Travis Kelce Then and Now: From NFL Rookie to Super Bowl champ and Taylor Swift's love interest

By Poulami Sengupta
Published on : 04:54 PST, Feb 10, 2024

From Kansas City Chiefs tight end to Taylor Swift's boyfriend (Getty Images)

Travis Kelce's transformation: From NFL Rookie to Super Bowl champ and Taylor Swift's love interest

From a rookie to Taylor Swift's boyfriend (Getty Images and Gotham/GC Images)

Also Read: 8 revelations Sophie Turner made about failed marriage with Joe Jonas: From 'hero' Taylor Swift to mom-guilt

Travis Kelce has lived his life to the fullest after debuting as a college football player with the Cincinnati Bearcats in 2008. After joining the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, he won Super Bowl twice with the team. In 2023, he went into a relationship with Taylor Swift.

2012

Travis Kelce #18 of the Cincinnati Bearcats reacts after scoring the game winning touchdown against the Duke Blue Devils during their game at Bank of America Stadium on December 27, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

Travis Kelce played college football with the Cincinnati Bearcats from 2008 to 2012. In 2013, he was named College Football Performance Awards Tight End of the Year for 2012.

Also Read: Taylor Swift news diary: Sophie Turner calls singer 'absolute hero' for helping her after Joe Jonas split

2014

Also Read: 'She wrote the schedule': Fans float conspiracy theory as Taylor Swift concert coincides with Chiefs game

Travis Kelce got drafted to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2013 NFL Draft and has been playing withh the team ever since. Kelce recorded his first NFL touchdown on a 20-yard in 2014.

2015

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs walks off the field after pregame warm ups prior to playing the Oakland Raiders in an NFL football game at O.co Coliseum on December 6, 2015 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Travis Kelce's rise to the greatness started in 2015 when he was ranked 91st by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016. He was also ranked fourth in the overall ranking of Tight Ends by ESPN for the 2015 season.

2016

Kelce signed a five-year contract extension for $46 million with the Chiefs in January 2016. In 2016, he also came up with his dating reality show 'Catching Kelce'.

2018

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during pregame warm ups prior to an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

After a successful season in 2018, Kelce was named at the 2018 Pro Bowl and was named first-team All-Pro.

2019

Tight end Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs smiles on the field before a game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on October 17, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)

Kelce continued with his super run in 2019 as well when he became the first tight end in NFL history to record four consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards. He was also mentioned in his fifth Pro Bowl for his 2019 season. He was named 18th by fellow players at the NFL Top 100 Players of 2020 list.

2020

MIAMI, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 02: Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with the Vince L — Travis Kelce won his first Super Bowl in 2020 (Getty Images)

Travis Kelce lifted his first Super Bowl with Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 after they defeated San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl LIV. In 2021, he was ranked fifth at the NFL Top 100 Players of 2021.

2022

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs chats and girlfriend Kayla Nicole chat with Russell Wilson and Ciara at the NFL Honors show at the YouTube Theater on February 10, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) — Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs and girlfriend Kayla Nicole chat with Russell Wilson and Ciara at the NFL Honors show at the YouTube Theater on February 10, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)

The 2022 season culminated into the win of his second Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs. In 2022, Kelce also suffered a break up with his social media influencer girlfriend Kayla Nicole - who he was dating since 2017.

2023 - February

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 06: Mother Donna Kelce (C) gives cookies to her son's Jason Kelce (L) #6 — Mother Donna Kelce (C) with Jason Kelce (L) and Travis Kelce (R) (Getty Images)

In February, Kelce's KC Chiefs defeated his elder brother Jason Kelce's team Philadelphia Eagles in the Super Bowl LVII. He was ranked fifth in the list of NFL Top 100 Players of 2023.

2023 - September

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs on September 24, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jason Hanna/Getty Images)

On September 24, 2023, Taylor Swift attended her first match in support of the Kansas City Chiefs to support her tight end boyfriend. While the duo did not confirm their romance during that time, fans speculated that the 14-time-Grammy winning superstar and Kelce was a couple.

2024

Travis Kelce #87 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates with Taylor Swift after a 17-10 victory against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

Travis Kelce started the 2024 with a bang as the Chiefs won the AFC Championship by defeating the Baltimore Ravens on January 28, 2024. The best part? Taylor Swift was pictured celebrating the win with Travis Kelce. He is now scheduled to play the Super Bowl LVIII on February 11.