Following a whirlwind summer time with girlfriend Taylor Swift and subsequent reunion together with his teammates at coaching camp, NFL star Travis Kelce made his return to the gridiron throughout the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ first preseason recreation in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The tight finish, 34, took the sector at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday, Aug. 10, for the primary time for the reason that Chiefs’ Tremendous Bowl LVIII win over the San Francisco 49ers in February.
Forward of the sport, Kelce was noticed on the official Chiefs Instagram account sporting a trendy look consisting of a patterned button-down shirt, khaki pants, gold sun shades, an identical gold chain, a cap studying “Superbad” — printed within the font of the 2007 comedy film’s poster — and a few Nike footwear within the Chiefs’ colours: crimson and gold.
Though the Chiefs confronted a troublesome defeat, shedding to the Jaguars 13-26, Kelce and a number of other of his teammates — together with rookie working again Carson Steele, who scored a high-energy landing, and controversial kicker Harrison Butker, who netted a 45-yard kick — made a couple of strong performs.
The sport noticed the introduction of a brand new NFL rule regarding kickoffs, and a number of other critics — amongst them, CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan — wrote that this can be one thing that the workforce collectively must work on.
“One of many big-picture takeaways from that first half is that the Chiefs clearly have to work on the brand new kickoff,” Sullivan wrote. “A number of struggles in a number of areas.”
Courtney Culbreath/Getty
Through the NFL low season, Kelce spent a lot of his downtime with Swift, additionally 34, as she continued performing the worldwide legs of her record-breaking Eras Tour.
Except for watching the singer carry out in European cities together with Paris, Amsterdam and London, the place Kelce additionally appeared onstage with Swift, the couple additionally went on trip collectively within the Bahamas in March and took a romantic getaway to Italy in Could.
On the finish of the July, Kelce’s focus turned again to soccer, when the Chiefs commenced coaching camp on July 21 as they began preparation for the 2024-2025 NFL season.
David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty
Following one of many practices on July 28, Kelce greeted each Chiefs followers and Swifties alike throughout an autograph day with the workforce’s tight ends and receivers.
On the time, 16-year-old fan Hannah Calhoun advised PEOPLE she got here to coaching camp all the way in which from Lexington, Ky., along with her mother and father to be able to see Kelce — even bringing friendship bracelets and an indication that learn, “Travis, I’ve a clean house, so come write your identify.”
“I really like Taylor and I feel she’s an ideal position mannequin and so I really like that my daughter has her to look as much as and so we thought, ‘Let’s do that, Let’s exit and see Travis Kelce,’ ” Hannah’s mother Alison mentioned.
By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply, from juicy superstar information to forcing human curiosity tales.
Following two extra preseason video games — in opposition to the Detroit Lions at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas Metropolis, Mo., on Aug. 17 and the Chicago Bears (additionally at house) on Aug. 22 — Kelce and the Chiefs will formally kick off the brand new NFL season on Sept. 5.
Through the Thursday night time opening recreation at Arrowhead, the Chiefs will face off in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens.
