Travis Kelce explains how his and Taylor Swift's 'SNL' surprise cameos happened (2024)

"Saturday Night Live" decided to poke some fun this week at theNFL's sudden Taylor Swift obsession— including bringing on special guest Travis Kelce.

Travis Kelce spoke about his surprise cameo on the show, where he portrayed the one person who actually wanted to talk about football amidst what his brother Jason Kelcecalled NFL's "Swiftmania,"on the Oct. 18 episode ofthe Kelce brothers'podcast "New Heights."

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"I'll tell you what, man, it was electric to be back in that place," Travis Kelce, who has previously hosted the late-night TV show in March, told his brother and fellow NFL player on the podcast. "There's just something about being in that room, and just it being their first episode this season — I had such a freaking blast, man."

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Travis Kelce explained how his appearance on the skit came to be.

"I didn't know what the skit was, like what skits were coming up and I'm pretty sure that it was just ironic that they were doing a skit on... Swiftmania," he said. "I thought it was hilarious and when they asked me to be a part of it, I was like, 'Man, I'd be honored.'"

Travis Kelce then filled Jason Kelce in about the highlights from the night — includingSwift introducing her pal Ice Spice, the "star-studded" back room and attending the after party.

As for theskititself, it opens with an all-male panel of Curt Menefee (Kenan Thompson), Howie Long (Mikey Day), Jimmy Johnson (James Austin Johnson), Michael Strahan (Devon Walker) and Terry Bradshaw (Molly Kearney) discussing the Oct. 15 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and the New York Jets, telling any Swifities watching that they "just missed" Swift as the Kansas City Chiefs game was a few days prior.

"Listen, sorry, Swifties. This is a show about football. It's a sport. Ask your dad," Day says as the panel bursts out laughing.

Thompson then suggests that they turn their attention to the game and stop chatting about Swift and her "little boyfriend" Travis Kelce, to which the others are suddenly appalled.

"Boyfriend? Hold on there. No one said boyfriend," Day corrected him. "Let's not jump to conclusions here."

Johnson backed him up, clarifying that they're "hanging out and taking their time." But Kearney piped in disagreeing, noting that Swift has been watching the Chiefs games from the luxury box with "Mama Kelce" and drinking cocktails with Ryan Reynolds.

"Hey, I'm just glad it's not Matty Healy," Johnson adds, referring to the 1975 leading man who Swift was rumored to be dating earlier this year.

The panel then reacts in disgust to the unpopular pairing, with Walker warning Travis Kelce he has more at stake in this relationship than the Super Bowl. They continue to discuss Swift's former love interests, including Joe Alwyn, disagreeing about whether he's the inspiration behind her hit song "Karma."

Focusing then on the Sunday game, Thompson sends it over to Pete Davidson, playing first sideline reporter Kenny Ditullio, who is decked out in a pink cowboy hat, a Taylor Swift "Eras Tour" sweatshirt and a series of friendship bracelets.

Although he's asked about the game, Davidson, who even has Swift's lucky number 13 painted on his hand, will only focus his attention on trying to find Swift in the stands.

"So far no sign of blondie, starting to wonder why I'm even here," Davidson says, to which Thompson reminds him, "Because this is your job."

In the final minute of the sketch, the panel reporters debate who is the biggest Swiftie, with Johnson showing off his "Eras Tour" movie tickets. Meanwhile, Day and Walker show off their sleeves of friendship bracelets and compare which secret songs they heard in concert.

Cutting them off as they sing Swift's hit "Bad Blood," Thompson says they'll discuss with someone who "actually wants to talk football" once they return from the commercial break.

Travis Kelce then appears, prompting screams and applause from the live audience, and says, "Yes, please!"

Travis Kelce explains how his and Taylor Swift's 'SNL' surprise cameos happened (3)

.NBC

Since Swift started appearing at the Chiefs games to reportedly cheer on her rumored beau, the NFL has capitalized on their new viewership, even featuring a“Sunday Night Football” adwith Swift’s song “Welcome to New York.”

During an episode of Travis Kelce's podcast,“New Heights,”which he hosts with his brother Jason Kelce, the Philadelphia Eagles center asks whether the NFL is going overboard.

“Take away your feelings for Taylor,” Jason Kelce told his brother as the Chiefs tight end laughed. “What is your honest opinion on how the NFL is treating celebrities at games?”

Travis Kelce said that he finds it fun when the league shows stars who attended the game, adding that he thinks “it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you’re watching.”

But as Travis Kelce starts to give a counterpoint, his brother interrupts to say, “They’re overdoing it,” to which his brother agrees: “They’re overdoing it a little bit, especially with my situation.”

“I think they’re just trying to have fun with it,” Travis Kelce added.

Donna Kelce, however, disagreed with her sons,telling TODAY.com she understands the NFL's motivation.

“Why wouldn’t they capitalize on it?” she said. “It’s like they’re laughing all the way to the bank. ... So I don’t think it’s too much. But I know they do. It’s their lives.”

After the NFL changed their social media featured images and switched their bios to include references to Swift's songs, some were rather critical of the league's newfound emphasis on the singer. But theleague has defendedits decision.

