Ed Kelce Speaks on the Side of Taylor Swift That Fans Don't See

Taylor Swift hugs Ed Kielce after the AFC Championship NFL football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on January 28, 2024.

Ed Kelce offered new insight into the "real" Taylor Swift–the version of the 14-time Grammy winner foreign to fans and with whom he's come to form a relationship now that she's been dating his son, Travis Kelce, for the past few months.

The 34-year-old singer's reputation apparently has nothing on the 'real Swift,' at least according to Travis' dad. Back in October, Ed hinted that the reason why the couple works is because they share a similar work ethic and can embrace the most authentic version of each other–and now he's finally elaborating on what he meant when he called them "genuine."

“Every game there's people crowding outside the front of that suite trying to get a glimpse of Taylor, wanting to meet Taylor,” he told the Los Angeles Times in a new interview published Saturday, Feb. 10.

“Taylor's very gracious, but she can't do everything. And she's got security guys who don't want her doing anything. That's their job and she's smart enough to know, 'I'm paying these guys to keep me safe. I should probably listen to them,'" he continued, "But if it was up to her, she'd be out there with everyone who wants her."

Ed explained that he had an idea of who the "real Swift" was long before he met her, reciting the commencement speech for New York University students that the "Cruel Summer" songstress' gave at Yankee Stadium in 2022, during which she spoke of the importance of passion, dedication and acceptance of mistakes.

“Listening to that, you get a much better sense of who this young woman is, as opposed to the social media blurbs and the gossip magazines," the father of two NFL pros suggested. “That's all celebrity stuff. This is more the real Taylor.”

Likewise, Ed said that both Travis and his older brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, are equally down-to-earth and genuine despite their quick-growing fame.

“My boys know where they’re from,” he added. “They know that all this notoriety, it is fleeting. Have fun while you’ve got it, but that doesn’t make you a better man. They fully understand that how you treat people is what’s important in this world. As long as that’s their mindset I’m a happy guy.”

Given all the recent reports regarding the NFL star and his international pop sensation girlfriend's good deeds, Ed must be a pretty proud dad.

Next: Travis Kelce's Dad Has Him Cringing With Embarrassment With Story From His Youth