Before he was the boyfriend of the world's biggest popstar, Travis Kelce was already a household name in the United States for his exploits on the NFL field.
Regarded as one of the greatest tight-ends of all time, the 34-year-old is a two-time Super Bowl winner and has reinvented the crucial position during his career.
Striking up a lethal combination with superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the pair have taken Kansas City to the mountaintop and are on the precipice of doing it once again when they face the San Francisco 49ers on Monday (AEDT).
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Kelce's rise to stardom began in Cleveland Heights, Ohio where he became a three-sport athlete, showing plenty of promise in football, basketball and baseball.
While only regarded as a two-star recruit heading into college, Kelce would become a standout at the University of Cincinnati, transitioning from a quarterback into a permanent fixture at tight-end.
After graduating in 2012, Kelce was drafted by the Chiefs in the third round by new head coach Andy Reid, who cited a previous family connection to Travis' older brother and Eagles legend, Jason, from their time together in Philadelphia.
Kelce would begin to show glimpses of his potential in his formative years at Kansas City, but it wasn't until Mahomes became the franchise's first-string playmaker in 2018 that he truly began to make his mark on the league.
The pair would go on to become a focal point of the Chiefs' stranglehold over their AFC West division, as well as combining beautifully in their Super Bowl triumphs of 2020 (against San Francisco) and 2023 (against Philadelphia).
As a four-time All-Pro and nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Kelce now has a litany of NFL and franchise records to his name, cementing his status as an all-time great.
Kelce has more post-season receptions (156) than any player in the league's history; the most receiving yards in a season by a tight-end (1416) in history; and the most 1000-yard seasons by any tight-end (seven).
As far as the Chiefs go, Kelce is the leader for receiving yards (11,328) and 100-yard receiving games (37) during his career, etching his name into the history books.
Off the field, Kelce has been a major hit with fans for his charming personality and outgoing personality.
From brash post-game speeches – including citing The Rock's jabroni insult and channeling The Beastie Boys on numerous occasions – to his touchdown celebrations going viral on almost a weekly basis, Kelce has become a beloved figure in the NFL.
He also starred in his own reality dating show Catching Kelce before his time dating Taylor Swift, while his widely-popular podcast New Heights alongside his brother has topped every chart imaginable since its inception in 2022.
While most fans from outside North America will now know Kelce as Swift's latest boyfriend, football fans continue to recognise the greatness he has achieved on the field and this year's Super Bowl will be another chance for him to cement his legacy.
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