Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story stars Tyler Hynes and Hunter King detailed Donna Kelce’s “incredible” performance in the Hallmark film and her sweet nod to son Travis Kelce.
Travis Kelce‘s mom is in her acting era.
Donna Kelce will appear in Hallmark’s upcoming film Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story alongside stars Hunter King and Tyler Hynes, who had an “incredible” time working with her.
“She’s like a rare and beautiful unicorn,” Tyler told E! News in an exclusive interview. “When she showed up on set, it was like, ‘The Eagle has landed.’ It was like the president was joining us, and rightfully so. She’s like the country’s mother.”
Indeed, Donna—the actual mom of professional football players Travis, 35, and Jason Kelce, 37—has become a household name in recent years thanks, in part, to her heartwarming relationship with the NFL stars. In fact, Donna didn’t miss the opportunity to give a subtle nod to her youngest son during her Holiday Touchdown cameo, wearing her own 87 jersey adorned with a “love you mommy” message from Travis on the back.
As Hunter told E! of the Easter egg, “I know that she put a lot of thought into that.”
Further reflecting on her time on the Kansas City set with Donna, Hunter agreed with Tyler that it “really was like the president was in the movie.”
Why? “Because we had to sneak her in through the back,” she explained. “Once people that lived in Kansas City heard that there was a Hallmark-Chiefs movie being made, everyone wanted to come and get a glimpse of it, which was just so incredible to watch the Chiefs kingdom and how loyal their fans are and how loyal the Hallmark fans are.”
©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Joshua HainesHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story, which premieres Nov. 30, follows Chiefs superfan Alana (Hunter), whose family is vying for a chance to win the NFL team’s Fan of the Year contest. As it turns out, the contest is being judged by Derrick (Tyler) the director of fan engagement for the Chiefs, who doesn’t really understand the passion of the Chiefs community.
“At first, they bump heads,” Hunter noted, “because she’s upset that this is the guy that’s gonna judge if her family wins the Fan of the Year Award.”
“But then this spark between them grows,” she continued, “and her family kind of nudges her along.”
©2024 Hallmark Media/Photographer: Joshua HainesAnd as for why the actors were drawn to this film?
“It’s a moment in time, culturally, thematically for the Chiefs,” Tyler explained. “It’s like such a big, unprecedented thing that they’re embarking on.”
Of course, there’s the added layer of a certain Chiefs tight end’s relationship with Taylor Swift.
Cooper Neill/Getty Images“You have this beautiful love story of Trav and Taylor,” Tyler continued. “And then Hallmark has been evolving and sort of entering the cultural zeitgeist for a while now, and it just felt like everything kind of converging for these two very similar brands to team up and do something.”
“And then the fact that Hunter was coming on board,” he added, “to lead this movie, as wonderful as an actor as she is, we’re so fortunate, and the rest of the cast are just crazy legends.”
Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesHoliday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story—which also features Ed Begley Jr. and a cameo from Today‘s Jenna Bush Hager—premieres Nov. 30 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Hallmark Channel.
For more on Travis and Taylor’s love story, keep reading…
Fernando Leon/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementJuly 2023: So, Make the Friendship Bracelets
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce‘s love story began in July 2023, when the singer’s Eras Tour made a stop at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
As a huge Swiftie, the Kansas City Chiefs tight end caught the show with hopes of giving Taylor a friendship bracelet with his number on it. However, he failed to complete the pass due to her pre-show rituals.
“I was disappointed that she doesn’t talk before or after her shows because she has to save her voice for the 44 songs that she sings,” Travis shared on the July 26 episode of his New Heights podcast. “So, I was a little butt-hurt I didn’t get to hand her one of the bracelets I made for her.”
JC Olivera/Getty ImagesSummer 2023: This Is Him Trying
After publicly recounting his fumble—a move Taylor would later describe as “metal as hell”—Travis decided to shoot his shot and invite the Grammy winner to watch the Chiefs play at Arrowhead Stadium.
“I threw it out there, I threw the ball in her court,” he shared on The Pat McAfee Show. “I told her, you know, ‘I’ve seen you rock the stage in Arrowhead, you might have to come see me rock the stage in Arrowhead and see which one’s a little more lit.’ So, we’ll see what happens in the near future.”
Michael Owens/Getty ImagesAugust 2023: Enchanted to Meet You
Travis was rocking a mustache—which he debuted in August during training camp—when he was first introduced to Taylor.
As he later noted of the era, “That ‘stache and the 87 jersey was pretty iconic there for a little bit, and I had it when I met Taylor for the first time.”
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for The Recording Academy / David Eulitt/Getty ImagesSeptember 2023: Sparks Fly
By early September, a source close to the situation told E! News that Travis and Taylor were “texting and talking here and there.”
“It’s been very low-key,” the insider explained, “as he’s been in season.”
