Travis Kelce Gives Taylor Swift the “22” Hat During Heartwarming Eras Party Moment

Travis Kelce made a sweet reference to girlfriend Taylor Swift’s Eras tour at a recent surprise party in her honor, calling back to her performance of “22” during the record-breaking trek.

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s love story continues.

During a recent party in the singer’s honor to mark the conclusion of her blockbuster Eras tour, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end appeared to call back to a fan-favorite number from the concert, in which Taylor gifted a lucky fan at each show with the hat she wore to perform her song “22.”

In a photo from the festivities, shared by Taylor’s BFF Ashley Avignone, Travis—who was decked out in a tuxedo and top hat as a nod to his onstage appearance at an Eras tour stop in June—smiled as he placed the hat on Taylor’s head. Meanwhile, the “I Did Something Bad” singer, clad in a black Balmain halter minidress, tipped her head back as she received the fedora.

The touching gesture was just the tip of the iceberg as the NFL star proved to be the brains behind the entire surprise party, which also coincided with the Grammy winner’s 35th birthday.

His involvement was confirmed when Jo-Jo Edwards-Helaire, who is married to Travis’ Chiefs teammate Clyde Edwards-Helaire, replied to a social media user asking about the bash, writing, “It was, a congratulations party. And a surprise from Trav.”

Taylor’s longtime pal Ashley also confirmed details about the gathering. “When she thought she was going to a small, quiet dinner,” she captioned her Dec. 19 Instagram post, “but it was actually a giant surprise party with her friends and family, props included.”

And the guests got in on the Eras-themed action as well. Brittany Mahomes wore a black fringed jacket over a silver fringed dress—seemingly in reference to Taylor’s 2022 album Midnights—while her husband, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, twinned with Travis in a tux of his own.

In addition to the epic affair, Taylor ran in her 35th by breaking yet another record, this time by becoming the most decorated artist in Billboard Music Awards history with 49 career wins.

“It means the world to me that you guys have embraced the things I’ve made, and the fact that you’ve cared so much about my music,” she said as she accepted her 10 latest wins in a video message Dec. 12. “This is, like, the nicest early birthday present you could have given me. So, thank you very much. I love it. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

Keep reading for a closer look at Taylor and Travis’ romance.

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July 2023: So, Make the Friendship Bracelets

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story began in July 2023, when the singer’s Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.

As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.

“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. “So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”

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Summer 2023: This Is Him Trying

After publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as “metal as hell”—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.

“I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court,” he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. “I told her, you know, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So, we’ll see what happens in the near future.”

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August 2023: Enchanted to Meet You

Travis was rocking a mustache—which he debuted in August during training camp—when he was first introduced to Taylor.

As he later noted of the era, “That ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit, and I had it when I met Taylor for the first time.”

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September 2023: Sparks Fly

By early September, a source close to the situation told E! News that Travis and Taylor were “texting and talking here and there.”

“It’s been very low-key,” the insider explained, “as he’s been in season.”

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September 2023: Cheer Captain

Accepting Travis’ invite, Taylor joined the athlete’s mom Donna Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium to watch him and the Chiefs take on the Chicago Bears. After the game, Taylor and Travis were seen packing PDA at a local bar.

Though folklore had it that it was the couple’s first in-person meeting, the “Karma” singer later clarified the two had spent a “significant amount of time” getting to know each other beforehand.

As Taylor noted, “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”

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October 2023: It’s Nice to Have a Friend

Another sign that Travis could be The 1? Taylor started bonding with Brittany Mahomes—the wife of Travis’ BFF and teammate Patrick Mahomes—in and outside of NFL games.

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October 2023: Welcome to New York

The couple took their romance to TV, making a surprise appearance on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live. Their Big Apple takeover also included the after-party for the NBC sketch show and a date night at the Waverly Inn.

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November 2023: Karma Is Her Boyfriend

During a bye week, Travis traveled down to Argentina to catch the South American leg of Taylor’s Eras Tour. Not only did the NFL star bond with Taylor’s dad, Scott Swift, at the Nov. 11 show in Buenos Aires, but he also got a special shoutout from the stage.

“Karma is that guy on the Chiefs,” Taylor sang, “coming straight home to me.”

After the show, the Midnights artist was seen running up to Travis backstage and greeting him with a passionate kiss.

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December 2024: Speak Now

Taylor addressed the lavender craze surrounding her appearances at Travis’ games.

“I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she told Time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone.”

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December 2023: You, Who Charmed Her Dad

The music superstar turned Travis’ Dec. 17 game into a family affair, bringing her dad to cheer on her man.

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January 2024: All the Midnights

Taylor and Travis spent their first New Year’s Eve together, sharing a romantic kiss when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1.

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January 2024: Chosen Family

Continuing to bond with Travis’ family, Taylor hung out with his brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce at the Chiefs’ game against the Buffalo Bills.

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January 2024: Saved by the Perfect Kiss

Taylor joined Travis on the football field when the Chiefs won the AFC Championship, a victory that cemented the team’s spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The couple shared a celebratory kiss before exchanging the L-word.

“Tay, I’m gonna enjoy with the guys,” he told her. “I love you—so much it’s not funny.”

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February 2024: Super Bowl Champs

The pair locked lips on the field after Travis led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.

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February 2024: TikTok Official

Taylor posted footage of Travis on social media for the first time Feb. 12, poking fun at how she took her parents clubbing with the athlete after the Super Bowl.

Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Instagram, Official, 2024

Instagram / Taylor Swift

June 2024: Instagram Official

Taylor’s first Instagram pic featuring Travis was a selfie of the two with Prince William and his and wife Kate Middleton‘s eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage at the singer’s Eras tour show at Wembley Stadium in London.

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June 2024: Travis’ Eras Tour Stage Debut

While attending his seventh Eras tour concert, and second show at London’s Wembley Stadium, the NFL star joined his girlfriend onstage as a backup performer during her performance of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”

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September 2024: Back in the Game

Taylor joined Travis for the Chief’s first game of the regular 2024-25 season and appeared to re-enact a PDA moment from October 2023 in this photo shared by Chariah Gordon, who is pictured with her boyfriend, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.

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