Taylor Swift surprises fans with 'football helmet' lyric change, referencing Travis Kelce

On July 19, 2024, Taylor Swift delighted fans with a surprise mashup of two love songs during her Eras Tour show in Gelsenkirchen, Germany. 

The 34-year-old singer blended “Paper Rings” from her 2019 album Lover with “Stay Stay Stay” from her 2012 album Red (Taylor's Version). 

She performed the mashup during an acoustic segment, featuring the line, “I like shiny things, but I’d marry you with paper rings,” followed by the lyric, “That’s when you came in wearing a football helmet.”

The “football helmet” lyric has gained significance since Swift’s romance with NFL player Travis Kelce. Kelce, 34, attended Swift’s concerts in the days prior but missed the mashup as he was returning to the U.S. for Chiefs training camp. 

The couple has shared several public moments throughout the tour, including Kelce's surprise onstage appearance at the June 23 London show.

Swift’s fans have also paid tribute to Kelce by wearing Chiefs jerseys at her concerts. At her Amsterdam show on July 6, Swift acknowledged Kelce's jersey number 87 during a mashup of “Mary's Song,” “So High School,” and “Everything Has Changed.” 

During a June 21 London performance, Swift even mimicked an archery gesture reminiscent of Kelce’s football celebrations.