When you’re WR1 for the Kansas City Chiefs, you have a little leeway when it comes to personal requests off the field.
So when Travis Kelce started dating Taylor Swift in 2023, he made it clear to the Chiefs front office what was out of bounds regarding the popstar.
Mark Donovan, President of the team, revealed what that conversation with Kelce looked like while appearing on the Up & Adams show, sharing the unique request the 3-time Super Bowl champion made when he went public with his relationship.
“We never showed Taylor on our big board in our stadium, never. It was respectful… We’re not taking advantage of this relationship.”
Chiefs President Mark Donovan on how the team has handled Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship@Chiefs | @MDChiefs | @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/rCzcd5nCvv
— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) December 1, 2025
Both Sides Set Boundaries
Donovan actually told Kelce that their would be no special treatment when it came to his relationship, something that actually worked in the couple’s favor.
“My job, early on in this—and I told Travis this—like, ‘Look. We’re gonna treat you and your relationship with the same respect that we treat any other player and coach’s relationship.’ It’s a relationship,” Donovan told host Kay Adams. “We’re not going to monetize it.”
“All those shots you see of Taylor in the stadium, right? He scores a touchdown, he makes a catch. It goes to Taylor. Especially [during] the first year [of their relationship.] We never showed Taylor on our big boards, in our stadium. It was respectful…We’re not taking advantage of this relationship,” he clarified.
Song Request
But when you’re dating the biggest musician in the world, sometimes the rules don’t apply. So Kelce did have one unique request for games at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I joked with him, early on in the first year, we never played a Taylor Swift song in the stadium, when she’s in the building,” Donovan continued.
“Travis, to his credit, is all about team and he’s all about the guys. And he’s all about being a part of a team. And not being separate. And he said, ‘That separates me. Like, when we’re playing a game, when we’re in that stadium, it’s about us. And I want it to be about us.'”
Donovan also praised Swift, saying she’d “been amazing” to the organization. “It’s been nothing but good. She is a phenomenon. But she is just a special, kind person.”
Swift Boost
Regardless if Swift is being plastered on the jumbotron or shown on television, people know she’s there. And she’s making an impact.
Last year, MarketWatch reported that Swift had brought more than $1 billion to the NFL in both revenue and publicity, citing data from Apex Marketing.
“The ‘Swift Effect’ and the corresponding media exposure continued for the NFL and the Chiefs prior to the start of the 2024 NFL season,” Apex Marketing’s Eric Smallwood told the outlet. “The media blitz continued as the Chiefs kept winning games and were featured on national broadcasts, leading into the playoffs and now the Super Bowl,” he explained.
The Chiefs would ultimately fall short to the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX.
“Taylor was visible at games, and those appearances garnered media attention from sports-media outlets and those entertainment media outlets not normally covering the NFL.”
Swift, now engaged to Kelce, has continued to make appearances at games this year. This is the 3rd NFL season the couple have spent together.
