When his final birthday got here round, a 34-year-old Travis Kelce was driving the wave of his new romance with Taylor Swift a number of weeks after the pop megastar set the web ablaze by watching one in all his Kansas Metropolis Chiefs video games for the primary time.
And as he turns 35 this weekend, the Chiefs legend remains to be very a lot driving that wave.
Not solely is he thought of by many the best tight finish in NFL historical past, however Kelce now stands tall as one half of probably the most well-known movie star couple on the planet, in addition to a promising rookie on this planet of TV.
Regardless of changing into one other yr older – and even dealing with calls to retire amid his sluggish early type for the Chiefs final month – there may be additionally nonetheless loads of historical past for him to chase on the soccer area this season.
So with the Swift relationship nonetheless going robust, his new profession on the small display taking off and a record-breaking third straight Tremendous Bowl in his sights, DailyMail.com has taken a take a look at the state of play for Travis on his thirty fifth birthday.
Travis Kelce remains to be driving the wave of his romance with Taylor Swift as he turns 35 this weekend
The Swift impact
Given what he’d achieved on the sphere and his charismatic character off of it, Kelce was already a family title in America earlier than Swift got here alongside.
Successful two Tremendous Bowls, and one in all them towards his personal brother in unprecedented circumstances, as an integral member of Kansas Metropolis’s offense meant the tight finish was a widely known determine even to informal soccer followers.
However his relationship with the songstress has catapulted him to even larger heights.
Kelce had slightly below three million Instagram followers earlier than Taylor arrived at Arrowhead for her very first Chiefs recreation in September 2023. He now has slightly below seven million.
His award-winning New Heights podcast with brother Jason has additionally lived as much as its title over the previous yr, recording a 170 p.c enhance in YouTube subscribers (2.42 million) and a 303 p.c enhance in Instagram followers (2.7 million) since September 2023.
Kelce is now one half of probably the most well-known movie star couple on the planet alongside Swift
His recognition has skyrocketed ever for the reason that pop star first turned up at Arrowhead final yr
Kelce is now at a brand new stage of stardom, together with his and brother Jason’s podcast benefitting from it
The NFL has additionally benefitted from the elevated highlight on Travis over the previous yr, with a file 202.4 million individuals tuning in to look at him have fun with Taylor in Las Vegas after successful final season’s Tremendous Bowl with the Chiefs.
On his thirty fifth birthday, Kelce now stakes a declare to being probably the most well-known figures in common tradition throughout the globe, transcending his stardom as merely an all-time nice NFL participant.
New ventures
Once more, Kelce wasn’t precisely in need of TV alternatives earlier than romance blossomed with Swift.
It was practically unimaginable to keep away from him in your display when tuning in to any main sports activities community within the US, with the three-time Tremendous Bowl winner having fun with extra commercials than sizzling dinners lately.
He had additionally starred as host of common late-night comedy present Saturday Night time Stay in March 2023, nearly a month after beating older brother Jason at Tremendous Bowl LVII, earlier than that includes on this system once more together with Swift the next October.
Nevertheless, as he turns 35 Kelce has a lot of thrilling ventures on each the small and massive display on the horizon.
The NFL icon has made his appearing debut in Ryan Murphy’s new horror present ‘Grotesquerie’, which premiered on FX final week.
After failing to look within the first two episodes, his character featured for the primary time within the third on Wednesday evening, which despatched followers right into a frenzy on social media.
Travis has additionally ventured into TV as he cashes in on his newfound standing as a worldwide star
The Chiefs participant has made his appearing debut in Ryan Murphy’s new ‘Grotesquerie’ horror collection
Kelce additionally stars because the host of upcoming Prime recreation present ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celeb?’
Whereas the commercials preserve flooding in, and his appearing profession will get off the bottom, Kelce can also be set to attempt his luck at presenting in new recreation present ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celeb?’
The present, which premieres on Amazon Prime with three opening episodes on October 16, gives a enjoyable twist on the favored ‘Are You Smarter Than a fifth Grader?’ collection, by which contestants answered elementary college questions whereas being helped out by fifth Grade college students within the hope of successful a $100,000 prize.
