Travis Kelce’s Embarrassing Past: A Dating Show He Can’t Escape

In a candid moment that stunned fans, Travis Kelce, the Kansas City Chiefs’ star tight end and boyfriend of Taylor Swift, laid bare his deepest career regret on July 2, 2025. Speaking on his podcast New Heights, Kelce called his 2016 reality dating show Catching Kelce “the worst thing I ever did,” a humiliating chapter that has resurfaced unexpectedly, casting a shadow over his meteoric rise to global fame. The admission, raw and unfiltered, reveals a man grappling with a past he can neither forget nor fully escape, even as he thrives in the spotlight alongside one of the world’s biggest pop stars.

Catching Kelce, aired on E!, followed a 26-year-old Kelce as he courted 50 women vying for his affection, each representing a U.S. state. The show, meant to boost his profile during the NFL off-season, featured awkward dates, dramatic rose ceremonies, and a premise Kelce now calls “cringe-worthy.” “I was young, chasing fame over football,” he admitted, wincing at the memory of scripted flirtations and a finale where he chose contestant Maya Benberry, a relationship that fizzled within weeks. The show’s low ratings and critical panning—Variety called it “a touchdown for bad TV”—left Kelce embarrassed, a sentiment echoed by fans on social media who resurfaced clips, dubbing it his “biggest fumble.”

The timing of this resurfaced past couldn’t be more poignant. Since going public with Taylor Swift in September 2023, Kelce has transcended sports stardom, becoming a global icon. Their romance, sparked when Kelce attended Swift’s Eras Tour and gifted her a friendship bracelet, has captivated millions, from viral Super Bowl kisses to red-carpet appearances. His podcast with brother Jason soared to iHeartRadio’s top sports show, and his jersey sales spiked 400%. Yet, Catching Kelce remains a stubborn blemish, with X posts like @PamelaAmy87’s—“Travis really regrets doing Catching Kelce. He’s with his dream girl now”—reflecting fans’ mix of sympathy and amusement.

Kelce’s regret runs deeper than embarrassment. He revealed the show strained his focus on football, a decision he fears could have derailed his career. “I wasn’t thinking about the game, and that’s not who I am,” he said, crediting Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for pulling him back to discipline. Mahomes, a friend who starred in Netflix’s Quarterback, urged Kelce to skip the follow-up series Receiver, a choice Kelce now celebrates. “I just want to play ball,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to his craft over reality TV’s fleeting allure.

The public’s reaction has been a mix of empathy and fascination. Swifties, protective of their idol’s partner, have flooded social media with support, one fan noting, “Travis owning his mistakes makes him even more real.” Others, however, revel in the irony, sharing memes of his Catching Kelce catchphrases. The show’s reemergence has sparked broader conversations about athletes chasing fame, with Kelce’s candor highlighting the pitfalls of early-career missteps. His openness has endeared him to many, proving his growth from a reality TV hopeful to a three-time Super Bowl champion.

As Kelce navigates life with Swift, whose Eras Tour redefined concert culture, he’s distanced himself from the Hollywood machine. Yet, Catching Kelce lingers, a reminder of a past he can’t outrun. His raw admission—calling it a mistake he’d “erase if I could”—resonates with anyone who’s faced youthful regrets. With Swift by his side and a renewed focus on football, Kelce is rewriting his narrative, proving that even the biggest fumbles can lead to a comeback worth celebrating. His honesty ensures that while the past may resurface, it’s his present that defines him.