Travis Kelce’s proposal to Taylor Swift was equal parts heartfelt and storybook, a moment that reflected both his playful charm and their deep connection. They chose the backyard of his Leawood, Kansas, mansion as the setting for their engagement photos, transforming the private space into a garden filled with thousands of flowers and soft, romantic details. While all eyes are on Swift’s sparkling ring, fans are also curious about Kelce’s next career move. Here’s what he just posted after announcing his engagement — and he seems to be following in Sydney Sweeney’s controversial footsteps.

Travis Kelce announced his partnership with American Eagle shortly after his engagement to Taylor Swift

When it came time to share the news of their engagement with the world, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce leaned into humor and heart in equal measure. Their joint Instagram post showcased photos from the floral-filled engagement shoot. But it was the caption, “Your English teacher and your gym teacher are getting married,” that instantly captured fans’ imaginations. The playful line nods to their contrasting worlds while showing their humorous side. Within minutes, fans flooded the post with millions of likes.

Now that all eyes are on Swift and Kelce, Kelce is using the opportunity to promote his next partnership. On Aug. 27, 2025, he posted a clip to his Instagram showing his sportswear brand’s limited-edition collaboration with American Eagle. The clip shows Kelce walking in style as he grabs a bag from his trunk. He then walks into a room of people he knows and goes on to hug them, high-five them, and take photos with them.

“Excited to finally share what we’ve been cookin’ up ‼️ @trukolorsbrand x @americaneagle OUT NOW!!!” Kelce captioned the post. “We had so much fun creating this collection and we can’t wait to see y’all rockin it #LiveToPlay #aepartner.”

Sydney Sweeney’s ‘great jeans’ American Eagle ad stirred up controversy for the company

Sydney Sweeney’s partnership with American Eagle for its “Has Great Jeans” campaign was designed to spotlight the brand’s denim while tapping into her playful, approachable image. The ads feature the Euphoria star in relaxed, casual looks and rolled out across social media, billboards, and interactive tech. American Eagle leaned on wordplay for the campaign’s tagline, celebrating its denim while positioning Sweeney as a face of effortless Gen Z style. The brand also tied in philanthropy, releasing a limited-edition “Sydney Jean” with proceeds supporting the Crisis Text Line.

But the lighthearted concept quickly sparked backlash. A teaser in which Sweeney quipped, “My genes are blue” drew criticism online, with many pointing out that the pun blurred the line between “jeans” and “genes” in a way that echoed troubling eugenics-era rhetoric. Coupled with Sweeney’s blonde hair and blue-eyed look, critics argued the ad unintentionally reinforced narrow beauty ideals.

Sweeney waited for the controversy to die down before commenting on the American Eagle ad. In August 2025, she told The Wall Street Journal what she thinks about navigating the complex world of what fans say on the internet.

“I think it’s important to have a finger on the pulse of what people are saying, because everything is a conversation with the audience,” she said.

Fans aren’t happy with Travis Kelce’s collaboration

Given the hot water that American Eagle found themselves in following Sydney Sweeney’s ad, Travis Kelce’s fans believe he can do better.

“American Eagle? Really? More ‘good jeans’?” Bella B Bold, an internationally published modern pinup, commented on Kelce’s post.

“AE really trying to make us forget the Sweeney ad,” another fan wrote.

Other fans tried to defend Kelce by stating that he had this collaboration with American Eagle before the controversy surrounding Sweeney. However, others think this isn’t an excuse.

“Yes, he LITERALLY can back out of a contract,” another fan wrote. “Him and Taylor are worth way more than whatever AE is paying him for this ad.”

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