During the final night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), speculation swirled about possible surprise guests, with names like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and even Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce being mentioned. However, one major issue quickly arose—Kelce was supposed to be on the sidelines for the Chiefs’ final preseason game against the Chicago Bears.

On Thursday, CBS host Gail King sparked buzz when she claimed that Kelce had expressed interest in attending the DNC. According to King, the Chiefs’ tight end had reached out to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign, showing interest in being present on the night of her speech.

“The Taylor Swift rumor is interesting to me because I was told a couple of days ago that Travis Kelce also had reached out to the Harris campaign when it was first announced and said that he wanted to be here on the night that she was speaking. We’ll see if that is true,” King stated.

However, her co-hosts, Norah O’Donnell and Nancy Cordes, quickly reminded King that the Chiefs were playing the Bears that very night at Arrowhead Stadium, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 PM. Despite the obvious conflict, King persisted, saying, “I know he has a game, but that doesn’t mean he’s playing.”

In the end, the rumor was put to rest when Kelce did not appear at the United Center in Chicago for the DNC, nor did he play in the preseason game. Whether the NFL schedule or other factors interfered with Kelce’s alleged plans to attend remains unclear.

Adding to the confusion, the DNC threw a wrench into the viewing plans for Chiefs fans. The Kansas City Star reported that the game, typically broadcast on KSP, was moved to KMCI. However, instead of football, the DNC aired on the usual channel, leaving fans to scramble for alternative ways to watch the game. While the NFL Network carried the broadcast, blackout restrictions prevented Kansas City fans from streaming it there.

The mix-up serves as a reminder of the challenges that arise when sports and politics intersect, particularly in a year as politically charged as 2024. While the idea of Kelce attending the DNC may have sparked excitement, it seems his commitment to football—and a preseason game—ultimately won out.