{"id":46046,"date":"2025-08-22T13:24:17","date_gmt":"2025-08-22T17:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/?p=46046"},"modified":"2025-08-22T13:24:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T17:24:17","slug":"chiefs-teammates-teased-travis-kelce-over-his-2016-dating-show-derrick-johnson-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/08\/chiefs-teammates-teased-travis-kelce-over-his-2016-dating-show-derrick-johnson-says.html","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs Teammates Teased Travis Kelce Over His 2016 Dating Show, Derrick Johnson Says"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Left: All-Pro Reels \/ Flickr | Right: Fox News Digital<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Before Travis Kelce\u2019s relationship with Taylor Swift became headline news, the Kansas City Chiefs star was already making waves for his dating life. Back in 2016, Kelce starred in his own reality dating show, “Catching Kelce,” where he tried dating 50 women\u2014one from each state\u2014in hopes of finding a girlfriend. The show only lasted one season, but it definitely caught the attention of Kelce\u2019s teammates.<\/p>\n

Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson, the team\u2019s all-time tackle leader, recently shared how the locker room reacted when the show aired.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe tried not to [talk about the show in the locker room] but we kind of teased him at times, because when you\u2019re playing for Andy Reid, there\u2019s no distractions. You got to do your job and do it at a high level. So we were aware of the show in the locker room. We\u2019d throw different stuff out there. But when it came to football, it was all business,\u201d Johnson told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

Kelce turned 27 in October 2016 when the show aired, right in the middle of that NFL season. At the time, he was enjoying his first 1,000-yard receiving year and was in the middle of what would become ten straight Pro Bowl appearances. Still, Johnson admitted that while the guys had fun giving Kelce a hard time, they also respected his confidence off the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe had that taken care of. Good or bad, that\u2019s the area that he needs no help in,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

The show ended with Kelce choosing Maya Benberry from Kentucky as his girlfriend. But their relationship didn\u2019t last long, and by 2017, Kelce was reported to be dating model Kayla Nicole. The two stayed together, off and on, for about five years before splitting in May 2022.<\/p>\n

Then came 2023, when Kelce began his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift. Johnson, who had already retired by then, couldn\u2019t help but notice.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe outkicked his coverage. Taylor\u2019s big time,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cKelce\u2019s big time as well, football-wise, but she is globally. So they\u2019re definitely a power couple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnson, who played his final NFL season with the rival Raiders in 2018, remains an admired figure in Chiefs history. Though his career ended before the team\u2019s recent dynasty of three Super Bowl wins and five appearances from 2019 to 2024, his leadership left a lasting mark on Kelce\u2019s early years. Looking back, Johnson said it was clear that the young tight end was destined for greatness.<\/p>\n

\u201cNone of us knew who he could really be. He probably didn\u2019t know it at all either. And once he got going after his second year, third year, I was like, \u2018This guy is the man!\u2019\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

From reality TV to the spotlight of NFL stardom, and now as half of one of the world\u2019s most famous celebrity couples, Kelce\u2019s journey has been anything but ordinary. And while his teammates may have once teased him about “Catching Kelce,” there\u2019s no doubt he\u2019s more than proven himself both on and off the field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Before Travis Kelce\u2019s relationship with Taylor Swift became headline news, the Kansas City Chiefs star was already making waves for his dating life. Back in 2016, Kelce starred in his own reality dating show, “Catching Kelce,” where he tried dating 50 women\u2014one from each state\u2014in hopes of finding a girlfriend. The show only lasted one…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":462,"featured_media":46049,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46046","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-television"],"yoast_head":"\nChiefs Teammates Teased Travis Kelce Over His 2016 Dating Show, Derrick Johnson Says<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Former Chiefs star Derrick Johnson recalls teammates teasing Travis Kelce over his 2016 dating show before his rise to stardom.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/idolchatter\/2025\/08\/chiefs-teammates-teased-travis-kelce-over-his-2016-dating-show-derrick-johnson-says.html\" \/>\n<meta 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