ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The NFL may be on a hiatus during late June, but for Kansas City Chiefs general manager Brett Veach, the offseason was anything but quiet. While on a family vacation, Veach found his phone buzzing incessantly with text messages, prompting a flurry of questions to race through his mind.
Did something happen in the NFL? Did someone from the Chiefs organization need his immediate attention? Was one of the players in trouble?
When Veach finally took a moment to check the messages flooding his phone, he was met with the unexpected news that Travis Kelce, the star tight end for the Chiefs, was on stage with none other than Taylor Swift.
“It’s funny because when you see those clips of him on tour with Taylor, it looks like he’s been a part of that show for months. But it was just that one day, and he looks so natural up there. It’s a gift he has,” Veach remarked.
For Kelce, those few minutes on stage with the world-renowned pop artist proved to be the highlight of an already epic summer, one that stood out as a memorable offseason in his 12-year career with the Chiefs.
Dressed in a black tuxedo and top hat, Kelce charmed the audience with his infectious smile, executed a flawless heel click, and even carried Swift, who pretended to be asleep, to a red couch. The seamless transition between songs, leading up to “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart” from Swift’s latest album, “The Tortured Poets Department,” featured Kelce and two dancers waking her up to help change into a new costume before their performance.
“That moment was pretty jarring. I was just like, ‘Oh s—!’ You don’t realize how big that damn stage is. I didn’t disappoint Taylor. That’s all that really matters,” Kelce recalled.
This offseason showcased Kelce’s determination to maintain a prominent role in American pop culture, possibly solidifying his status as a celebrity long into his post-football career, even after he secures a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. From one event to the next, Kelce galavanted around, taking on part-time TV gigs and serving as a positive, uplifting presence at various stops on Swift’s global “Eras Tour.”
The sights and sounds of Kelce’s eventful summer have undoubtedly left a mark on those who witnessed his foray into the world of pop music and entertainment, proving that his star shines bright both on and off the football field.
