While some NFL players spend their bye week catching up on sleep or family time, Travis Kelce opted for a little adventure — and some quality time with fiancée Taylor Swift. The Kansas City Chiefs star opened up about how he spent his week off during the latest episode of “New Heights,” the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Jason Kelce.
Kelce didn’t hold back when describing how much he enjoyed his brief break from football. “I got a little bit out of the house, went to New York,” he said. “Just hung out, man, put the feet up. Saw some cool places, ate some great food. Got to feel the big city and its electricity, and its buzz that it’s always got. Yeah, it’s my favorite time right now, as the seasons are changing, to be around the Midwest and the Northeast. And, yeah, it was pretty fun.”
The Chiefs’ tight end said he took the opportunity to catch up with friends and soak in the city’s energy. “There’s a picture of me at Puffy’s Tavern saying what’s up to a couple guys,” he added. “Met my guy Summit out for a drink, met some new friends. Got some new friends that I know out in New York.”
For Kelce, now in his 13th NFL season, the time away from Arrowhead Stadium was much-needed. “You get so ingrained in the routine of things,” he told Jason. “Your days are set, your schedules are set during the season, and the bye week is just that. If you’re fortunate enough to come out healthy, you can get away. I like to get away and recharge.”
He continued, “Not everybody has the same feeling — some guys have families and stay in town. But I like to get away, recharge, see something else, feel like I’m somewhere else, and kind of just shut it down.”
While Kelce kept things low-key on his podcast, fans got a glimpse of how the NFL star spent some of his downtime with his fiancée Swift in Manhattan. The pair were spotted at the Polo Club for dinner and later at the exclusive Zero Bond, a members-only lounge known for its strict privacy policy.
Former “Bachelorette” contestant Jason Tartick was among the few guests who crossed paths with the power couple and shared his impressions on Instagram before deleting his post.
“She had the iconic red lipstick on. She had the watch and her new ring was absolutely blinging,” he wrote. “I was absolutely blown away at how present she was. Like there was nothing in the world happening other than the people in front of her.”
Tartick added that Swift’s playful side was on full display. “My favorite was when her drink was done, she reached over and took his drink for a nice big gulp. Legend.”
The Chiefs’ bye week came at the perfect time, allowing the tight end to step away from the game before the final playoff push.
“Being in Kansas City for 13 years straight, for eight months out of the year, yeah, that can be a nice home for somebody,” Kelce said. “But at the same time, I got to move my feet, man. I got to travel, see new things, visit friends. I got to see a lot of friends and family out there, East Coast.”
Kelce and the Chiefs return to action on Sunday, November 16, when they face the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on CBS.
For someone who makes over $30 million per year, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown sure does complain a lot. Most of his complaints, somehow, seem to come after his team wins games.
The latest complaint from Brown — and it’s honestly hard to keep track of how much he’s complained at this point — came on a livestream video with podcaster Janky Rondo on Tuesday night in which Brown called the Eagles’ season a “S–t Show” when asked how things have been going for Brown and if he was OK.
“No,” Brown replied as he played the Madden 26 video game. “Where have you been? … Family’s good. Everything else? No … It’s a s–t show … if you got me in fantasy (football), get rid of me.”
Brown’s latest online diss came just one day after the Eagles improved to 7-2 with a 10-7, Week 10 road win over the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football in which Brown had 2 receptions for 13 yards on 3 targets.
The Eagles are trying to win a second consecutive Super Bowl this year, and with Brown as one of their highest paid players after he signed a 3-year, $96 million contract extension before last season.
For Brown, the pattern of criticizing his team and taking veiled, passive aggressive shots at his teammates then backtracking goes back several years. It also only seems to come when his team wins but he doesn’t put up big numbers.
If people on the internet are getting sick of Brown’s constant complaining when his team is winning, imagine how his teammates must feel who have to deal with him in real life.
“A.J. Brown just slappin all of his teammates in the face yet again!” Sports Radio 94 WIP’s Hunter Brody wrote on his official X account on November 12.
“The media has stirred up drama at times, but this certainly isn’t one of those situations,” The Philly Special’s Anthony DiBona wrote on his official X account. “A.J. Brown is doing more than enough on his own to fan the flames in Philadelphia.”
The target of Brown’s passive aggressive vitriol is almost always the same — quarterback Jalen Hurts.
“I think it’s a relationship issue,” former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant said. “That’s my thing. I think that this has nothing to do with, I don’t think that it’s football only. I think this is these two guys used to be best friends, and they’re not. And I think that it’s a hard situation to deal with.”
Brown has 31 receptions for 408 yards and 3 touchdowns in 8 games — he missed one game with a hamstring injury — and is on track to have his worst statistical season as a pro.
“AJ Brown is a diva,” NFL reporter James Nagle wrote on his official X account. “At the same time, you’d be hard-pressed to find a WR of his caliber who isn’t. He’s the best WR in Eagles history & after 16 years without a true WR1, I truly couldn’t care less what he says on social media. Anyone who wants him gone is insane.”