NEW ORLEANS — Travis Kelce is aware of what to do with a microphone. Perhaps Taylor Swift has been giving him ideas.
When you had a query for Kelce on Monday night time, he had a solution.
Kelce made a couple of issues clear throughout the Opening Night time of Tremendous Bowl week. First, he is aware of easy methods to command a room — and with outstanding endurance. He fielded what will need to have been 200 questions throughout his hour-long podium session on the Caesars Superdome. And he was mainly unflappable, with just one query that appeared to bug him. (We’ll get to that.)
It is a signal of what is to come back: his real enjoyment of the highlight.
He is ascending to larger issues. He has been ever since he began courting Swift in the summertime of 2023. There is a world of alternative awaiting him when he decides he would not want the NFL anymore. Performing. Media. Garments. Artwork. Principally no matter he desires.
Which may have been what Kelce made most clear — not along with his phrases however his actions. His superstardom is not about sport anymore. He is a bona fide cultural icon.
And he is starting to consider it.
“The place will I be in three years? Hopefully nonetheless taking part in soccer,” the 35-year-old tight finish mentioned. “I nonetheless have loads of good soccer left in me, however we’ll see what occurs. I do know I have been setting myself up for different alternatives in my life. That is all the time been the aim, figuring out that soccer solely lasts for therefore lengthy. You have to discover a strategy to get into one other profession, one other career. I have been doing that in my offseasons. However for essentially the most half, I plan on being a Kansas City Chief and taking part in soccer.”
The stadium audio system blared with different interviews going down concurrently. Followers screamed Kelce’s title to get his consideration — whereas reporters did the identical. It was pure chaos.
Which NFL participant ought to seem on the duvet of the Sports activities Illustrated Swimsuit Version?
“Leo Chenal,” Kelce mentioned. “He is constructed like John Cena.”
Entertaining a rotating forged of reporters, Kelce sat down at his podium at 8:55 p.m. CT and barely moved till 9:55 p.m. Veteran NFL QB and FOX Sports activities digital correspondent Jameis Winston threw cookies at him. Comic Guillermo Rodriguez requested him for a hug. He fielded questions from Mexican, German, Irish and British reporters — and from former NFL gamers Brandon Marshall and Chad Ochocinco.
“Folks hate the Chiefs?” Kelce requested, playfully. “I did not know that.”
He appeared at peace: calm, cool and picked up.
Even on the finish, when the PR officer known as for the final query, Kelce answered 4 extra.
“It is part of the method, you realize? It is part of the sweetness that’s the Tremendous Bowl,” he mentioned of all the consideration on Opening Night time. “Who can climate the storm of essentially the most hyped recreation of their life, and nonetheless go on the market and be topped king? So it is simply loads of enjoyable. I admire everyone exhibiting up.”
[Prepare for the epic Eagles-Chiefs matchup on FOX Sports’ Super Bowl LIX hub]
There’s a couple of cause why Kelce drew extra reporters than quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The most important cause is Swift, whom Kelce praised effusively and credited as a supply of inspiration.
“I higher maintain up my finish to the cut price, proper? I imply if she’s out right here being the famous person she is and by no means taking no for a solution and all the time working her tail off, I higher match that vitality for positive,” Kelce mentioned.
Whether or not NFL followers prefer it or not, Swift belongs on the Tremendous Bowl. (I’ve written about this before.) And fittingly, she pretended to throw a cross throughout her live performance on the Superdome in 2024. It served as a prescient second, a foreshadowing of Kelce’s Tremendous Bowl berth.
“We like to manifest issues, for positive, and you may’t say it is not actual, as a result of we’re right here, proper?” Kelce mentioned throughout a press availability on the stadium on Monday. “No matter she was doing, I am positive it helped.”
There have been a couple of issues, nevertheless, that Kelce did not wish to speak about. He was naturally proof against reveal the discharge date for “Status (Taylor’s Model),” Swift’s upcoming album.
“Subsequent query,” he mentioned with a smile.
No less than 10 of the questions had been about whether or not he’d suggest to Swift.
You will be shocked to listen to the man didn’t wish to spoil his engagement.
One reporter acquired artistic and requested if — after Kelce had secured one other Tremendous Bowl ring — he deliberate to provide a hoop to another person.
“Anybody particular? A Tremendous Bowl ring?” Kelce smirked. “Subsequent query.”
Then the reporter acquired proper to the purpose: “Are you going to suggest to Taylor Swift on the Tremendous Bowl?”
“Man, back-to-back. You guys are loopy,” Kelce mentioned.
The proposal questions, nevertheless, did not get him as labored up as one about his favourite barbecue joint.
“I am not a politician. I do not decide barbecue spots. You are going to get me killed,” Kelce mentioned.
There was just one query that appeared to really irk him. He was requested which he beloved extra: Swift or phantom penalties late within the fourth quarter? (A reference to the conspiracy theories that the NFL and the officers favor the Chiefs.)
It was a bad-faith query supposed to get an increase out of the star.
“It is a good query. Anyone else?” Kelce mentioned.
It was the one uncomfortable query that he could not snicker off. That is what it is prefer to be a star, honest or not. And Kelce’s superstar has by no means been greater.
He has three Tremendous Bowl rings. If he wins Sunday, he’ll not solely snag a fourth, which might tie him for many amongst tight ends, however the Chiefs can even get the first-ever three-peat.
“I actually needed to be referred to as the best to ever do it,” Kelce mentioned.
He is on his method.
However one thing tells me that Kelce’s profession within the NFL — and, maybe, as the best tight finish ever — just isn’t the place his legacy will cease.
No, when he is completed with the NFL, he’ll simply be getting began.
Previous to becoming a member of FOX Sports activities as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years protecting the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports activities Media Group and Boston Globe Media. Observe him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna.
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