Kansas City Chiefs President Mark Donovan is opening up about the behind-the-scenes conversations that took place when Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift first became a couple — and why the franchise promised to protect their privacy from day one.
Donovan made the comments during a December 1 appearance on the “Up and Adams Show,” where he explained that the team never wanted to treat Kelce and Swift’s relationship like a marketing opportunity.
“Taylor’s been amazing to us. It’s been nothing but good. She is a phenomenon. She is just a special kind of person,” Donovan told host Kay Adams.
Chiefs President Mark Donovan Says He Promised Respect, Not Attention
Donovan said that early in the relationship, he made one guarantee to Kelce.
“I told Travis, ‘Look, we are going to treat you and your relationship with the same respect that we treat any other player or coach’s relationship,’” Donovan shared. “It’s a relationship. We’re not going to monetize it, we’re not going to go out there and go crazy.”
The Chiefs quickly became the most publicly followed team in football after Swift appeared at her first NFL game in 2023. Donovan says the organization immediately agreed not to play into the spotlight, even as other broadcasts leaned into showing Swift regularly during televised games.
“We never showed Taylor on our big boards in our stadium, never,” Donovan said. “He scores a touchdown. He makes a catch. It goes to Taylor. Especially the first year. We never showed Taylor on our big boards in our stadium, never. It was respectful. We’re not going to do that.”
He also says Arrowhead Stadium resisted the urge to turn Swift’s presence into a promotional moment.
“We’re not taking advantage of this relationship,” Donovan stressed.
Travis Kelce Didn’t Want Special Treatment on Game Day
Donovan shared that he even discussed music choices with Kelce during the first season of their relationship. He says the Chiefs never played Swift’s music while she was in the building.
“Travis, to his credit, is all about team and he’s all about the guys and he’s all about being part of a team and not being separate,” Donovan explained. “And he said, ‘That separates me… When we’re playing a game. When we’re in that stadium, it’s about us. And I want it to be about us.’”
Kelce and Swift announced their engagement in August 2025 after nearly two years of dating. When the announcement went public, the Chiefs posted congratulations on social media: “Today is a fairytale. Congrats to Travis and Taylor — we’re excited to have you as a permanent member of the Chiefs Kingdom family!”
Chiefs Say Taylor Swift Helped, Not Distracted the Team
Donovan also addressed the early media scrutiny in 2023, telling PEOPLE at the time that Kelce handled it with professionalism.
“Travis is a smart team player,” Donovan said. “He can handle it and has been very professional.”
Donovan stressed the relationship was never a distraction, saying the extra attention was “fun and good for everybody involved” and that the Chiefs’ locker room has the maturity and leadership to handle it.
With the Chiefs now embracing Swift as part of the extended franchise family, Donovan says the organization remains committed to one thing above all: respecting their relationship and never using it for publicity.
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