Travis Kelce Explains How He and Taylor Swift Deal With Critics

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce knows it would be ridiculous to pretend his relationship with singer Taylor Swift hasn't been noisy this year.

Ahead of the Chief's AFC Championship Game showdown against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, Kelce spoke to reporters at length during a press conference about the challenges this season has presented, both to him personally and to the Chiefs' organization.

The biggest change this season is, of course, the outside noise.

"It would be silly that I didn't notice it go up," Kelce said. "I think the Super Bowl helped that, and obviously how I live my off-field life definitely helps out. But I brought this upon myself, and I do enjoy having fun with it all, and the biggest thing is making sure my focus is right here in this building."

Football might be Kelce's focus, but his relationship with Swift brings a lot of attention to himself and to the team from people for whom football is far from the focus. He admitted that aspect of the season has come with challenges.

"You hear the media throughout the year if we're not having success maybe throw it out there that I wasn't focused or the team isn't focused on certain things, and if you're in this building, you know exactly what's going on," he said. "So you have to compartmentalize what you're hearing and make sure you're staying on task and giving everybody in the building and on that team the right perception when you walk in that building."

Fortunately for Kelce, he is now part of a relationship with a pop star who knows perhaps better than anyone else how to deal with outside noise.

"The only [thing] we've talked about is as long as we're happy, we can't listen to anything that's outside noise," he said, when asked if he talks about the distractions with Swift. "That's all that matters."

Kelce has welcomed the spotlight throughout his career, but this level of attention is new, even for an athlete who is used to winning and starring in his own reality show in 2016. Since quarterback Patrick Mahomes' arrival in 2017, the Chiefs have made six AFC championships and three Super Bowl appearances, winning the Super Bowl in 2019 and 2023.

"It's a challenge to find new ways to have success, and I think that's what this year has brought for me, is that obstacle and figuring out how I can get the best out of myself, figure out how I can get the best out of my teammates, and all at the same time, being a great leader," Kelce said. "Bringing that energy, showing for the young guys the type of determined mindset you've got to have day in and day out."

Kelce added that he loves that challenge.

"I was talking to my brother [Jason] the other day on the [New Heights] podcast: There's certain things that give you challenges in life that you've just got to be appreciative that you're getting tested," he said. "Not everybody gets those opportunities, especially when you get to do it with a group of men and women that can rally together with and really prove to yourselves what you're made of."

Kelce and the Chiefs kick off against the Ravens in Baltimore at 3 p.m. ET on Sunday. The tight end said he isn't thinking about "perspective" or any of his previous playoff successes.

"I ain't thinking about a single one I already accomplished," Kelce said. "I'm thinking about this one on Sunday, and I want it more than I've ever wanted one in my life...The different challenges we've had this year, the type of team we have, the camaraderie that we have in that locker room, I want it for the guys next to me. It's a good feeling, but we've got to get the job done."