Atlanta Falcons star Jessie Bates has nothing but “respect” for Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — but that might change once he steps on the field and plays against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday night.
During an appearance on “The Pacman Jones Show: Politely Raw,” the Pro Bowl safety admitted he might talk a little trash about the pair’s high-profile romance when he faces off against the tight end, 34, this weekend.
“I don’t listen to much Taylor Swift but obviously you got to respect [her] for what she has done with her career and then with Travis, obviously, you got to have some type of respect with him,” Bates told host Adam “Pacman” Jones.
Jessie Bates is already plotting his trash talk for Travis Kelce.Getty Images
The Atlanta Falcons star said he might use Kelce’s romance with Taylor Swift as a talking point on Sunday.Getty Images“But once that clock ticks and we in between those lines you know I see red sometimes so I might say some crazy stuff to him,” he continued. “It may involve Taylor, it may not.”
However, the 27-year-old noted that it’s nothing personal and “talking a little smack” is “just part of the game.”
Swift, 34, has attended both of Kelce’s home games so far during the 2024-2025 NFL season. While it’s unclear if she is planning to attend the game in Atlanta, Bates said her potential presence has no impact on him.
“I don’t care who is watching,” he said on the BetOnline show. “The standard is the standard and that’s just what it is.”
6“I might say some crazy stuff to him,” Bates said on “The Pacman Jones Show.” “It may involve Taylor, it may not.”
6The Chiefs face off against the Falcons on Sunday night.Getty ImagesBates isn’t the first — and likely not the last — one of Kelce’s opponents to bring up his relationship with the pop star before playing the Chiefs.
Earlier this month, Baltimore Ravens player Marlon Humphrey took aim at Kelce’s “New Heights” podcast ahead of their match-up, saying that Swift was the sole reason for its success.
“I pray for this — to go against him because, like, he’s tried to take everything from me,” Humphrey, 28, joked on an episode of his own podcast, “Punch Line.”
Humphrey’s team lost to the Chiefs during the AFC Championship in January 2024, crushing their Super Bowl hopes.
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Despite the friendly trash talk, Bates insisted that he has nothing but “respect” for both Swift and Kelce.Getty Images
Bates said “talking a little smack” is “just part of the game.”Getty Images
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That same year, Kelce’s podcast shot to the top of the charts, quickly becoming one of the most popular football podcasts.
The cornerback joked that Kelce “must pay” for his actions and suggested that his $100 million deal with Amazon was largely due to his relationship with Swift.
“Honestly, it is not right,” he sarcastically said. “I don’t care who he is dating.”
Even with the extra motivation, the Ravens lost by a touchdown during their nail-biting game against the Missouri-based team — with Swift in attendance, of course.
