Ed Kelce, father of Kansas City Chiefs’ star Travis Kelce, unexpectedly stole the show at the final stop of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in Toronto.
Swifties warmly welcomed Ed, showering him with so many vibrant friendship bracelets – a tradition at Swift’s shows – that he lovingly took from fans until his entire wrist was covered.
Dressed to impress in a sharp suit jacket and sporting slicked-back hair, Ed arrived solo at Toronto’s Rogers Centre, ready to cheer on his potential future daughter-in-law from the VIP section.
Even before the concert started, he won over Swifties with his friendly demeanour and eagerness to participate in their beloved ritual, which began at the start of the tour in March 2023. Interestingly, Travis had tried to kickstart his relationship with Swift by attending one of her earlier concerts and presenting her with a custom ‘friendship’ bracelet featuring his phone number.
Social media footage revealed Ed Kelce’s wrists adorned with more than 20 unique friendship bracelets, each crafted by a Swift fan. Despite the camera quality making it hard to decipher any written messages, the colourful patterns on the bracelets symbolised the growing bond between the Kelce and Swift families.
Swifties have been showering social media with affection following “Papa Kelce’s” latest appearance, captivated by his formal attire. One fan said, “He’s adorable! He’s dressed up for Tay,” while another shared, “Papa Kelce in a suit while trading friendship bracelets… it’s like he picked out his best outfit.”
The blending of the Swift and Kelce families also touched hearts, with comments like, “The fact that he is there without Travis means everything. These families have become one. Good for them. We are all here for this happiness.”
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The patience Ed showed while untangling bracelets in the clip didn’t go unnoticed, sparking engagement and humour with remarks such as “Ed is secretly comparing these bracelets to tangled Christmas lights.”
While Donna Kelce often enjoys the limelight, fans haven’t overlooked Ed’s role in their sons’ upbringing too: “Donna gets all the credit, but this man is a gentle giant that obviously raised his boys too. Love him, so sweetly unassuming,”. That specific tribute to Ed garnered 666 likes and emerged as a favourite among Swifties.
The final show in Toronto on Nov. 23 fell after Kansas City faced their initial defeat of the season at the hands of the Buffalo Bills in Week 11.
However, the Chiefs made a comeback on Sunday – although it was a closer run thing than many had thought it would be,as they secured a 30-27 victory over the Carolina Panthers. Kelce caught six passes for 62 yards, with Noah Gray nabbing four throws for 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Kelce and Swift managed to spend some quality time together during the team’s Week 6 bye, but their schedules are packed for the rest of the regular season. The Vancouver stop of the Eras Tour concludes on Dec. 8, coinciding with the Chiefs’ game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
