Even NFL superstars know there’s nothing quite like Friday night under the lights.

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, 36, surprised fans in Kansas on November 14 when he showed up at a high school football playoff game — cheering from the sidelines like any proud teammate would.

The matchup between Mill Valley High School and St. James Academy was a quarterfinal thriller in the Kansas state championship series. Kelce was there to support his close friend and former Chiefs teammate Anthony Sherman, who now serves as an assistant coach for St. James.

Local reporter Matt Foster shared a photo of Kelce bundled up on the sidelines, standing shoulder to shoulder with another familiar face — former Chiefs tight end Blake Bell.

“Got to love seeing Travis Kelce supporting Kansas high school football,” one fan wrote. “He’s as real as it gets.”

💔 A Tough Loss, But a Night to Remember

Despite Kelce’s good-luck presence, St. James Academy narrowly fell to Mill Valley, 41–38, in what fans called one of the most intense games of the season.

Still, Kelce’s appearance was the highlight of the night — especially for young players who couldn’t believe they were sharing the field (almost) with an NFL legend.

“You could feel the energy shift when he walked in,” one spectator told The Kansas City Star. “Every kid out there wanted to play their best for him.”

🏆 A True Fan of the Game

Kelce’s love for high school football runs deep. Earlier this year, he was spotted training with two young athletes in Georgia, offering tips and motivation during the Chiefs’ offseason.

“Got some good work in with Travis Kelce this past week,” wrote wide receiver Jazz Lewis, son of NFL great Jamal Lewis. “Learned a lot from the Super Bowl legend.”

It’s a reminder that for all his fame, Kelce hasn’t forgotten where his journey began — as a hungry teenager chasing dreams under the stadium lights of Cleveland Heights High School in Ohio.

❤️ From Date Nights to Sideline Support

Kelce’s surprise football appearance also came just days after a whirlwind week of romance with fiancée Taylor Swift. The couple was spotted on two back-to-back date nights in New York City — first at The Polo Bar, then at the exclusive Zero Bond club, where they were photographed holding hands and laughing as they entered.

Now, as the Chiefs prepare to face the Denver Broncos on November 16, Kelce is back in game mode — but not before proving once again that he’s the kind of superstar who never forgets his roots.

“That’s Travis,” a source close to the Chiefs said. “Fame hasn’t changed him — he still shows up for his people.”