Northwestern references 2009 Travis Kelce Tweet, congratulates engagement to Taylor Swift

Sarah Barber

Northwestern references 2009 Travis Kelce Tweet, congratulates engagement to Taylor Swift image

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and global pop star Taylor Swift announced their engagement Tuesday in an internet-breaking Instagram photo shared to Swift’s account. The photo garnered nearly 18 million likes in the first four hours it was posted.

Not only are die-hard Swifties thrilled, but some sports teams are getting in on the fun as well.

Northwestern Athletics congratulated the couple by referencing a Tweet Kelce posted back in 2009 when the Wildcats beat Iowa, 17-10. 

 

 

The couple’s announcement came the same day Major League Baseball announced its 2026 schedule, which will feature the earliest Opening Day in league history. Some teams, like the Cleveland Guardians, took the opportunity to joke at the situation

“Thanks a lot, Taylor Swift. Now no one cares that next year's schedule is out,” read a post on the Guardians’ Twitter.

It’s the latest announcement by the couple following Swift’s tease of her 12th studio album “The Life of a Showgirl” on the Aug. 13 episode of Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast with brother Travis. The star took a moment to playfully acknowledge her presence on the podcast and continued appearances around the NFL.

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 “I think we all know that if there's one thing that male sports fans want to see more of in their spaces and on their screens, it's more of me,” Swift joked on the episode.

Sarah Barber

Sarah Barber is a freelance writer with The Sporting News. She is wrapping up an MS in journalism with a specialization in sports media from Northwestern’s Medill School. Barber graduated from Northeastern University in 2024 with a degree in journalism and English, plus a double minor in public relations and sports, media and communication. She spent over two years as a sports correspondent for The Boston Globe and has a background in athletic video production.