“It was very unexpected for his friends, but he’s so into her and very, very happy,” a source tells PEOPLE
Dating the biggest superstar in the world may come with a unique set of challenges, but a source tells PEOPLE that Travis Kelce is ready for it as his romance with Taylor Swift continues.
“Taylor’s unlike anyone Travis has dated before,” the source shares as the 34-year-old NFL star hit the town with the “Bejeweled” singer, 33, in New York City over the weekend. “It was very unexpected for his friends, but he’s so into her and very, very happy.”
The insider continues, “Some people thought he was just joking around about the bracelet and having a crush on her earlier this summer, but he was serious about it,” referring to Kelce’s attempt to give Swift his phone number on a friendship bracelet when he attended her Eras tour at Arrowhead Stadium.
According to the insider, Swift and Kelce are “having a great time getting to know one another” and “have introduced some of their friends to each other” in recent weeks.
The source adds, “Everyone’s getting along and seeing how much fun they have together. They make a very cute couple.”
Before his relationship with Swift, Kelce looked for love in a different kind of public setting as the star of his own reality dating show, Catching Kelce. The show featured 50 women from across the country who vied for the football star’s heart as he looked for his lifelong “teammate.” In the end, the football star chose Maya Benberry and the two dated for several months afterward.
Following the cancellation of the E! series, Kelce dated fitness model and broadcast host Kayla Nicole for five years after meeting on Instagram in 2017.
Following rumors about their breakup, including that they parted ways for financial reasons, the Ohio native set the record straight during an interview with The Pivot Podcast in January 2023. At the time, Barstool Sports alleged that the reason for their split was that Kelce forced Nicole to pay for “half of everything” while they were dating. Kelce denied the accusation that he was “too cheap” with Nicole, adding, “don’t buy into that s—.”
He continued, “I would never say that I was supporting her. She had a very financially stable life and what she was doing in her career.”
Swift and Kelce made their first big public appearances as a couple this weekend in New York City before making surprise appearances on Saturday Night Live, where the Kansas City Chiefs star made a cameo in a skit about him and Swift, while the Grammy-winning singer-songwriter introduced the second performance of musical guest Ice Spice.
Photos showed the two holding hands after they dined at Nobu ahead of the show and while they were on their way to the post-show party.
A separate source told PEOPLE the couple was “so smiley” and “so happy” throughout the evening in N.Y.C. “They were so talkative. They were really fun. They talked to every single person in the room that talked to them.”
“They were super cool. Super nice, super happy,” the insider added, noting that Swift and Kelce stayed at the party “until after 4 a.m.”
According to the source, Kelce was “going over and touching her, putting his hand on her lower back or putting his hands on her waist and then they would do a little kiss and then they would go back to talking to whoever they were talking to.”
“He kept checking in with her, but gave her space to talk to other people in the room, and he talked to a ton of people in the room too,” the source shared.