Unveiling Travis Kelce's Fascinating Dating Timeline: A Journey from Reality Show Triumph to a Celeb Encounter with Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce's dating history showcases his game both on and off the field.

Prior to his rumored connection with Taylor Swift, the NFL star gained attention for his love life through his appearance on the 2016 dating show, "Catching Kelce." The show involved 50 women, one from each state, vying for his affection. Ultimately, Maya Benberry emerged as the winner and had a brief relationship with Kelce.

"She's an incredibly amazing young woman," he shared with E! News in October 2016 about Benberry. "I chose her because I have strong feelings for her."

The relationship between Kelce and Benberry was brief, prompting him to move forward with Kayla Nicole in 2017. Eager to pursue a connection, she took the initiative and made the first move.

"He had been following me and engaging in instant flirting for several months. It was all likes and no direct messages," she revealed during an Instagram Story Q & A session in 2022. "So, after having a little bit of alcohol for courage, I decided to send him a direct message on New Year's."

The couple had an on-again, off-again relationship for a couple of years before finally ending things for good in May 2022.

Kelce has openly discussed his expectations for a long-term partner in his love life. Speaking on Kristin Cavallari's "Let's Be Honest" podcast in September 2023, he emphasized that immediate commitment is not realistic given his past experiences. He believes that truly knowing someone and establishing a deep connection takes time and effort. Kelce acknowledges that forever cannot simply be assumed after a chance meeting, as it requires a significant amount of time to truly understand and develop affection for someone.

Keep scrolling for all the details on Kelce’s dating history:

Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images

Travis Kelce’s Dating History: From ‘Catching Kelce’ Winner to Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce's prowess extends beyond the football field, as evident from his colorful dating history.

While his rumored romance with Taylor Swift has captured attention, it is not the first time the NFL star has made headlines for his love life. In 2016, Kelce took the center stage on the reality dating show "Catching Kelce," where 50 women from all 50 states vied for his affections. Eventually, Maya Benberry emerged as the winner, but their relationship was short-lived.

In October 2016, he expressed to E! News that Benberry, whom he described as an exceptionally delightful girl, was someone he chose with genuine feelings for. However, the relationship between Kelce and Benberry didn't last long, as he eventually started dating Kayla Nicole in 2017. It was Kayla Nicole who took the initiative and made the first move.

"He had been pursuing me and engaging in flirtatious interactions for several months. It was all likes and no direct messages," she revealed during an Instagram Story Q & A in 2022. "So, after some encouragement from alcohol, I decided to send him a direct message on New Year's."

The pair had an intermittent relationship for a number of years before ultimately ending it for good in May 2022.

When discussing his romantic relationships, Kelce has been open about his expectations for a long-term partner. During an interview on Kristin Cavallari's "Let's Be Honest" podcast in September 2023, he expressed that he believes it takes time to truly understand and commit to someone. Kelce emphasized that he cannot jump into a relationship thinking that forever is just around the corner, as he believes it requires a significant amount of time to build a deep connection and develop feelings of affection and love.

Keep scrolling for all the details on Kelce’s dating history:

Credit: Getty Images; Courtesy of Maya Benberry/Instagram

Maya Benberry

Maya Benberry emerged as the victorious contender on the reality show "Catching Kelce," which concluded in November 2016.

During the show's finale, Benberry couldn't contain her excitement, exclaiming, "I genuinely feel like the most fortunate girl on the planet. To have him as my partner, and knowing that he's truly mine now, it's absolutely incredible that the man I've always dreamt of is finally mine!"

Things between them didn’t last and Benberry and Kelce split shortly after the show aired.

Credit: Allen Berezovsky/FilmMagic

Kayla Nicole

The sports journalist and Kelce were mutual followers on social media, but it was she who initiated contact in 2017 by sending him a direct message on Instagram.

"I initiated contact as if it were a baseball play, although I'm not really familiar with baseball analogies," she shared on her Instagram in 2022, recounting their first encounter. "Anyway... the moral of the story is that taking the initiative could be the smartest move, ladies."

The reporter and Kelce ended their on-and-off relationship in 2022 after five years. Following their breakup, there were baseless rumors suggesting that Kelce never contributed to their dates or expenses. However, Kelce promptly dismissed these claims.

"Ignore that nonsense. I never claimed to financially support her. She had a secure financial situation and was successful in her career," Kelce stated on the "The Pivot" podcast in January 2023. "During our five-year relationship, small amounts of money were never even considered."

Credit: FilmMagic; WireImage

Zuri Hall

Following his split in 2022, Kelce maintained a level of privacy, but speculation arose among fans regarding his relationship with Hall after she was seen accompanying his mother, Donna Kelce, to several Kansas City Chiefs games.

While they never confirmed their relationship publicly, romance rumors swirled from late 2022 until early 2023.

Credit: Getty Images (2)

Taylor Swift

Kelce and Swift's relationship escalated following the football star's public expression of interest in the singer after her Eras Tour concert in July 2023. Kelce revealed on his "New Heights" podcast that he had intended to give Swift his phone number after the show.

According to various sources, Kelce and Swift crossed paths soon after the incident. "Taylor and Travis met after he attempted to give her his phone number at her summer concert. They have only spent time together on two occasions," a source shared with We magazine in September 2023.

Swift was also seen at Kelce's football game against the New York Jets in October 2023, only a week after attending her first Chiefs game where they showcased their dominance against the Chicago Bears.