Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs star tight end and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, has found himself at the center of swirling engagement speculation after Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen announced his engagement to actress and singer Hailee Steinfeld over the weekend. Kelce's simple congratulatory comment on Allen's Instagram post sparked a frenzy among fans, urging him to follow suit and propose to Swift.
Allen shared the news of his engagement to Steinfeld with a picturesque Instagram post featuring the quarterback proposing under a floral arch against a scenic backdrop. Kelce, 35, replied in the comments with a straightforward "Congratulations!!!" which garnered over 11,000 likes and unleashed a wave of responses, many of which pointed the spotlight back on his high-profile relationship with Swift.
"Your move bro," one fan commented. Others chimed in with similar sentiments, including, "You next," and, "The world is looking forward to it!" However, not all responses were playful, with some fans calling out the invasive nature of the speculation. "He should be able to congratulate his friend without people acting crazy," one user wrote in defense of Kelce.
Swift, a close friend of Steinfeld and a 14-time Grammy winner, also liked Allen's engagement announcement, subtly supporting her friend's milestone.
The romance between Kelce and Swift has been a hot topic since the couple went public in September 2023, shortly after Swift attended one of Kelce's games at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Swift later clarified the timeline in an interview with TIME, stating, "By the time I went to that first game, we were a couple. I think some people think that they saw our first date at that game? We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date."
Their relationship has drawn both praise and skepticism, with rumors of it being a publicity stunt. However, Mark Donovan, president of the Kansas City Chiefs, dismissed such claims in late November. "I'd love to say that it was a marketing strategy, but it is an authentic relationship, and we're happy to have it," Donovan said on CNBC's Squawk Box. He added that Swift has become "an authentic member of the Kansas City Chiefs kingdom," which resonates deeply with the team's fanbase.
Swift, nearing the conclusion of her record-breaking Eras Tour, was seen cheering on the Chiefs last Friday alongside her father, Scott Swift, and Kelce's mother, Donna Kelce, during Kansas City's victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
While Kelce and Swift's relationship remains under intense public scrutiny, Allen and Steinfeld's journey to engagement also comes with its share of history. The couple was first spotted together in May 2023, just weeks after Allen's breakup with his longtime girlfriend, Brittany Williams. Steinfeld, known for her roles in films like Pitch Perfect and her appearance in Swift's 2014 music video for "Bad Blood," brings her own connection to the pop star's orbit.
