Sport

Who Tackled Travis Kelce? Meet Khalen Saunders, Brother of Taylor Swift’s Dancer Kameron!

2024-10-08

Author: Ling

Unexpected Tackle by Khalen Saunders

In a surprising turn of events during the Kansas City Chiefs versus New Orleans Saints matchup on Monday Night Football, tight end Travis Kelce found himself on the receiving end of a tough tackle by Khalen Saunders, the Saints' defensive tackle. This moment was especially intriguing due to Khalen's unique connection to Kelce's girlfriend, pop superstar Taylor Swift.

Details of the Incident

The incident unfolded in the third quarter at Arrowhead Stadium on October 7, when Saunders took down the 35-year-old Kelce, sending him to the ground. What made this moment even more interesting is the fact that Khalen's brother, Kameron Saunders, a popular dancer on Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, was present at the game supporting his sister-in-law's beau.

Reactions from the Family and Fans

In a lighthearted twist, Travis' brother Jason Kelce took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his mixed feelings about the tackle, acknowledging Khalen's athleticism: “I hate that that happened, but that’s a hell of a play by former Chief @khalenNOTkaylen he was moving for a big man!!” Former NFL star JJ Watt also weighed in on the amusing coincidence on social media, noting, “Taylor Swift’s backup dancer’s brother Khalen Saunders just tackled her boyfriend Travis Kelce to stop him from scoring a touchdown.”

Khalen's Background and Relationship with Taylor Swift

Fortunately, Kelce emerged unscathed from the play and continued to compete without any issues. Before the game, Khalen and Kameron were spotted together on the sidelines, capturing a sweet moment for their fans. Khalen previously played with the Chiefs for three years, clinching two Super Bowl victories in 2019 and 2022 before signing a three-year deal with the Saints. This meant that he was not only familiar with Kelce from their time together in Kansas City but also shared a bond through their respective connections to Taylor Swift.

Khalen's Admiration for Swift

Adding to their intertwined stories, Khalen had previously expressed admiration for Swift. In March 2023, he took his daughter to see Kameron at one of Swift's concerts, posting about how inspiring it was to witness both his brother's and Swift's performances on a grand stage. “Excellent show last night @taylorswift you might really be the GOAT,” Khalen wrote.

A Fun Dynamic Between Brothers

As the game approached, Khalen jokingly remarked that he better not lose his brother's support during the contest, cheekily asserting, “I was here first” when discussing his brother’s potential biases in rooting for the teams.

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