Ed Kelce has become one of his soon-to-be daughter-in-law Taylor Swift‘s most enthusiastic public supporters ever since she started dating his son Travis Kelce in 2023.
From calling her “the girl next door” to sharing intimate details about the couple’s peony-filled backyard proposal, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s dad has offered a steady stream of insight into the pop superstar’s personality — and their growing bond.
Scroll below for Ed’s most honest comments about Swift:
Ed Kelce’s 1st Impression of Taylor Swift
Ed first met Swift at Travis’ Kansas City home before one of his Chiefs’ games in fall 2023. Recounting the moment on Audacy’s 92.3 The Fan in January 2024, Ed admittedly didn’t immediately recognize Swift.
“Taylor walks [into Travis’ house] with a security guy, and I look at her, and I say [to my girlfriend], ‘Oh my God, I know this kid, but I don’t know what her name is. Jeez, you know, like a real idiot,'” Ed told the outlet. “And [my girlfriend] says, ‘You don’t know her? This is Taylor Swift, you idiot.'”
The pair later cheered on Travis from a private suite at Arrowhead Stadium, and watching Swift made a lasting impression.
“She gets up to go get a drink or something and she starts picking up empty bottles, cans, plates that are scattered around,” Ed told People in October 2023. “And I’m just thinking, I don’t think she got the diva memo. She didn’t get the spoiled musician. She doesn’t know how to pull that off. And that really, to me, said a whole lot.”
‘A Wonderful Couple’
Ed told Entertainment Tonight in October 2023 that he considered his son and Swift “a wonderful couple.”
“They’re two wonderful people and they are enjoying each other’s company and supporting each other,” he gushed. “I think they are two very, very driven professional individuals. I think they’re very supportive of each other, which is key. This is a rough time for either one of them to have a relationship.”
Ed Kelce Bought Taylor Swift’s Albums Twice
Ed told Entertainment Tonight in October 2023 that “You Belong With Me” is his favorite Swift song — though he accidentally purchased the original 2008 version rather than the “Taylor’s Version.” To correct his faux pas, he bought the albums for a second time with the “Taylor’s Version” designation.
He’s also embraced the newfound attention of Swift seeing his son, telling the outlet,. “More people recognize us since he started dating Taylor. I’ll be [in] the grocery store, somebody will smile and say, ‘Hey!’ Come over and say [hi], and I have no idea who they are.
Taylor Swift’s Football Knowledge Impresses Ed Kelce
By February 2025, Ed had noticed how much Swift’s football IQ had grown since her romance with Travis began, telling Australia’s Today show that she now watches games with her dad regularly.
“We’re sitting in the game and the Chiefs were in the red zone. And they had… to go for a field goal. And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘I hate field goals.’ And Taylor comes back and says, ‘I’ll take the points,'” Ed recalled. “And I’m thinking, ‘look at you… a year ago you didn’t know a field goal from an extra point, and now you’re doing all this football talk.'”
He added, “She’s just a joy to be around.”
Ed Kelce Calls Taylor Swift ‘Gracious’
Ahead of Super Bowl LVIII, Ed told the Los Angeles Times in February 2024 that Swift handles the crush of attention with grace.
“Every game there’s people crowding outside the front of that suite trying to get a glimpse of Taylor, wanting to meet Taylor. Taylor’s very gracious, but she can’t do everything,” he said. “But if it was up to her she’d be out there with everyone who wants her.”
He also called Swift “smart, grounded and a shrewd businesswoman,” adding that watching her 2022 NYU commencement address helped him understand her better: “This is more the real Taylor.”
Ed Kelce Reacts to ‘The Life of a Showgirl’
When Swift announced her 12th album on Travis and his brother Jason Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast in August 2025, Ed was as surprised as fans.
“I knew nothing about this announcement,” he told Australia’s Today. “My guess is that, although I haven’t heard anything, it’s going to be like everything else she does. It’s going to be beautiful.”
Ed Kelce Divulges Son Travis’ Proposal Details
Ed shared exclusive details about the couple’s August 2025 proposal with ABC affiliate News 5 Cleveland, revealing Travis moved up his plans by nearly two weeks.
“He was going to put it off till this week … but he was going to put her off till this week to, you know, make some grand thing, to make it a big, special event,” Ed said, adding that he encouraged his son not to wait. “I told him repeatedly, you know, you could do it on the side of the road, do it any place that makes it a special event.”
Ed added at the time, “He got her out there, they were about to go out to dinner, and he said, ‘Let’s go out and have a glass of wine.’ … They got out there, and that’s when he asked her, and it was beautiful. They started FaceTiming me and their mother and her folks to make sure everybody knew.”
Ed Kelce Is Ready for the Wedding
Ed told Fox 29 Philadelphia that he was “super excited” for Swift’s July 2026 wedding to Travis.
“She is a sweetheart that is truly the girl next door, just like Kylie,” he said, referring to eldest son Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce.
This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.
