Travis Kelce Takes Home Athlete of the Year Award at 2024 People’s Choice Awards
Travis Kelce, fresh off his Super Bowl triumph, clinched the title of Athlete of the Year at the 2024 People’s Choice Awards held on Sunday, February 18.
Despite his absence from the ceremony at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, Kelce, aged 34, emerged victorious from a competitive field that included Coco Gauff, Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, Lionel Messi, Sabrina Ionescu, Simone Biles, and Stephen Curry. (Kelce’s partner, Taylor Swift, celebrated a win of her own that evening, snagging four out of five nominations, although she couldn’t attend due to her Eras Tour commitments in Australia.)
Kelce had previously joked about his nomination during a January episode of his podcast “New Heights,” dismissing it as “f–king nonsense” and pondering his inclusion, quipping, “What did I do to get Athlete of the Year? I did SNL.”
Apart from his prowess as a tight end, Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift, 34, has kept him in the public eye since they began dating last summer.
Swift was present in Las Vegas to witness Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs secure their second consecutive Super Bowl victory on February 11.
After the Chiefs triumphed over the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 25-22 in overtime, Swift and Kelce’s mother, Donna Kelce, joined the celebration on the field.
Kelce, onstage with the Lombardi Trophy, serenaded the crowd with “Viva Las Vegas” before sharing a passionate kiss with Swift.
Reflecting on the moment, Swift expressed her astonishment, calling it “one of the craziest things I’ve ever experienced.”
Speaking to reporters, Kelce expressed his elation, declaring himself “on top of the world right now” and relishing the feeling of success.
Kelce’s stellar season extended beyond the Super Bowl, solidifying his status as one of the league’s premier players. In 2023, he racked up 93 catches for 984 yards and scored five touchdowns across 15 games.
In November 2023, the Chiefs proudly announced on Instagram that Kelce had become the “fastest tight end to reach 11,000 receiving yards and the only player in franchise history to achieve this milestone.
Addressing speculation about his NFL future, Kelce emphasized his commitment to the game, asserting that he had no intention of retiring anytime soon.
“I have no reason to stop playing football,” he affirmed during a press conference. “While I’ve found joy in ventures like SNL, it feels premature to consider a shift away from the field at this stage of my career.”
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