NEED TO KNOW
In an interview with News 5’s John Kosich, Kelce’s father Ed revealed the proposal took place two weeks ago at Travis’ Missouri home
“I told him repeatedly, you know, you could do it on the side of the road, do it any place that makes it a special event … when you get down on one knee and ask her to marry you,” Ed told the outlet
Ed Kelce is sharing the details of his son Travis Kelce’s romantic proposal to Taylor Swift.
In an interview with News 5’s John Kosich, Ed revealed that the proposal took place “maybe two weeks, not quite two weeks ago” at Kelce’s Missouri home.
“He was going to put it off till this week. I think she was getting maybe a little antsy, but he was going to put her off till this week, to, you know, make some grand thing, to make it a big special event,” Ed said. “And I told him repeatedly, you know, you could do it on the side of the road, do it any place that makes it a special event … when you get down on one knee and ask her to marry you.”
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
Ed continued: “He got her out there, they were about to go out to dinner, and he said, ‘Let’s go out and have a glass of wine’ … they got out there, and that’s when he asked her, and it was beautiful.”
Following the proposal, “They started FaceTiming me and their mother and her folks to make sure everybody knew. So, to see them together is great,” he said.
“I got a FaceTime call from them, and as soon as I saw the FaceTime, I saw it was Travis, and then I saw Taylor there with him, I knew what they were going to say,” he said, “and they, you know, let us know.”
Ed revealed that on Sunday, he supported Kelce at ESPN’s premiere of The Kingdom, telling the outlet, “his mother and I went with him back to his house for dinner, where Taylor made dinner, and we had a wonderful dinner with them outside on the patio and to just watch the two of them, just crazy about each other,” he said.
The couple, both 35, announced the news of their engagement on Instagram on Tuesday, Aug. 26. Swift wrote, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married 🧨,” alongside several photos from their enchanting garden proposal.
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end designed Swift’s new bling with the help of jewelry designer Kindred Lubeck of Artifex Fine Jewelry.
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
Swift showed off her new sparkler in a series of photos announcing the big news. Her dazzling ring is a massive Old Mine Brilliant Cut diamond, a rectangular-cut diamond with antique references.
During Swift’s podcast debut on Kelce’s New Heights podcast on Aug. 13, the pair opened up about how they first met in 2023 and Kelce’s public date proposal, which involved the athlete planning — and failing — to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number on it.
Swift jokingly compared Kelce’s grand efforts to woo her to an ” ’80s John Hughes movie.”
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
“[It’s like] he was standing outside of my window with a boombox saying, ‘I want to date you! Do you want to go on a date with me? I made you a friendship bracelet! Do you want to date me?’ ” she said, referencing the movie Say Anything.
For the romantic proposal, Swift wore Ralph Lauren’s Striped Silk-Blend Dress. The white mulberry silk blend midi dress retails for $398 and features delicate black stripes, smocked bodice, removable straps, and a flowing A-line skirt.
Swift accessorized with tan sandal heels and gold jewelry, including her go-to Cartier Santos Demoiselle watch, which retails for a whopping $17,870.
The “Cruel Summer” singer’s glam included a nude-colored manicure and her signature red lip in a pink coral hue. She wore her hair down in soft waves.
Meanwhile, Kelce went with a navy blue, short-sleeve collared shirt, off-white shorts and brown loafers.
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
Celebrity friends of the 14-time Grammy winner and the professional football player shared their congratulations both online and to PEOPLE shortly after the couple announced their engagement.
Gracie Hunt — the daughter of Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt — shared an exclusive statement with PEOPLE about the exciting news just minutes after the post dropped.
“I can’t stop smiling — Travis and Taylor’s engagement feels like a modern fairytale unfolding in real life,” Hunt told PEOPLE. “Their love story has captured so many hearts, and now it’s stepping into an even more magical chapter.”
She reshared a photo of Kelce kneeling in front of Swift under an arch of pink and white flowers on her Instagram Stories, writing: “Congratulations! 🎊. So happy for you two❣️.”
Later that same day, Patrick and Brittany Mahomes, both 29, shared on social media that they’re “just so happy” for friends Swift and Kelce.
“Two of the most genuine people meet & fall in love. Just so happy for these two,” Brittany wrote on her Instagram Stories alongside the engagement announcement post.
Patrick, who is opening his Kansas City-based restaurant 1587 Prime with Kelce this fall, also shared the post to his Instagram Stories and added three red hearts. The Chiefs quarterback cleverly put Swift’s song “So High School” — which Swift wrote about her relationship with Kelce — over the Story.
Kelce’s former teammate Hardman, who was with the Chiefs from 2019 to 2024, also shared his well-wishes for the happy couple online, reposting the announcement with two hearts and a praying emoji.
Ed added that he was aware of his son’s plan to propose months in advance. “They’re just two young people very much in love, cast in a spotlight that they really haven’t sought but kind of followed with their success in their respective fields,” he said.