When Jeff Rotsky walked into Arrowhead Stadium last December, it wasn’t just another visit to see a former player. The longtime high school coach was there to watch Travis Kelce, the kid he once coached in Cleveland Heights.
Taylor Swift was in attendance to support Kelce, as the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Houston Texans. Rotsky was there too and he says his first encounter with Swift was as unforgettable as it was endearing.
“She is the kindest young lady you ever met and down to earth. She treated us like gold. The first time we met, her opening line was, ‘I’ve been looking forward to meeting you, I want to hear all the dirt about Travis,'” Rotsky recalled in an interview with The Times.
It was a moment that broke the ice immediately, the superstar asking the coach for inside stories about his old tight end.
“There’s plenty of it,” Rotsky laughed, remembering how Kelce’s high school competitiveness often bordered on chaos.
A proud coach reflects on his former player
For Rotsky, seeing Kelce at this stage of life has been deeply rewarding. “Football’s great, but this is life,” he said. “I am so excited for him to become a husband, even more excited for him to become a father someday. I pray for little Kelces running around here in the next couple of years.”
At Cleveland Heights High School, Kelce was the definition of a multi-sport phenomenon. He starred in both football and basketball, a natural athlete with the kind of drive that’s impossible to coach. Rotsky still remembers the blend of energy and raw emotion that made Kelce impossible to ignore.
“There are great stories about Trav, starting with the competitiveness to the recruitment trips with my son,” he said. “He knew how to have fun and have a good time…..I’m proud of what he’s done athletically.”
That same competitiveness carried Kelce through his early struggles in college, when he briefly lost his scholarship and was suspended for a season at Cincinnati. Rotsky, who kept in touch through the years, said those challenges forged the resilience that defines him now.
From “menace” to maturity
Looking back, Rotsky can trace Kelce‘s growth from his teenage years to his current fame. In high school, Kelce was the kid who wanted every rep, argued every call, and never accepted losing – not even in practice. That fiery edge sometimes got him into trouble, but it also made him special.
“He wanted to win every time he stepped on the field,” Rotsky said. “He pushed everyone to rise to his level.”
Over time, that relentless energy evolved into the leadership and confidence that anchor his career today. It’s also what seems to draw Taylor Swift toward him, a personality that blends charisma with intensity. Rotsky admits that seeing his former player’s relationship dominate headlines has been surreal, but also heartwarming.
“She treated us like gold,” he repeated, emphasizing how genuine Swift was during their meeting. For all her fame, he said, she carried herself with warmth and humility – something that reminded him of the down-to-earth roots Kelce has kept through the years.
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