Despite the absence of his superstar girlfriend, Taylor Swift, at recent NFL games, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce insists that he doesn’t need her support at every outing.

Kelce showcased a strong performance against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, even with Swift missing from the stands for the second week in a row. In a resurfaced clip from 2016, he shared his thoughts on attendance expectations for partners of professional athletes.

“I do not believe, at least for me, that you have to go to all the games,” he stated. “I mean, there are 8 home games, 8 away games, plus playoffs,” he explained, highlighting the demands of an NFL schedule.

Kelce added that this expectation wasn’t just for people he was dating, saying, ‘I don’t even expect my parents and my friends to make every single game.’

Swift did show her face at the first two games of the season – both in Kansas City – before passing on Sunday Night Football in Atlanta and then this past week’s game in Los Angeles.

While Travis Kelce doesn’t expect his girlfriend, Taylor Swift, to attend every game, he emphasizes the importance of her support. “I need her to cheer when we’re doing awesome, just to make sure that look is being presented to everyone,” he said.

Swift certainly brings that energy, as seen in her enthusiastic attendance at multiple games last season, often spotted cheering from luxury suites at Arrowhead Stadium.

After a slow start this season, Kelce turned things around against the Los Angeles Chargers, leading the Chiefs with seven catches on nine targets for 89 yards. He also recorded his 917th reception in red and white during the first half, breaking Tony Gonzalez’s record of 916 catches.

Kelce will look to maintain this momentum in an upcoming Monday Night Football matchup against the New Orleans Saints.