Athlete’s signature celebrations often inspire tributes from fans off the field.
Iconic choreography from the NFL end zone make their way to social media and take on a life of their own. Justin Jefferson’s Griddy is a perfect example, as is C.J. Stroud’s Squabble dance.
Travis Kelce doesn’t have one standout touchdown celebration, though he’s cycled through dances, including the Dougie and the Stanky Leg. But he does have a signature move.
Whenever Kelce runs out onto the field, the three-time Super Bowl champion stops, puts his hands together as if he is wielding a bow and fires an imaginary arrow into the sky.
But he’s not the only one making the archer pose famous. Kelce’s girlfriend, international music sensation Taylor Swift, added it to her on-stage performance at her concert Friday.
Swift’s miming of the bow and arrow served as a clear acknowledgment of Kelce, who attended the show. But it also was a throwback for the singer, who previously used the move while performing her song “The Archer.”
Here’s what you need to know about the archer pose, why Kelce does it and when Swift has used it in her shows.
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Taylor Swift archer pose
Swift kicked off a three-show stint in London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday night. Kelce, who has been in a relationship with Swift since last summer, attended the show alongside his brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie.
As Swift transitioned into her performance of “So High School,” a song strongly implied to be about Kelce, she struck the archer pose and shot an imaginary arrow into the sky.
With the move, she gave a subtle nod to Kelce and his on-field celebrations.
📲| Taylor Swift doing The Archer during “So High School” in London 🏹 #LondonTSTheErastour
pic.twitter.com/hqyAlkpRu9
— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) June 21, 2024
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As Swifties know, she also used the pose as part of her choreography well before getting to know Kelce — she performed it during “The Archer” before removing the song from the set list in May to make room for songs from her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”
So her use of the archer pose Friday could be a coincidence. But let’s face it — would anyone be surprised if the mastermind herself did it as an ode to Kelce at this point in their relationship?
Why does Travis Kelce do the archer pose?
The archer pose is not just a random arm motion for Kelce. There actually is a meaning behind it.
On an episode of “New Heights,” Kelce’s podcast with his brother Jason, the Chiefs tight end explained the reason behind the pose.
@chiefs Year 12, HERE WE GO!!! 🏹 #traviskelce #chiefs #mediaday ♬ Confidence (sped up version) – Ocean Alley
“I do the archer pose when I enter the stadium because I wanted to do something when I ran out of the tunnel,” Kelce said on an October 2023 episode of “New Heights”. “You know, what’s really been motivating for me is to dream big. Always shoot for the stars. So I’m always out there shooting for the stars.
“One of my favorite quotes from my guy, Deion Sanders, Prime Time, says, ‘If your dreams aren’t bigger than you, then there’s a problem with your dreams.’ So don’t forget to shoot for the stars, ladies and gentlemen.”
