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Melissa Etheridge is “worried” Travis Kelce could retire from the NFL to be with Taylor Swift.
“I love that [Swift] loves one of my favorite football players … I think he’s an amazing human being and I think they’re a great couple,” the “I’m the Only One” hitmaker explained on Friday’s episode of Max’s “Who’s Talking to Chris Wallace?”
“I’m just worried he’s gonna retire early to be with her,” she joked with a smile. “That’s the thing I’m worried about.”
Etheridge, 62, theorized that could never happen because “all those guys are way too professional, as she is, to let anything be a distraction.”
Kelce, 34, who is readying himself along with the Kansas City Chiefs to face off against the San Francisco 49ers at Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11, has already confirmed he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon despite admitting he thinks about retirement “more than anyone could ever imagine.”
“I love that [Swift] loves one of my favorite football players … I think he’s an amazing human being and I think they’re a great couple,” the musician said. ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA “I’m just worried he’s gonna retire early to be with her,” she added with a teasing smile. Getty Images for The Recording Academy“I just have no reason to stop playing football. I love it,” he told reporters in January ahead of the Chiefs’ game against the Miami Dolphins.
“We still have success. Come in with the right mindset, and I just love the challenge it gives me every single day to try to be at my best.”
Follow Page Six’s coverage of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s whirlwind romance
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s dating timeline: From flirting fails to Chiefs power coupleTravis Kelce’s dating history: Meet the Chiefs tight end’s girlfriends and flingsTaylor Swift’s dating history: From Jake Gyllenhaal to Matty HealyHe also assured fans that he is focused on winning his third Super Bowl ring.
“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,” he explained to reporters last week.
In November 2023, the tight end admitted he thinks about retirement “more than anyone could ever imagine.” Getty Images However, last month, he assured reporters that he has “no reason to stop playing football.” Getty Images“If you’re in this building, you know exactly what’s going on.”
The star tight end also confirmed he would not be attending the Grammys on Sunday with his nominated girlfriend because he needs to stay in Kansas City to practice.
Furthermore, his quarterback and close pal Patrick Mahomes previously praised him for staying focused and keeping grounded despite dating Time’s 2023 Person of the Year.
He has also previously confirmed that he is in no way distracted from the game because of this romance with the “Cruel Summer” singer. Getty Images Kelce even said he is skipping the 2024 Grammys, where Swift is nominated, to prepare for the Super Bowl. Getty Images“He’s still Travis Kelce,” Mahomes told reporters Jan. 24.
“He still will walk through the stadium and treat every single person like they’re his best friend. And he’s going to be like that in the locker room every single day.”
Kelce and the “Caridgan” songstress, 34, have been dating since last summer and went public with their romance in September 2023.
They have shamelessly displayed their love for one another throughout the NFL season and had fans thrilled when they packed on the PDA following the Chiefs’ win against the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday.
Kelce and Swift have been dating since last summer and plan to get engaged this year, Page Six learned in January. chariah/InstagramThe pair repeatedly kissed and hugged as they celebrated on the field and could even be heard professing their love to one another.
While being in the Super Bowl is already exciting, this is just the start of what may be a magical year for the duo.
Page Six learned in December 2023 that the pair made “a plan” to get engaged on their first anniversary in July.