for the summer and are excited to travel together in Europe when Taylor goes on tour there.”
Kelce flew to Australia last week to meet Swift and see her perform in Sydney, picking up more friendship bracelets and connecting their story to the beginning.
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Source: HIS Education