Once upon a time, Travis Kelce’s love life captured headlines, even before his connection with Taylor Swift became a topic of conversation.
Back in 2016, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end made a bold attempt to date 50 women from each state, all in search of a girlfriend.
That venture, however, only lasted one season.
Derrick Johnson, a prominent linebacker for the Chiefs and a former teammate of Kelce, shared his insights with Fox News Digital regarding the locker room’s take on the dating show.
“He was always trying to bring it up in the locker room, but we poked fun at him. Playing for Andy Reid, there’s really no room for distractions. You’ve got to keep your focus and perform at a high level. We’d joke about it, sure, but when it came to the game, it was all business,” Johnson explained.
At the time, Kelce was 27, and the show aired alongside the NFL season that year.
He was enjoying a breakout season, racking up his first 1,000-yard reception and making his second Pro Bowl appearance with ten consecutive selections.
Though they teased him, Johnson noted that the veterans on the team respected Kelce’s dating skills. “He managed that part fine—good or bad. That’s really not something he needed help with,” Johnson remarked.
The show, titled “Catching Kelce,” ended with him choosing Maya Benbury from Kentucky as a girlfriend.
However, by 2017, he was spotted with model Kayla Nicole, with whom he shared a five-year relationship until May 2022.
Johnson observed that Kelce began dating Swift in 2023.
“He really overshadowed the media when it comes to Taylor. She’s on another level,” Johnson said. “While Kelce shines on the field, she’s a global phenomenon, making them quite the power couple.”
Johnson wrapped up his tenure with the Chiefs during the 2018 season, following his time with the rival Raiders, but his influence loomed large during the team’s rise to prominence, which included three Super Bowl wins and five trips to the big game from 2019 to February 2024.
He was well-known as a defensive leader early in Kelce’s career.
“At first, none of us really knew who he was, and he might not have known it either. But by his second or third year, it became clear: ‘This guy is the real deal!'” Johnson recalled.
