Travis Kelce laughs off media’s obsession with the ‘Taylor Swift Effect’
There’s no question that Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce plays better when his Grammy-winning pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift attends his games.
The seven-time All-Pro TE found it amusing that so many people enjoyed pointing out on social media the difference in his stats in the games Swift attends and the games she doesn’t.
On the latest episode of the “New Heights” podcast, Kelce’s brother Jason pointed out that his receiving yards more than double with Swift in attendance than the games when he’s “left with his friends and remaining family there.”
“How could I not be aware of this?” Kelce joked. “It’s hard for me to wrap my head around that sentence.”
The numbers don’t lie.
In Sunday’s 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Charges, a game Swift was at, Kelce had 12 receptions, 179 yards and a touchdown — matching his career-high in receptions in a game and totaling the second-most single-game receiving yards of his career.
In the two games Swift did not attend this year, Kelce has averaged seven receptions, 10 targets and 46.5 yards with two touchdowns. In the four games she did attend, Kelce has averaged 8.5 receptions, 9.75 targets and 108 yards per game with two touchdowns.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid also acknowledged the “Swift Effect” during his post-game news conference following the Chargers win.
“When you’re getting [Andy Reid’s] approval and blessings, you know you’re doing something right,” Kelce added.
Kelce has 120 receiving yards or more in each of his last two games. If he accomplishes the feat Sunday against the Denver Broncos — a team he’s totaled 1,414 yards against in 18 appearances, including six 100-yard outings — he would become just the second TE ever to do so in three straight games.
It would also mark just the third time in his career that Kelce had a streak of three or more weeks with more than 100 yards. He also did so in 2020 (Week 8 through Week 11) and 2016 (Week 11 through Week 14).
It's not known if Swift will be in attendance at Empower Field at Mile High in Week 8.
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