Real reason Travis Kelce is desperate for Tom Cruise's approval... and what Taylor Swift stands to gain from new A-list friendship

It was something of a surprise to see Tom Cruise sat next to Taylor Swift as they watched Travis Kelce's first game of the new NFL season together.

Just like when he stunned Swifties by turning up at one of the singer's Eras Tour shows in London in 2024, the strength of Cruise's NFL fandom has seemingly flown a little under the radar.

The Hollywood action star admitted he hadn't stepped foot inside an NFL stadium since before the pandemic and the songstress was 'schooling' him on the intricacies of the game as Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs dismantled the Denver Broncos last week.

But the presence of the action hero at Arrowhead Stadium shows the strength of a blossoming friendship emerging between Cruise and the newly-married Kelce and Swift. Days later, he made an appearance on New Heights with the Kelce brothers.

Swift rolled out the red carpet for Cruise at Wembley, while the actor and Kelce were laughing and dancing together. Top Gun star Cruise, 64, was also at Madison Square Garden to watch Swift and Kelce tie the knot earlier this summer. 

But the tightening bond the trio share could also play an important part in the next chapter of the three-time Super Bowl winner's life. 

A source recently told the Daily Mail that Cruise can 'open doors' for the charismatic tight end in Hollywood studios as he prepares to ramp up his ambitious move into acting once he hangs up his cleats.

'Travis is a huge fan of Tom's action movies. Tom's a football fan. That's really what brought Tom into Taylor's world,' the insider said. 'He knew Travis, but it was kind of from afar. They've now become good buddies.'

'Tom can help Travis get a foot in the Hollywood door,' the insider added. 'Travis very much wants to work in Hollywood either as an actor or host, or maybe even both. He feels he has a chance and has the look for it.

'Tom will open doors for Travis, and Tom may even give Travis a role in Days Of Thunder 2, which would be a great fit.'

Cruise is currently in the early stages of his highly anticipated return to the role of NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in the Days Of Thunder sequel. This time he will star opposite Anne Hathaway, not his original co-star and ex-wife Nicole Kidman.

But while a role in that movie would be arguably the biggest of Kelce's acting career so far, the insider added that Swift may be involved in the blockbuster too.

'Their conversations (at the Chiefs game) were pretty innocent, but it's almost impossible for business not to come up,' the source said.

'It wouldn't be surprising if their friendship eventually became a business collaboration, with her potentially recording a song for Days Of Thunder, which was brought up in the box.'

Indeed, Swift recorded 'I Knew It, I Knew You' for Toy Story 5 earlier this year to great acclaim. And she also announced a new song on Tuesday, titled 'Patient Zero'.

Perhaps poignantly, the New Heights X account also shared a clip on Tuesday morning from their interview with Cruise, where they were discussing film music.

'No one's got better music in their movies than Tom Cruise,' the caption said.

Kelce, meanwhile, made his acting debut in Ryan Murphy's Grotesquerie in 2024 before popping up alongside Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore 2. He also hosted his own game show Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity? for Amazon Prime.

But despite signing a three-year contract extension with the Chiefs worth $54 million back in March, Kelce knows his time on the field is running out. He turns 37 on October 5 and there are stipulations in that latest Chiefs deal that will make it simple for him to retire after the 2026 season, if he wishes to do so.

A source also recently told the Daily Mail that some big-name invitees to the lavish MSG wedding were potentially there for Kelce's benefit.

'Taylor and Travis worked the room like crazy with Taylor introducing him to every heavy hitter there... all people who can help get him cast in movies because he wants to become a big actor after he retires from football,' a guest claimed.

'It felt like a networking event to help Travis get a leg up in Hollywood.'

After the Chiefs' humbling 40-22 Super Bowl loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2025, Kelce admitted his focus on football had wavered as he juggled his relationship with Swift and took his first steps into TV and film.

His impressive start to this season, where he's had a central role in the team's opening two wins, shows he's locked in as the Chiefs try to return to the mountaintop. But the ever-ambitious Kelce and Swift will no doubt continue to plot his future away from football.

For now though, football is the main focus. The Chiefs and Kelce head to Miami this weekend to play the Dolphins and are expected to win well.