Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce is reportedly struggling under the combined pressures of a high-profile engagement to pop superstar Taylor Swift, a grueling NFL season, and a growing list of business commitments that insiders say are "pushing him to the brink."
During the Chiefs' September 14 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, Kelce was caught on camera throwing his helmet to the ground and shouting, "I'm sick of this s**t!" - an outburst that surprised teammates and fans given that his team was three points ahead at the time. The Chiefs later lost the game 20-17.
"Travis is losing it and people around him are worried because of everything he has going on right now," an insider told RadarOnline.com. The source said the 36-year-old athlete is "juggling so much with his podcast, brands, endorsements, his acting aspirations, his new Kansas City restaurant - and now football season is in full swing."
Since announcing his engagement to Swift in a joint Instagram post on August 26, Kelce's every move has come under intense scrutiny. "Before he can get off the field, he's getting bombarded by the media asking him questions and trying to nose into his relationship with Swift, plus he's being overloaded with pressing emails and business queries," the insider said.
Sources close to the All-Pro player described him as increasingly "claustrophobic" amid the nonstop attention. "Things have gone up a level in terms of scrutiny as he plans out the rest of his life with Taylor, and the fear is he's going to buckle under the pressure," one source said.
Another person close to the couple said the stress is starting to affect Kelce's temperament. "There's more of an edge to him now and his temper is getting the best of him," the insider noted. "But the fact remains the guy is cracking up."
The outburst came just days before Kelce's lavish gesture toward teammate Patrick Mahomes, when he reportedly spent $70,000 on fine wine and two watches for the quarterback's 30th birthday on September 17. The night also marked the grand opening of the pair's new Kansas City steakhouse, 1587 Prime, underscoring how many high-stakes projects Kelce is balancing beyond football.
"Travis can't afford to piss off Patrick," the source added, suggesting Kelce's relationship with Mahomes - both on and off the field - has become another area of pressure.
