Travis Kelce became a ‘different man’ once he and Taylor Swift started dating, Chiefs coach Dave Merritt says… while praising the pop star for ‘winning the Super Bowl’ in his first year in the NFL.

Travis Kelce has become a “different man” since he and Taylor Swift started dating, says Kansas City Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt.

Appearing on last week’s episode of ‘The Sports Shop Podcast with Reese & K-Mac,’ Merritt, 52, said he believed the 12-time Grammy Award-winning singer’s presence at last season’s games ‘added ‘ another layer to the Chiefs. ultimate goal of becoming the first team to win consecutive Super Bowls since the 2004 Patriots.

“She really affected the team in a positive way,” Merritt said early on. ‘Everyone was excited and Travis was happy.

“So when my players, a brother, is happy by my side, that helps me and encourages me, so Travis came there a different man. So she helped us.”

Merritt, who has been with the Chiefs since 2019, added that every player on the team was immediately supportive of the couple’s relationship from the beginning, even though it was a potential distraction.

‘There were so many people who hated the fact that she was on TV that, you know what? “You’re part of our family because you’re with Travis,” Merritt said.

‘So, therefore, you are our little sister… You are part of our family.’

Merritt also shared that Swift first arrived at stadiums “privately” before her romance with Kelce became public.

“She would walk into stadiums without people really knowing until the camera highlighted it,” he said.

Merritt also jokingly gave the pop star some credit for winning a Super Bowl in his first year in the NFL, referring to Kansas City’s Super Bowl overtime victory against the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the year. this month.

Swift, who is currently in Singapore as part of her ‘Eras’ tour, began secretly dating Kelce last summer, but did not appear at a Chiefs game until they faced the Chicago Bears on September 24.

The ‘You Belong with Me’ hitmaker attended a total of 13 Chiefs games last season, including one in New York, and kissed her beau after Kansas City beat the Baltimore Ravens in the game for the AFC Championship last month.

They kissed once again after Kelce won his third Super Bowl ring on February 11.

Kelce has supported his girlfriend by attending her concerts in Sydney, Australia, last week, and in Argentina, last November.