Why Travis Kelce’s NFL rivals shout his and Taylor Swift’s name during matches

One of Travis Kelce’s NFL rivals routinely shout his and girlfriend’s Taylor Swift’s name during matches. Members of the Washington Commanders squad have revealed that they have plays named after the Kansas City Chiefs star and the singer.

Kelce is considered one of the greatest tight ends of all time. The 35-year-old has been in a relationship with Swift since 2023.

And the Commanders have been using their names to good effect in their games. The play dubbed “Taylor Swift” led to Ben Sinnott’s first touchdown against the Carolina Panthers last weekend. Another play called “Kelce”, likely named after Travis. That is according to offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who joked of the plays: “But they’re not, like, married together.”

The commanders give their plays amusing names, with many in reference to famous celebrities, because it makes them easier to remember. Some are pop-star themed, with Beyonce, Whitney Houston and Latto all shouted by Commanders’ stars.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s favourite play is a routine called “Joe Montana”, named after the former NFL quarter-back.

Commanders tight end Colson Yankoff said: “Stuff like that helps your memory. Instead of a boring, like, [long play call].”

For all their humour, the plays are working and McLaurin insists there is a serious side to them. He would even be happy to have a sequence named after children’s television character Bob the Builder if it meant getting a positive result.

He said: “Kliff’s doing a good job of keeping their defences on their toes, and I think doing a really good job marrying up some of our formations and having counters. It’s fun being part of an offence like that because you feel like you have an answer no matter what the defence throws at you.

“Long as it works and it scores, it could be called ‘Bob the Builder,’ I don’t care.”

Kingsbury might have come up with the routines, but he has placed the blame for the names at the feet of the squad’s tight ends.

“The tight ends came up with the name, so you’d have to ask them [why it’s called that],” he said. “But I think [Sinnott] must like Taylor Swift on a deeper level.”

However, Sinnot refused to answer whether he felt a special connection to the play that led to his first touchdown as it was linked to the one of the best players of all-time in his position. He responded: “I’m not going to comment on that one. No disrespect to Travis.”