Sports NEW ORLEANS — Travis Kelce is conscious of what to manufacture with a microphone. Maybe Taylor Swift has been giving him tips.
If you had a effect a question to for Kelce on Monday night time, he had an retort.
Kelce made a few issues particular for the interval of the Opening Night of Huge Bowl week. First, he is conscious of how one can say a room — and with excellent patience. He fielded what’s going to deserve to had been 200 questions for the interval of his hour-long podium session at the Caesars Superdome. And he became customarily unflappable, with easiest one effect a question to that looked as if it may per chance perchance perchance per chance per chance presumably worm him. (We are going to obtain to that.)
It’s a long way a stamp of what is to come motivate: his right enjoyment of the spotlight.
He is ascending to higher issues. He has been ever since he began relationship Swift in the summertime of 2023. There may per chance be a world of different anticipating him when he decides he would now not need the NFL anymore. Performing. Media. Apparel. Art work. In overall whatever he wants.
That would additionally had been what Kelce made most particular — no longer alongside with his words nonetheless his actions. His superstardom is now not about sport anymore. He is a bona fide cultural icon.
And he is starting up to take into fable it.
“Where will I be in three years? Confidently restful having fun with football,” the 35-year-historic tight end acknowledged. “I restful have a couple of simply football left in me, nonetheless we’ll sight what happens. I do know I’ve been surroundings myself up for other alternatives in my existence. That’s always been the goal, engaging that football easiest lasts for goodbye. You deserve to search out a manner to acquire into yet one more profession, yet one more profession. I’ve been doing that in my offseasons. However for the most part, I plan on being a Kansas Metropolis Chief and having fun with football.”
The stadium speakers blared with other interviews taking predicament concurrently. Followers screamed Kelce’s title to acquire his consideration — whereas journalists did the same. It became pure chaos.
Which NFL participant will have to seem on the disguise of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition?
“Leo Chenal,” Kelce acknowledged. “He is constructed luxuriate in John Cena.”
Inspiring a rotating solid of journalists, Kelce sat down at his podium at 8:55 p.m. CT and barely moved till 9:55 p.m. Aged NFL QB and FOX Sports digital correspondent Jameis Winston threw cookies at him. Comedian Guillermo Rodriguez asked him for a hug. He fielded questions from Mexican, German, Irish and British journalists — and from dilapidated NFL avid gamers Brandon Marshall and Chad Ochocinco.
“Folks dislike the Chiefs?” Kelce asked, playfully. “I didn’t know that.”
He looked at peace: smooth, frigid and picked up.
Even at the end, when the PR officer called for the final effect a question to, Kelce answered four extra.
“It’s a long way a a part of the technique, you know? It’s a long way a a part of the elegance that is the Huge Bowl,” he acknowledged of all of the honor on Opening Night. “Who can weather the storm of the most hyped game of their existence, and restful exit there and be crowned king? So it be simply a couple of stress-free. I luxuriate in everyone showing up.”
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There may per chance be higher than one motive why Kelce drew extra journalists than quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The greatest motive is Swift, whom Kelce praised effusively and credited as a offer of inspiration.
“I greater prolong my end to the slice tag, correct? I mean if she’s out right here being the smartly-known person she is and never taking no for an retort and always working her tail off, I greater match that energy for sure,” Kelce acknowledged.
Whether or no longer NFL followers luxuriate in it or no longer, Swift belongs at the Huge Bowl. (I’ve written about this sooner than.) And fittingly, she pretended to throw a pass for the interval of her live efficiency at the Superdome in 2024. It served as a prescient 2d, a foreshadowing of Kelce’s Huge Bowl berth.
“We prefer to manifest issues, for sure, and likewise you cannot teach it be no longer true, because we’re right here, correct?” Kelce acknowledged for the interval of a press availability at the stadium on Monday. “Whatever she became doing, I’m sure it helped.”
There had been a few issues, on the other hand, that Kelce did no longer are looking to be in contact about. He became naturally proof in opposition to fresh the originate date for “Recognition (Taylor’s Model),” Swift’s upcoming album.
“Next effect a question to,” he acknowledged with a smile.
No longer no longer up to 10 of the questions had been about whether or no longer he’d propose to Swift.
You are going to agonize to listen to the man didn’t are looking to wreck his engagement.
One reporter got ingenious and asked if — after Kelce had secured yet one more Huge Bowl ring — he deliberate to present a hoop to any individual else.
“Anybody particular? A Huge Bowl ring?” Kelce smirked. “Next effect a question to.”
Then the reporter got correct to the level: “Are you going to propose to Taylor Swift at the Huge Bowl?”
“Man, motivate-to-motivate. You guys are loopy,” Kelce acknowledged.
The proposal questions, on the other hand, didn’t obtain him as labored up as one about his favorite barbecue joint.
“I’m no longer a baby-kisser. I manufacture no longer opt barbecue spots. You are going to acquire me killed,” Kelce acknowledged.
There became easiest one effect a question to that looked as if it may per chance perchance perchance per chance per chance presumably if truth be told irk him. He became asked which he loved extra: Swift or phantom penalties late in the fourth quarter? (A reference to the conspiracy theories that the NFL and the officers desire the Chiefs.)
It became a spoiled-faith effect a question to supposed to acquire a rise out of the superstar.
“It’s a long way a simply effect a question to. Anybody else?” Kelce acknowledged.
It became the most efficient wretched effect a question to that he may per chance per chance per chance presumably now not snigger off. That is what it be prefer to be a celeb, magnificent or no longer. And Kelce’s celeb has never been higher.
He has three Huge Bowl rings. If he wins Sunday, he’ll no longer easiest snag a fourth, which would tie him for most amongst tight ends, nonetheless the Chiefs will also obtain the first-ever three-peat.
“I if truth be told wished to be customarily called the ideal to ever manufacture it,” Kelce acknowledged.
He is on his manner.
However one thing tells me that Kelce’s profession in the NFL — and, per chance, because the ideal tight end ever — is no longer where his legacy will quit.
No, when he is accomplished with the NFL, he’ll simply be getting began.
Sooner than becoming a member of FOX Sports as an NFL reporter and columnist, Henry McKenna spent seven years covering the Patriots for USA TODAY Sports Media Crew and Boston Globe Media. Note him on Twitter at @henrycmckenna .
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