Friends of Travis Kelce gushed over his and Taylor Swift’s whirlwind romance.
“Travis’ friends think this is the real deal for him,” an insider close to the NFL star told People in an interview published Monday.
“They’re still a little shocked by all of it — that he’s dating the Taylor Swift, but they’ve seen how down to earth she is with his friends and family.”
The source added that the “Blank Space” singer and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, 34, are good together because they are both “really hard workers” and have a mutual respect for the other’s career.
“…he acknowledges her art is hers, and he has what’s his,” they shared. “He understands the territory their relationship comes with and like he said, isn’t letting any of the hoopla impact how they’re growing together.”
The source said that Kelce and Swift, 33, keep their relationship “about the two of them,” and that the football star “sees Taylor for who she is and vice versa.”
Last week, Kelce dished on his relationship with the Grammy-winning artist to Wall Street Journal, telling the outlet that he has “never dated anyone with that kind of aura about them.”
“I’ve never dealt with it,” Kelce added.
“But at the same time, I’m not running away from any of it…. The scrutiny she gets, how much she has a magnifying glass on her, every single day, paparazzi outside her house, outside every restaurant she goes to, after every flight she gets off, and she’s just living, enjoying life. When she acts like that I better not be the one acting all strange.”
Of course, all eyes have been on Swift and Kelce since the singer confirmed their romance by appearing alongside his mother, Donna, at Travis’ Sept. 24 football game.
Since then, their romance has gone international, with Travis supporting Swift in the crowd at one of her South American Eras Tour shows earlier this month.
The footballer was also notably standing by Swift’s father, Scott Swift, as he danced as smiled during his girlfriend’s set.
The couple shared their first public kiss that same night, as video caught Taylor backstage running into the arms of her boyfriend.
Taylor, meanwhile, has been dealing with the death of fan Ana Clara Benevides at her Brazil concert on Nov. 17.
While Taylor herself expressed that she was “devastated” and “overwhelmed with grief” upon finding out about the 23-year-old’s passing, Travis has reportedly been a “huge support system” for Taylor during this time.
“She is so grateful she’s had Travis. He’s been a huge support system for her right now,” an insider told Us Weekly.
“Her family has been there, but it’s different to have a boyfriend to lean on.”
As Taylor wrapped up the South American leg of her Eras Tour on Sunday, the musician has some downtime for the holidays and doesn’t have another show lined up until she’s off to Tokyo in February.
While the couple may have missed their opportunity to spend Thanksgiving together — and to introduce their parents — it’s unclear what the rest of the holiday season holds for them.
