Travis Kelce swatted away a fan’s hand after the spectator tried to grab his Kansas City Chiefs glove before Monday’s season opener.
Kelce, 36, had just removed his right-hand glove while walking off the field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, moments before the Chiefs faced the Denver Broncos. The tight end reached up to fist-bump supporters near the tunnel when one eager fan yanked at the glove instead.
Kelce immediately slapped the hand away and scolded the aggressive spectator, according to video shared online.
Social media users quickly weighed in with split opinions about the brief confrontation.
“He shouldn’t have held it in that hand, but also why would anyone think he’s giving his gloves away pregame? Lol,” one user wrote.
“It look like he was handing it I can see why the fan thought it too,” another added.
The incident came as Kelce returned to NFL action following an uncertain offseason that included forays into acting. He stars in Ryan Murphy’s upcoming horror series “Grotesquerie.”
His wife, Taylor Swift, also 36, watched from the stands alongside a notable group of family and celebrities. The “Bad Blood” singer wore a red-and-cream gingham polo dress from BFF Gigi Hadid’s brand, Guest in Residence, while cheering on her beau.
Swift was joined by her new in-laws, Andrea and Scott Swift, as well as Kelce’s mother Donna Kelce, father Ed Kelce, and brother Jason Kelce. Legendary actor Tom Cruise also appeared in the suite alongside the group.
Monday marked the first NFL game the newlyweds have attended since tying the knot at New York City’s Madison Square Garden in July.
The couple’s high-profile wedding followed nearly two years of public dating that began after Swift attended a Chiefs game in September 2023. Their relationship quickly became a cultural phenomenon, with Swift regularly appearing at Kansas City games throughout the 2023 and 2024 seasons while Kelce supported her Eras Tour internationally.
Kelce’s offseason also included filming for “Grotesquerie,” his first major dramatic acting role, and continued hosting duties for his podcast “New Heights” with brother Jason.
On the field, Kelce and the Chiefs dominated the Broncos 31-10 to open their title defense. Kansas City is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl championship following victories over the San Francisco 49ers in February 2024 and 2023.
The victory extended the Chiefs’ regular-season winning streak and gave Kelce a productive start to his 12th NFL campaign, all spent with the franchise that drafted him in 2013.
Swift’s fashion choice for the opener drew particular attention from fans tracking her game-day outfits, which have previously sparked sellouts for designers and brands she wears. The Guest in Residence dress continued her pattern of supporting friends’ fashion ventures during Chiefs appearances.
Kelce has developed a pregame routine of interacting with fans near the tunnel, often tossing items or acknowledging supporters before disappearing into the locker room. Monday’s glove grab represented a rare moment of friction in those exchanges.
The Chiefs will continue their season with upcoming home and away matchups as they pursue another championship run.