Travis Kelce has a first-hand look at how diligent pop icon Taylor Swift is in creating new music that millions will love. She seemingly doesn't ever stop, and that helped form a career-altering decision that the Kansas City Chiefs tight end needed to make.
The truth is that Kelce doesn't want to stop, either. He wants to play at least another year in the NFL, and he will get a chance. The future Pro Football Hall of Famer agreed to terms with KC on a one-year deal that could pay him as much as $15 million. He's earned that, plus probably more.
The truth is, many teams won't pay top-dollar to a 36-year-old tight end, but Kelce led the Chiefs in targets and receiving yards last season, so while he isn't at the level he was when he was 26, he is still productive.
Travis Kelce finds Taylor Swift's work ethic extremely influential
Speaking on the Pat McAfee Show on Tuesday, Kelce talked about his wanting to return, and that was influenced by Taylor Swift. The pair is engaged, of course, so even an accidental influence is likely. Not in this case. It was Kelce's appreciation of the megastar that pushed him forward.
Kelce told McAfee, "We share the same love for what we do, and fortunately, we've had this desire since we were kids in our selective professions. It's amazing to see her keep going to the table, keep finding new things to write about, keep finding new melodies, and, on top of that, still seeing her have that love and joy in what she does. Of course, that's motivating. That's motivating for anybody to see, let alone my fiancée, knowing that I'm going through something where I'm trying to figure out exactly what the future holds for me. Something like that definitely motivates me to say, 'You know what, I'm not done, either.'"
Of course, Swift likely motivates millions of others without knowing the great multitude of them. Fans see her buy back the masters of previous albums because she wants to control her own narrative and not have a record company do that.
She writes her own songs, words and music, because she wants to create a personal connection to the tunes herself, but does so in a way that others can understand, too. She speaks for others through her music, the mark of a truly great artist. She isn't a control freak; she simply knows how to entertain and does so at an elite level.
So does Travis Kelce, however. He might play a sport for a living, but he understands the NFL is an entertainment industry as well. He's done well at it, and for at least one more season, will continue to do so.