After the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 31-17, coach Andy Reid complimented many of his coaches and players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce, receiver Mecole Hardman and defensive coach Steve Spanguolo.
The Kansas City Chiefs might not get a visit from Taylor Swift in the near future given the schedule challenges that will prevent her from seeing Travis Kelce in person, but the pop star has an open invite from Chiefs head coach Andy Reid.
Kelce finished with 12 catches and a season-high 179 yards in a 31-17 win over the Chargers on Sunday afternoon, as Swift celebrated in a luxury box with Patrick Mahomes’ wife Brittany Mahomes.
Afterward, Reid praised Kelce, but first, he had to acknowledge the obvious.
“Taylor can stay around all she wants,” Reid said, as the reporters in the room chuckled.
Kelce finished with a touchdown, and Mahomes completed 12 of his 13 targets to the star tight end. Sunday was Kelce’s biggest game in terms of yardage since December 16, 2021 when he recorded 191 yards (also against the Chargers).
At age 34, Kelce is playing some of the best football of his career, and his teammates and coaches appreciate his timing.
“It’s quite a tribute to the coaches, and then for those two [Kelce and Mahomes], going out there and executing like they do. [Kelce] might be getting better with age,” Reid said, before addressing the reporter with a chuckle. “You and I can’t say that, Adam.”
Mahomes, meanwhile, said the key to Kelce’s success is his ability to recognize coverage and adjust on the fly.
“It’s something that you can’t take for granted,” Mahomes said. “It’s almost like he’s playing Madden. He can read the coverage and stop in the windows and be open and be on the same page as me at all times.
“He did a great job, man. He does it week in and week out, and that’s why he’s the player he is, and why he’ll be a Hall of Famer one day.”
As for Swift, her presence at the game (predictably) made an enormous splash. While walking through the stadium, she stopped briefly to take a photo with a few kids in Chiefs jerseys (apparently, someone named “Emma” missed out on the photo of a lifetime), and Swift’s celebration with Brittany Mahomes after Kelce fell backward into the end zone for a touchdown went viral instantly.
After the game, a fan yelled “Let’s go Taylor’s boyfriend!” at Kelce, who raised his arm in acknowledgment, which is sure to raise eyebrows among Swift’s rabid fanbase.
If Kelce keeps playing like he did on Sunday with Swift in attendance, a fair number of Chiefs fans might join that rabid fanbase.