Cooper Neill/Getty ImagesSeptember 2023: Cheer Captain
Accepting Travis’ invite, Taylor joined the athlete’s mom Donna Kelce at Arrowhead Stadium to watch him and the Chiefs take on the Chicago Bears. After the game, Taylor and Travis were seen packing PDA at a local bar.
Though folklore had it that it was the couple’s first in-person meeting, the “Karma” singer later clarified the two had spent a “significant amount of time” getting to know each other beforehand.
As Taylor noted, “We would never be psychotic enough to hard launch a first date.”
Kevin Sabitus/Getty ImagesOctober 2023: Team Up
As an indication that the relationship was heating up, Taylor brought her squad—including friends Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Sophie Turner, Hugh Jackman, Sabrina Carpenter and Antoni Porowski—to watch the Chiefs play against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
David Eulitt/Getty ImagesOctober 2023: It’s Nice to Have a Friend
Another sign that Travis could be The 1? Taylor started bonding with Brittany Mahomes—the wife of Travis’ BFF and teammate Patrick Mahomes—in and outside of NFL games.
Gotham/GC ImagesOctober 2023: Welcome to New York
The couple took their romance to TV, making a surprise appearance on the Oct. 14 episode of Saturday Night Live. Their Big Apple takeover also included the after-party for the NBC sketch show and a date night at the Waverly Inn.
Marcelo Endelli/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementNovember 2023: Karma Is Her Boyfriend
During a bye week, Travis traveled down to Argentina to catch the South American leg of Taylor’s Eras Tour. Not only did the NFL star bond with Taylor’s dad, Scott Swift, at the Nov. 11 show in Buenos Aires, but he also got a special shoutout from the stage.
“Karma is that guy on the Chiefs,” Taylor sang, “coming straight home to me.”
After the show, the Midnights artist was seen running up to Travis backstage and greeting him with a passionate kiss.
Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementDecember 2024: Speak Now
Taylor addressed the lavender craze surrounding her appearances at Travis’ games.
“I’m going to see him do what he loves, we’re showing up for each other, other people are there and we don’t care,” she told Time. “The opposite of that is you have to go to an extreme amount of effort to make sure no one knows that you’re seeing someone.”
Kathryn Riley/Getty ImagesDecember 2023: You, Who Charmed Her Dad
The music superstar turned Travis’ Dec. 17 game into a family affair, bringing her dad to cheer on her man.
Gotham/GC ImagesJanuary 2024: All the Midnights
Taylor and Travis spent their first New Year’s Eve together, sharing a romantic kiss when the clock struck midnight on Jan. 1.
Kathryn Riley / Contributor (Getty Images)January 2024: Chosen Family
Continuing to bond with Travis’ family, Taylor hung out with his brother Jason Kelce and sister-in-law Kylie Kelce at the Chiefs’ game against the Buffalo Bills.
Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesJanuary 2024: Saved by the Perfect Kiss
Taylor joined Travis on the football field when the Chiefs won the AFC Championship, a victory that cemented the team’s spot in the 2024 Super Bowl. The couple shared a celebratory kiss before exchanging the L-word.
“Tay, I’m gonna enjoy with the guys,” he told her. “I love you—so much it’s not funny.”
Ezra Shaw/Getty ImagesFebruary 2024: Super Bowl Champs
The pair locked lips on the field after Travis led the Kansas City Chiefs to victory on Feb. 11, 2024 in Las Vegas.
TikTokFebruary 2024: TikTok Official
Taylor posted footage of Travis on social media for the first time Feb. 12, poking fun at how she took her parents clubbing with the athlete after the Super Bowl.
Instagram / Taylor SwiftJune 2024: Instagram Official
Taylor’s first Instagram pic featuring Travis was a selfie of the two with Prince William and his and wife Kate Middleton‘s eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte backstage at the singer’s Eras tour show at Wembley Stadium in London.
Gareth Cattermole/TAS24/Getty Images for TAS Rights ManagementJune 2024: Travis’ Eras Tour Stage Debut
While attending his seventh Eras tour concert, and second show at London’s Wembley Stadium, the NFL star joined his girlfriend onstage as a backup performer during her performance of “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart.”
InstagramSeptember 2024: Back in the Game
Taylor joined Travis for the Chief’s first game of the regular 2024-25 season and appeared to re-enact a PDA moment from October 2023 in this photo shared by Chariah Gordon, who is pictured with her boyfriend, Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman.
Janet Mayer / Splash by ShutterstockSeptember 2024: Wedding Date
The two attended model Karen Elson‘s wedding to Electric Lady Studios owner Lee Foster in New York City.
Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesSeptember 2024: U.S. Open Date
The next day, the pair attended the men’s singles final match at the U.S. Open.
XNY/Star Max/GC ImagesOctober 2024: Double Date
The two stepped out for a double dinner date with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds in NYC.
