Travis Kelce's Subtle Gesture to Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift fans are convinced a smile Travis Kelce threw to the camera during an interview was meant as a message to his girlfriend.

Last September, the NFL player went public with their romance, and ever since their fans have analyzed the couple's every move.

Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, spoke to the newly recruited running back for the Philadelphia Eagles, Saquon Barkley, in Wednesday's episode of Kelce's New Heights podcast. Barkley spoke about his dreams to one day star in a boxing film and other aspirations he's had.

travis kelce and taylor swift hugging
Travis Kelce celebrates with Taylor Swift after the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship Game on January 28. Fans have analyzed the couple's every move since their romance went public. Patrick Smith/Getty Images

"I'm big on speaking things into existence," Barkley began. Kelce agreed, saying, "Oh yeah, you got to" and turned to smile at the camera.

Swifties, as the pop star's fans are known, were convinced this was a gesture to Swift and how hard he worked to woo her.

"I love it. He never [lets] an opportunity slip to acknowledge her," said a post on the fan account @swiftiecorners on X (formerly Twitter).

And @AllinderLi81282 added: "Travis Kelce smirked as @saquon talked about making things happen! Like "like I did it too." This man is badass and I love it!!"

One account, @DaOtterside, even made a video montage of supposed evidence proving Kelce had long been "manifesting" his relationship with Swift, as her song "Mastermind" played. The lyrics say: "And now you're mine / It was all by design."

"Travis Kelce's knowing look when Saquon Barkley talks about manifesting things into existence... This edit elucidates what a Mastermind Trav has been while courting Taylor Swift. Enjoy," the caption read.

Some of the cuts in the video included photos of Swift posing with celebrities, which Kelce later posed with, and also how the Chiefs tight end attended her Eras tour in the hopes of meeting her.

Even Kelce's brother, retired Philadelphia Eagles player Jason Kelce, seemed to joke about his efforts to woo Swift. The brothers co-host the New Heights podcast.

Jason chimed in after Kelce's smile to the camera on Wednesday's episode to say, "You just throw it out there...stuff happens when it goes out on New Heights. Speak it into existence."

Jason was likely referring to the fact that his brother caught Swift's attention when he spoke about trying to meet her at her Eras concert in Kansas City last July.

"I was disappointed that she doesn't talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings," Travis Kelce said on their podcast at the time. "So I was a little butt-hurt I didn't get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her."

He continued: "If you're up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it."

Swift said they met up shortly after those comments because she thought "it was so metal" that he talked about her on his podcast.

Uncommon Knowledge

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About the writer


Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more

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