The NFL player’s romantic connection with the pop sensation has become a focal point of online fascination over the years. However, before their much-publicized romance, he was romantically linked to another public figure who has faced persistent criticism in the wake of their separation.
Football standout Travis Kelce’s current romance with Taylor Swift has sparked comparisons to his dark-haired ex-girlfriend. While some observers label his relationship with the Grammy-winning singer as a downgrade from his previous partner, others express that the couple is a great match.
The conversation around Kelce’s current relationship and comparisons to his past has been fueled by the highly publicized start of his romance with Swift.
Rumors of their relationship began swirling after the songwriter attended several of Kelce’s games. During an appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” podcast, the football star shared how their connection started.The Ohio native attended Swift’s “Eras Tour” performance at Arrowhead Stadium in July 2023 and later shared that he “threw the ball in her court” by inviting her to one of his games.
This early glimpse into their connection set the stage for intense public interest, with the couple subtly confirming their relationship in separate interviews in late 2023.
Despite the wave of adoration for Kelce and Swift’s relationship, the spotlight on their romance has also fueled comparisons to his past partners. Many social media users on X voiced strong opinions, particularly contrasting Swift with Kelce’s ex-girlfriend Kayla Nicole.
One user commented, “Travis Kelce downgraded to Taylor Swift from Nichole [sic].” Others echoed similar sentiments, with one stating, “Travis Kelce surely downgraded from his last GF to this,” and another claiming, “Travis Kelce downgraded hard… he’s depressed, no question about it.”
Some opinions focused on appearance, with a user observing, “For some reason, most BW think Kayla Nicole better than Taylor Swift even though Swift been in the game since 2015 [sic],” while another added, “& yes kayla nicole do look better than taylor swift !!! & i said what i [expletive] said so you swifties can fight me if you wanna !!! [sic]”
Others took a more nuanced approach, such as one commenter who wrote, “kayla nicole looks so much better than taylor swift. i love my black queens [sic].”
“Yes Kayla Nicole looks better than Taylor Swift but looks ain’t everything especially when you picking a life partner—compatibility is more important [sic],” said one user. Another noted, “Kayla Nicole look a lot better than A LOT of y’all favorite singers and pop stars lmao it’s not just Taylor Swift.”
These heated comparisons have brought renewed attention to Kelce’s past relationship with Nicole, a sports journalist. The two began dating in 2017, with Nicole later revealing the story behind their connection during a Q&A session.
According to the media personality, Kelce had been following her on Instagram and engaging with her posts through likes, but without sending any messages. Eventually, she decided to take the initiative and sent him a direct message on New Year’s, which sparked the start of their relationship.