Taylor Swift’s Sweet Surprise for George Kittle at Tight End University Proves They’re BFFs Forever
Taylor Swift’s Sweet Surprise for George Kittle at Tight End University Proves They’re BFFs Forever
Kristen Wong|
In this story:
Kansas City ChiefsSan Francisco 49ersTaylor Swift dedicated a song to a special NFL player at this year’s concert at Tight End University in Nashville—but it wasn’t to her fiancé, Travis Kelce.
On Tuesday night the Eras Tour pop star put on another show for the lucky attendees of TEU, a three-day summit for NFL tight ends which kicked off its sixth season at Vanderbilt University. Amid ongoing speculation around Swift and Kelce’s high-profile wedding this summer, the Grammy-winning singer stepped onto the stage and gave a special shout-out to TEU co-founder—and new bestie?— George Kittle.
“‘Love Story’, do you want to do ‘Love Story’?” Swift was heard asking the band on stage, referring to one of her most iconic pop-country anthems. “We can do that. You know, we have a special request from a very special tight end who wanted to hear a particular song, and that tight end is named George Kittle.”
🎥| Taylor dedicated Love Story to George Kittle who is a known very big fan of the song!😄pic.twitter.com/HrvrPsFzut
— Taylor Swift Updates 💎 (@swifferupdates) June 24, 2026
Here’s her full performance, with Swift cheekily showing off her wedding bling during the very on-the-nose bridge of the song:
“He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring/ And said, "Marry me, Juliet
You'll never have to be alone/ I love you and that's all I really know”
🎥| Full performance of Taylor Swift performing Love Story with Lainey Wilson at TEU! pic.twitter.com/q45Hf8zwkW
— Taylor Swift Updates 💎 (@swifferupdates) June 24, 2026
Last year, Swift also showed up for a surprise concert at Tight End University and sang her 2014 hit “Shake It Off,” marking her first live performance since her record-breaking Eras Tour ended its massively popular global run December 2024.
George Kittle confirms he is attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding this summer
This NFL offseason, Swift chose to perform another one of her all-time great hits in honor of her new football-ing friend Kittle. Kittle professed that “Love Story” was his favorite song of Swift’s after he went viral for belting out the lyrics alongside the pop star at last year’s TEU party.
“That's insane. That’s Taylor Swift,” Kittle recalled of the karaoke moment. “That's the most famous person in the world. ... I drank a beer with her, I delivered her a couple tequila drinks throughout the course of the weekend which was cool. ... Couldn't have been more awesome. Just an absolute rockstar person.”
Kittle and his wife Claire revealed they both were invited to Swift and Kelce’s wedding, which is rumored to be taking place later this summer. The two kept their lips zipped regarding any specific details about the nuptials, though Kittle did say he planned on wearing a blue suit.
“He’s the exact same person, like he’s got the great energy, love for the boys,” Kittle said of Kelce’s passion and loyalty to TEU. “But just seeing him always watch [Swift’s] back and always be there for her when she needs anything, it’s just kind of fun to see.”
If there's one thing George Kittle knows about his Tight End University co-founder Travis Kelce, it's that he's loyal — and if there's one thing he doesn't know, it's where Travis and Taylor Swift are getting married. pic.twitter.com/WXNgVqsPBd
— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) June 24, 2026
As for the million-dollar question, will the wedding actually be held at Madison Square Garden?
“I actually asked Travis last night and he laughed at me so...” Kittle said. “I’m half expecting there just to be a jumbo jet on the runway and they put us on a plane somewhere.”
The 49ers star said there was a strict “no gift” policy but was thinking of getting Kelce something special regardless.
“Travis for some reason likes old coins, so I might get him an old coin,” Kittle said. “It sounds expensive, too.”
Anything for his tight end pal, Kelce, and his new ultra-famous friend, Swift. After another Tight End University concert for the books, Kittle and Swift’s friendship is a platonic “love story” in the making.
More NFL from Sports Illustrated
Published 2 hours ago | Modified 2 hours ago
KRISTEN WONGKristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020 and has a bachelor’s in English and linguistics from Columbia University. Before joining SI in November 2023, Wong covered four NFL teams as an associate editor with the FanSided NFL network and worked as a staff writer for the brand’s flagship site. She is a lifelong Liverpool fan who enjoys solving crossword puzzles and hanging out at her neighborhood dive bar in NYC.
Home/NFL
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