In Kelce’s version of the present, celebrities will exchange college youngsters on the panel and assist contestants as they reply questions on a variety of topics from elementary textbooks.
Although simply over two weeks earlier than the primary three episodes air on Prime, the opening trailer for ‘Are You Smarter Than a Celeb?’ was slammed as ‘past cringe’ by sure followers on-line.
The trailer confirmed the Chiefs star – who’s being paid simply $750,000 to host the present – laughing and joking with contestants and the panel of celebrities; which incorporates former NFL star Chad Ochocinco, comic Nikki Glaser and media character Lala Kent.
He has even landed an element within the upcoming sequel to iconic 1996 sports activities film Glad Gilmore
Adam Sandler, who performed fictional golfer Glad Gilmore, confirmed he can be within the sequel
If TV jobs weren’t sufficient, Kelce has additionally landed a job within the upcoming Glad Gilmore 2 film.
Adam Sandler, who starred within the iconic golf flick again in 1996, not too long ago confirmed the NFL nice is ready to hitch the forged for the highly-anticipated sequel, though it’s unclear which half he’ll play.
Chasing historical past
Whereas there may be loads on the desk for him away from soccer, Kelce remains to be eyeing much more historical past within the sport with the Chiefs this season.
After successful a second consecutive Tremendous Bowl – the primary time a staff has achieved that feat for the reason that New England Patriots in 2004 – Kansas Metropolis has the prospect to tug off an unprecedented ‘three-peat’ by going all the best way once more this season.
And as he reaches the ultimate chapter of his NFL profession, there are nonetheless quite a few particular person information for Kelce to interrupt earlier than he ultimately bows out from the game.
He smashed one in all them final weekend in a much-needed robust efficiency towards the LA Chargers, setting the franchise file for receptions after registering his 917th for Kansas Metropolis, taking him previous Tony Gonzalez’s earlier excessive of 916.
The Ohio-born man is fourth within the all-time receiving yards charts for a good finish, however wants simply 356 to edge leapfrog former LA Chargers icon Antonio Gates into third place. Final season he had a complete of 984.
Kelce has loads nonetheless to realize within the NFL because the Chiefs eye a historic third straight Tremendous Bowl
Given he could not have too lengthy left within the sport, it appears a push for him to maneuver forward of Gonzalez (15,127) and ex-Dallas Cowboys star Jason Witten (13,046) in first and second place.
But if he manages another receiving landing for the Chiefs, Kelce will surpass Witten to have the fifth most in NFL historical past with 75.
Jimmy Graham (89), Rob Gronkowski (92), Gonzalez (111) and Gates (116) could also be out of his attain within the prime 4 positions, however.
Regardless, Kelce can be determined to depart as nice a legacy as he attainable can within the NFL earlier than hanging up his cleats.
Birthday celebrations
So how will Travis be celebrating his thirty fifth birthday this weekend?
The Chiefs aren’t because of return to motion till Monday evening, that means he can let his hair down ever so barely on Saturday at his ‘Kelce Automobile Jam’ occasion in Kansas Metropolis.
The block get together type occasion will showcase a few of the metropolis’s prime automobiles, together with a few of Travis’ private favorites, with tickets starting from $87 to $387.
And untypically on his birthday in October, Travis will get to have fun it with large brother Jason following his NFL retirement earlier this yr.
This yr he’ll be capable to have fun his birthday with brother Jason after his NFL retirement
Chatting with PEOPLE final month, Jason stated about his youthful sibling turning 35: ‘Nicely, that one’s really gonna be actually enjoyable, as a result of Travis’s birthday is October fifth.
‘So, I will be capable to go in and have fun his birthday with him — which usually, in season, we do not get to see one another for that.’
It stays to be seen whether or not Swift attends the occasion with Kelce on his birthday amid the hole in her Eras Tour schedule, which isn’t because of start once more till October 18 over in Miami.
