Before he was linked to Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce tried to find love with 50 women from 50 different states on a reality show called 'Catching Kelce'
- Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce starred on a dating show, years before his rumored romance with Taylor Swift.
- Called "Catching Kelce," the show featured 50 women from 50 different states.
While Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce may be making headlines for his rumored relationship with Taylor Swift, this isn't the first time the athlete's romantic life has been in the spotlight.
In 2016, Kelce starred on a short-lived E! dating show called "Catching Kelce." The show featured 50 women from 50 different states, with Kelce dating multiple women at once in order to find the one.
Ultimately, Kelce didn't end up dating anyone from the reality show — he later connected with sports reporter Kayla Nicole on social media and began a relationship with her. The two had an on-again, off-again romance for five years.
On "Catching Kelce," which sadly only aired for one season, the tight end gave fans a glimpse at his goofy nature and laidback approach to dating. Here's what to know about the short-lived dating series, as well as the Swift rumors running rampant now.
'Catching Kelce' had a massive pool of contestants, but the stakes were pretty low
As mentioned, each of the 50 women competing for Kelce's heart on the dating show hailed from a different state. (As Rolling Stone's Miles Klee mentioned in his reporting on "Catching Kelce," each woman's identity on the show was largely tied to her home state, especially when Kelce couldn't remember all 50 of their names in earlier episodes.)
There was also a mass elimination at the start of the show, according to Klee, where each woman only had a minute to make a strong impression on the tight end. Only the 30 most memorable contestants made it to the mansion in Los Angeles, where the show really began.
At that point, the show seemed to settle into a "Bachelor"-adjacent pattern, with Kelce slowly weeding out the women to find his top matches. Much like "The Bachelor" franchise, Kelce and the women would have activity-themed group dates, such as working out together. And, similar to the Hometown Dates portion of "The Bachelor," Kelce leans on his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, for advice as he navigates multiple relationships. (Yes, it was basically "The Bachelor," but sports.)
Throughout it all, though, Kelce appeared to remain true to his funny, goofy self, even in more serious moments. But he also managed to keep the peace in the house, even when the logistics of sharing a boyfriend made relations among the contestants complicated. As Klee put it: "It's hard to think of a guy who, at the center of this format, comes closer to achieving a harmonious polycule."
Plus, the show was extremely low stakes. There was no expectation for Kelce to get engaged at the end of it, unlike "The Bachelor."
Kelce's relationship with Swift will likely continue to dominate headlines this season
Fan theories about Kelce and Swift's relationship are already running rampant on social media, even though neither one has publicly addressed their relationship status. Kelce, for his part, previously said he tried to give Swift a friendship bracelet at her Eras tour stop in Kansas City in July, but didn't get the chance to meet her. Kelce then invited the "You Need to Calm Down" singer to one of his games at Arrowhead, the tight end later revealed.
If the furor caused by Swift's appearance at Arrowhead on Sunday is any indication, Swifties and Chiefs fans alike will have lots to unpack as the season continues.