When Travis Kelce told Vanity Fair’s Tom Kludt that he wanted to get “out from under the helmet,” he meant it. The Kansas City Chiefs tight end is still doing noteworthy things with his protective headgear in place (two consecutive Super Bowl wins, three overall), but off the field, the spotlight has never shone brighter on him than now, while he’s dating Taylor Swift and taping a host spot on the Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? spin-off Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?
In an interview with Extra published Thursday, the NFL star shared his excitement for doing “something that I haven’t done before” with the hosting gig. Make no mistake, though: Football and the Chiefs are Kelce’s chief concern.
“I’m every bit as motivated to get back and win another Super Bowl,” he said. “That’ll always be my number one job until I retire.”
Swift may have helped boost Kelce’s profile beyond football enthusiasts (that 400% spike in Kelce’s jersey sales after her first appearance at a game wasn’t a coincidence), but the 34-year-old said that he’s never had a problem being the center of attention.
“I think it was all the home videos my mom used to have with the old camcorder, the handheld joint, at the house,” Kelce said. “I just always felt comfortable with the camera on me and the lights on me. Sure enough, I love a good challenge. I get excited for a challenge.”
Though he said “I don’t think I’d ever do another reality show,” calling his stint as the Bachelor-esque love interest on Catching Kelce “my past,” he suggested that maybe brother Jason Kelce and wife Kylie Kelce could hire a camera crew of their own now Jason has retired from the NFL. He also reflected on his relationship with Jason, specifically the support and example he’s offered the athlete over the years.
“It’s just been so, really, all throughout my life,” he said. “It started as a young kid and really understanding the value of family and what it can do for you, and it injected confidence and excitement in my life and I’ve been so fortunate. I’ve been able to just follow his footsteps through life into the football world. And then, who knows what happens after that?”
For now, Travis has taken advantage of his time during the off-season. He and Swift recently had a seaside getaway with Gigi Hadid and Bradley Cooper, and he’ll reportedly join her on some of her European tour dates when her Eras Tour resumes in May, before he has to report for pre-season training.
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