Travis Kelce’s Dating Life: A Look Back
Once upon a time, there was more buzz around Travis Kelce’s love life than just his connection with Taylor Swift. Back in 2016, the tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs starred in a dating show called “Catching Kelce.” The premise? To find a girlfriend among 50 women, one from each state. It ran for only a single season.
Derrick Johnson, a former teammate and legendary linebacker for the Chiefs, shared his thoughts on how the team reacted to Kelce’s reality TV venture.
“He tried to bring it up in the locker room, but we teased him about it,” Johnson recalled. “Playing for Andy Reid, distractions aren’t really tolerated. You had to stay focused. We knew about the show, but football was always the priority.”
At that time, Kelce had just turned 27, and his dating show debuted during a pivotal NFL season. That year, he achieved his first 1,000 yards receiving and was selected for the Pro Bowl. Although there were light-hearted jabs in the locker room regarding the show, Johnson noted that the older players recognized Kelce’s dating skills.
“He managed his dating life himself. Whether it was good or bad, he didn’t really need guidance there,” Johnson remarked.
The show ultimately ended with Kelce choosing Maya Benbury from Kentucky as his new girlfriend. Yet, by 2017, he had shifted gears and began dating model Kayla Nicole.
Kelce and Nicole’s relationship lasted from 2017 until May 2022. Johnson reflected on Kelce’s later romance with Swift in 2023.
“He kind of transcended the media scene. Taylor’s a big time person,” Johnson asserted. “Both being in the spotlight, they definitely make a powerful couple.”
Though Johnson left the Chiefs to play for the Raiders in 2018, the impact he made during his tenure is still felt, as the team has celebrated multiple Super Bowl victories since then, including five trips to the championship game from 2019 through early 2024.
In Kelce’s early career, Johnson was known as a formidable leader on defense.
“In the beginning, none of us really knew how good he was. It was only after a few years that I thought, ‘Wow, this guy’s the real deal!'” Johnson concluded.
