Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship timeline: How NFL games shaped superstar couple

The romance that has dominated the sports and entertainment headlines for more than a year now began at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. Star tight end Travis Kelce attended a Taylor Swift concert at Arrowhead Stadium in July 2023. He later revealed to his older brother, Jason Kelce, on their "New Heights" podcast that he came armed with a personalized friendship bracelet with his phone number that he hoped to give to Swift.

Kelce never was able to give her the bracelet, but he eventually got to meet Swift once his plans to woo her at the concert went public. After weeks of rumors, Swift showed up in Kelce's Arrowhead Stadium suite for the Chiefs game against the Chicago Bears last September and their relationship became part of the national and international conversation, including whether Swift was being shown on television too much during Kansas City games.

Swift and Kelce are still dating as the 2024 NFL season begins with the Chiefs hosting the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of the AFC Championship game on Thursday night. Some Swifties are hoping for a proposal soon. But football is likely to remain a featured setting in which to get a glimpse of the future Hall of Fame tight end and his superstar girlfriend.

Here's a timeline of their relationship and how the NFL is inextricably linked with perhaps the most famous couple on the planet at the moment:

WHAT WE KNOW: Will Taylor Swift attend the Chiefs game Thursday against the Ravens?

Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship timeline

• July 8, 2023: Travis Kelce attended Taylor Swift's second concert at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri

• Sept. 24, 2023: Taylor Swift accepted an invitation from Kelce, made public during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," and attended the Chiefs' 41-10 win over the Chicago Bears in Kansas City, Missouri. She sat with Kelce's mother, Donna, in a suite wearing a red-and-white Chiefs jacket. Kelce had a touchdown catch in the game and was later spotted leaving Arrowhead Stadium with Swift. Kelce reportedly rented out Prime Social Rooftop, a restaurant in Kansas City, for Swift, his family and teammates that night.

• Oct. 1, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 23-20 road win over New York Jets and came to MetLife Stadium accompanied by fellow celebrities and friends Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman, Sophie Turner and Sabrina Carpenter. Kelce, who had seven catches for 69 yards in the game, was pictured leaving Swift's New York City apartment prior to facing the Jets.

• Oct. 12, 2023: Swift returned to an Arrowhead Stadium suite one day after the Los Angeles premiere of her "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" film when the Chiefs beat the Denver Broncos in a Thursday night game. Kelce had a game-high nine receptions for 124 yards.

• Oct. 14, 2023: Swift and Kelce appeared on the season premiere of NBC's "Saturday Night Live." Swift introduced musical performer Ice Spice. Kelce was in a skit poking fun at all the coverage his relationship with Swift had generated in the NFL.

• Oct. 22, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 31-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers at Arrowhead Stadium with Kelce's parents and Brittany Mahomes, the wife of Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Swift wore a No. 87 bracelet during the game.

• Oct. 30, 2023: The Denver Broncos played Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" over the loudspeakers after beating the Kansas City Chiefs, 24-9, in Denver. Swift was not at the game.

• Nov. 3, 2023: Kelce was asked if he's in love with Swift during a news conference in Germany ahead of the Chiefs' 21-14 win over the Miami Dolphins. “I’m going to keep my personal relationship personal,” Kelce said.

• Nov. 11, 2023: Kelce attended Swift's concert in Buenos Aires, Argentina during the Chiefs' bye week. During the show, Swift switched the lyrics to her hit 2022 song, "Karma," to "Karma is the guy on the Chiefs, coming straight home to me."

• Dec. 3, 2023: Swift attended her first Chiefs' loss ‒ a 27-19 setback at Green Bay on Monday Night Football – and sat in a Lambeau Field suite with Brittany Mahomes.

• Dec. 6, 2023: Swift, in an interview with Time when she was named Person of the Year, commented on her relationship with Kelce for the first time. Swift revealed that she and Kelce started "dating" and "hanging out" soon after the concert Kelce attended in July and well before she came to the Bears game in September.

• Dec. 10, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 20-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Arrowhead Stadium.

• Dec. 17, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 27-17 road win over the New England Patriots along with her father and friends Alaina Haim and Ashley Avignone.

• Dec. 25, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 20-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders at Arrowhead Stadium with her parents and brother while wearing a Santa hat with No. 87 embroidered. Her brother dressed up as Santa Claus and Kelce later revealed on his podcast that Austin Swift gifted him a VHS copy of "Little Giants," his favorite football movie.

• Dec. 31, 2023: Swift attended the Chiefs' 25-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals before spending New Year's Eve in Kansas City with Kelce.

• Jan. 13, 2024: Swift attended the Chiefs' AFC Wild Card round playoff win over the Miami Dolphins wearing a jacket emblazoned with Kelce's No. 87 to combat temperatures that dipped below 0 degrees at kickoff.

• Jan. 21, 2024: Swift attended the Chiefs' AFC Divisional round win on the road against the Buffalo Bills along with Jason and Kylie Kelce. Jason Kelce was shown shirtless chugging a beer in their suite at Highmark Stadium. Travis Kelce, meanwhile, made a heart gesture with his hands towards Swift's suite when he caught a touchdown pass.

• Jan. 28, 2024: Swift attended the Chiefs' AFC Championship Game win on the road against the Baltimore Ravens and appeared on field with Kelce for the first time. Swift came down from her suite for the on-field celebration after the Chiefs secured a spot in the Super Bowl along with Kelce's parents. She even had a moment with Chiefs coach Andy Reid.

• Feb. 11, 2024: Swift attended the Chiefs' win over the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas one day after performing in Tokyo. During the game, Swift was shown on the Allegiant Stadium videoboard with Blake Lively and chugged her drink. After the game, she and Kelce embraced on the field in a moment caught by NFL cameras. "Thank you for coming, baby," Kelce said, as Swift said, "Oh, I cannot believe that." Kelce and Swift later celebrated together by singing and dancing to Swift's music at a Las Vegas nightclub.

• June 13, 2024: Swift was spotted watching Chariah Gordon's Instagram Live of the Chiefs' Super Bowl ring ceremony while on her Eras Tour stop in Liverpool, England. Gordon is the fiancée of Kansas City wide receiver Mecole Hardman.

• June 22, 2024: Kelce appeared in an Instagram post by Swift featuring a selfie with Prince William and his children after an Eras Tour show at Wembley Stadium in London.

• June 23, 2024: Kelce joins Swift on stage at Wembley Stadium for a cameo in her show.

• Aug. 24, 2024: Swift and Kelce were spotted together at her Rhode Island mansion for a weekend getaway during a break after the final Chiefs preseason game that also included Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, Jason and Kylie Kelce, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively, Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid and Channing Tatum and Zoe Kravitz.

• Sept. 4, 2024: Kelce, during an appearance on "The Rich Eisen Show," confirmed a rumor sparked by Patrick Mahomes that Swift has started drawing up plays. “She is a little biased and just creates plays for me," Kelce said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce relationship timeline and the NFL, explained