Congratulations to Travis Kelce’s Publicist

Apart from the Florida-core photoshoot (styled by Law Roach!), Kelce's GQ profile is a publicist's dream.

By Audra Heinrichs | August 12, 2025 | 5:43pm

Photo: Getty Images Celebrities Misc. Goss

Congratulations to Travis Kelce’s Publicist

Hot on the heels of Taylor Swift’s TS12 announcement, which she made on her boyfriend Travis Kelce’s podcast, GQ unveiled its latest cover star as…none other than Mr. Swift (and by the magazine’s estimation, “America’s Sweetheart”) himself.

The story features the Kansas City Chiefs tight end talking all things pigskin: “That football is shaped funny. That thing can bounce your way, and it can not bounce your way.”; putting on pants to go to Red Lobster as a kid growing up in Ohio: “We used to go there, see the lobsters in the tank like we were at an aquarium.”; and the public’s perception of him: “Some people don’t give a fuck. I’m someone who does care.” Despite those gems and the Florida-core photoshoot, it’s not all shits and giggles. Kelce (and the sources GQ enlisted) gets about as serious as he can while addressing his rumored low IQ and his relationships (and yes, that includes the one he’s in with Swift).

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In July, Kelce caught flak for admitting that he didn’t enjoy the table read while hosting Saturday Night Live because he “can’t really read that well.” And of course, all of Kelce’s past tweets don’t exactly dispel the rumors that he’s…not the sharpest tool in the shed. Well…his family begs to differ. To them, he’s some kind of savant.

“He’s incredibly intelligent,” Kelce’s older brother and podcast co-host, Jason, told the magazine. “But he never really cared enough about school to be in AP courses. I was always in AP courses and then we’d take the same proficiency test, and he’d get a higher grade. It’s like, ‘How are you getting a better math grade when you haven’t even taken algebra yet?’ ”

Further, the patriarch of the Kelce family also shared an example of what he calls “Travis Moments,” in which he surprises everyone by knowing a lot more than he lets on. In grade school, for instance, Kelce shocked his teacher when he not only proved he could write his name, but did it “backwards” and “upside down.” Unfortunately, the piece does not denote what grade this was, and doesn’t include a comment from said teacher.

“I find it funny,” Kelce said of any speculation that he’s just a dumb jock. “I joke about it. It is what it is. I’m just out here living life. I don’t necessarily want everyone to think that I’m an idiot.” He added: “There’s always something to learn. Acting like you’re the smartest one in the room just isn’t the way to go.” Hey, fair enough! Frankly, it’s refreshing to hear a white man say that.

Kelce also had a lot to say about the two women in his life. Apparently, Swift has a lot of cool stuff in common with Donna Kelce.

“Their kindness, their genuineness, their ability to say hello to everyone in the room,” Kelce said. “Their ability to show love and support no matter what. And on top of that, their work ethic. I saw my mother reach goals that she had set for herself, go from being a teller to working all the way up in the KeyBank building.” Noted in the piece is that Kelce becomes a “bit emotional.” Whether it’s because of the memory or the notion of how similar his mother is to his current “partner” (as Swift is designated in the story), well, who knows? But Kelce couldn’t stop gushing.

“I’ve seen Taylor do the exact same thing of setting goals for herself and exceeding the expectations and really captivating the world in that regard,” he added.

All in all, if I were Kelce’s publicist, I’d be pretty stoked about this profile. He comes off as a dude the average straight guy would love to have a beer with, and one that your most apolitical friend most certainly lusts over.

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