Taylor Swift opened up about her dating dealbreakers before meeting fiancé Travis Kelce in the latest episodes of Disney+’s The End of an Era. The 36-year-old pop superstar revealed that she had previously avoided dating athletes, questioning how their vastly different worlds could align.

Taylor’s “Non-Athlete” Dating Preferences

Speaking with her mom, Andrea Swift, during the docuseries, Taylor admitted:

“I’ve been very non-athlete because I’m not one and I’ve always been like, ‘What would we talk about?’”

Despite her initial reservations, Andrea encouraged Taylor to meet Travis Kelce after seeing his public gesture on the New Heights podcast—a heartfelt plea to connect with the singer.

“So you call me up with this tone of, ‘Hey, I know you’re going to not react well to this, but there’s a guy…’” Taylor recalled. Andrea added simply, “He’s really cute.”

How the Connection Was Made

Andrea’s cousin Robin, a Kansas City Chiefs fan, provided her seal of approval:

“Oh my God, he is the nicest guy! And he really loves his mom,” Robin said. Andrea described the moment as a green flag and immediately thought, How am I going to get her to meet him?

This family endorsement helped Taylor overcome her hesitations and meet Kelce, who had made a memorable impression by giving her a friendship bracelet—a thoughtful gesture that resonated with both Taylor and Andrea.

Shared Careers and Mutual Understanding

Taylor admitted that dating on tour had been historically difficult for her, noting:

“Relationships on tour has always been something I’ve really struggled with because it always felt like the tour was taking away from the relationship.”

However, with Kelce, she discovered unexpected similarities in their careers. Both entertain tens of thousands of fans in NFL stadiums and understand the demands of performing for hours in front of live audiences.

“Somehow there’s been this dynamic shift with Travis because it’s shocking how many similarities we have towards our jobs and how we view them and how we view each other,” Taylor said.

She jokingly contrasted their fields:

“Although his sport has more violence, he’s not in heels. But it’s our passion. We’ve been chasing this since we were little kids.”

What Makes Travis Kelce So Special

Taylor emphasized that Kelce’s comfort with a “big life” and his confidence in his own trajectory impressed her. She also highlighted how he treats her, calling it a key reason fans have embraced him:

“I think ultimately it’s the way he treats me. It’s very clear. And I think that’s one of the reasons why the fans are so in love with him. Because you should be, you know? He’s very lovable.”

She added a candid reflection on her previous dating struggles:

“Feeling like I’m not a person, I’m just this big conglomerate that no one sees as a human being and like, especially not men that I date… Nothing works. There’s no one for me in the world.”

Taylor concluded the story humorously, marveling at how their meaningful relationship began with Kelce joking that he was “butt-hurt” she initially didn’t want to meet him.

Engagement Announcement

After two years of dating, Swift and Kelce announced their engagement in August 2025. Sharing the news on Instagram, they wrote:

“Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨,” alongside photos of Kelce proposing in his backyard.

The episode offers fans an intimate look at how the couple navigated differences, overcame hesitations, and ultimately found love despite Taylor’s previous reservations about dating athletes.