“We frequently change our bios and profile imagery based on what’s happening in and around our games, as well as culturally,” the NFL said in a statement. “The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport.”

This story first appeared on TODAY.com. More from TODAY:

Travis Kelce explains how his and Taylor Swift's 'SNL' surprise cameos happened (2024)

FAQs

Travis Kelce explains how his and Taylor Swift's 'SNL' surprise cameos happened? ›

"I didn't know what the skit was, like what skits were coming up and I'm pretty sure that it was just ironic that they were doing a skit on... Swiftmania," he said. "I thought it was hilarious and when they asked me to be a part of it, I was like, 'Man, I'd be honored. '"

How did Travis Kelce end up on SNL? ›

Kelce dropped into an 'S.N.L. ' after-party before a game in Philadelphia and went to work, chatting up (and impressing) Lorne Michaels. “The day after the Chiefs defeated the Eagles in the Super Bowl last February, Aaron Eanes' phone rang at 9 a.m. It was 'S.N.L. '

Did Travis Kelce listen to Taylor Swift? ›

Before the release of Taylor Swift's record-breaking new album, The Tortured Poets Department, the Grammy winner's boyfriend, Travis Kelce, scored an early listen to her new music.

When was Taylor Swift on Saturday Night Live? ›

The star first appeared on Saturday Night Live as a musical guest in 2009. At the tender age of 19, Swift hadn't long crossed over from country music to mainstream pop, with the singer performing "Fearless" and "Love Story" from her second album, Fearless.

What did Jason Kelce say to Travis? ›

"You crossed the line," said Jason, who told teammates last month that he plans on retiring. "I think we can both agree on that." Travis agreed, saying: "I can't get that fired up to the point where I'm bumping coach and it's getting him off balance and stuff.

Who did Travis end up with on Catching Kelce? ›

Who was the 'Catching Kelce' winner? Maya Benberry of Kentucky won Kelce's heart at the end of "Catching Kelce." Maya proved one of his early favorites and was chosen for the very first group date of the show in Episode Two.

What song did Taylor write about Travis? ›

Ever since Taylor Swift released The Tortured Poets Department, Travis Kelce has kept quiet about the new album and the two songs on the record believed to be about him: “The Alchemy” and “So High School.” (Fan theorize a third, “The Albatross,” is about their relationship, too.)

Are Taylor Swift and Travis still together? ›

From the Super Bowl to 'So High School': A timeline of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's relationship. Nearly a year after Travis Kelce said he tried to shoot his shot with Taylor Swift at one of her concerts in the summer of 2023, the two are still going strong.

Who is Taylor's best friend? ›

You'd think being part of Taylor Swift's “squad” of A-list pals is something you'd want to shout about, but the singer's long-term bestie Ash Avignone has tended to keep their friendship low key and out of the spotlight over the years.

How good was Travis Kelce on SNL? ›

“After all, how good could an NFL player-hosted 'SNL' actually be? In this case, it went marginally better than I expected. Kelce has a reputation for being sort of a goofball, and that served him well enough, even as the much tinier cast members spent the night blocking for him, to greater and lesser effectiveness.”

Was Travis and Taylor on SNL last night? ›

We don't know whether the two are more than friends for sure—but we do know that they're enjoying giving fans something to talk about. Both Kelce and Swift made cameos on the season premiere of Saturday Night Live Season 49 on October 14.

How old was Taylor Swift when she hosted SNL? ›

January 2009: 'SNL' Debut

Less than a year before hosting the show for the first time, 19-year-old Swift appeared on Saturday Night Live for the first time as the musical guest.

How much is Taylor Swift worth? ›

What did Taylor Swift wear on SNL? ›

Opting for a more *sexy* ensemble for her weekend rendezvous, Swift's SNL style featured a stunning Versace Medusa '95 Satin Corset Top (okay, Taylor!) that Swifties are calling her “Reputation corset,” hinting at the launch of her next re-recorded album.

Is Travis Kelce the first football player to host SNL? ›

He did that and more. The tight end continued a long line of NFL players to host the famed sketch comedy show. Starting with Fran Tarkenton in 1977 down to quarterbacks like Tom Brady and brothers Peyton and Eli Manning, he is the latest NFL player to host SNL since defensive end J.J.

How did the Chiefs get Travis Kelce? ›

2013 season

Kelce was selected by the Kansas City Chiefs in the third round (63rd pick overall) of the 2013 NFL draft. The Chiefs had hired Andy Reid as their new head coach during the off-season.

Did Jason Kelce appear on SNL? ›

As soon as SNL host Travis Kelce mentioned that his brother Jason was in the audience, chances looked pretty good that his sib would get to join in on the fun. A couple of sketches in, Jason got his cameo: the Philadelphia Eagles center appeared as Heidi Gardner's boyfriend in a bar sketch.

Did Travis Kelce grow up a Bengals fan? ›

No, Kelce did not grow up a Bengals fan. He said as much in November 2016 when asked whether he was a fan of his current team, the Chiefs. That makes sense, considering Kelce grew up in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. So Kelce has no particular love for Cincinnati.

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