Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was already an NFL star in his own right before he began dating pop diva Taylor Swift.
Now his fame has gone to another level after his romance with one of the most famous women in the world.
And once he started dating pop superstar Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce’s career underwent this shocking change.
Travis Kelce’s off-the-field earnings skyrocketed after he started dating Taylor Swift
Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce’s relationship with pop star Taylor Swift swiftly became one of the top storylines of last year’s NFL season.
And it turns out being in a relationship with the pop star is gaining Kelce a new set of fans.
Swift has dominated the music industry for years and has become one of the biggest celebrities on the planet.
She’s built a massive and fiercely loyal fan base on her way to the top.
In fact, her influence has become so great that there’s now a “Swift effect” that allows her to boost sales and engagement of anything she’s associated with.
That also includes Kelce, who appears to be a major beneficiary of the “Swift effect,” according to a government filing from the NFL Players Association – the union that represents NFL players.
The NFL Players Association’s annual filing with the Department of Labor revealed that Kelce’s earnings from royalties jumped by 177% last season, which was his first season dating Swift.
Kelce earned $2.4 million in group licensing and marketing income from things like jersey sales, video games, and trading cards.
That was fourth in the NFL behind Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, and his Chiefs teammate, quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes also saw his royalty income jump last season.
Mahomes saw a huge 53% increase, making him top in the league for licensing and marketing earnings.
Taylor Swift brought new attention to the NFL
Swift’s relationship with Kelce sparked the interest of some of her massive fanbase in the Chiefs and the NFL.
When she began attending Chiefs games after they went public with their relationship last September, there were reports that ratings for Chiefs games increased for women in the 18-49 demographic.
Ticket sales for Chiefs home games spiked by a whopping 235% after Swift went to her first game in Kansas City to cheer on Kelce.
The sports company Fanatics said Kelce’s jersey sales saw a 400% increase on their site alone after his relationship with Swift went public.
Former New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning told ABC’s Good Morning America last November that the “Swift effect” had come to the NFL.
“I think it makes it fun,” Manning said. “I have three daughters, 12, 10, and 8. When the Chiefs are playing, they are watching that game and looking for Taylor. It makes them enjoy the games and get into it.”
Manning also said he thought that Kelce has done a good job handling the increased attention his relationship with Swift brought.
“I think he is handling it very well,” Manning said. “You’re dating maybe the most popular person in the world right now, so there’s a lot of questions about it. I think he is handling everything very well. He is staying focused on playing football, doing his job.”
Taylor Swift’s fame continues to spill over into the NFL to the benefit of the Chiefs and her now very famous boyfriend.