Colin Kaepernick and Taylor Swift portrait composite
Sports Stars

Colin Kaepernick’s Mom Urged Him to Date Taylor Swift Years Before Travis Kelce Romance

Long before Travis Kelce entered the picture, Colin Kaepernick’s mother tried setting her son up with Taylor Swift — but he turned down the idea.

By Rae MitchellPublished Updated 2 min read

Long before Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce became the central football figure in Taylor Swift's life, a completely different sports star was encouraged to pursue the music icon. Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has unveiled a surprising detail from his past, revealing that his own mother once tried to act as a matchmaker between him and the multi-Grammy winner. Writing candidly in his memoir, *Perilous Fight*, Kaepernick opened up about the family dynamic surrounding his dating life years ago. According to the former NFL star, his mother was firmly convinced that he and the global pop titan would make an absolute dream team. She repeatedly urged him to make a move and ask Swift out on a date long before the singer ever stepped foot into Arrowhead Stadium.

Did Colin Kaepernick ask out Taylor Swift Despite his mother's insistence that they would be perfect together, Kaepernick was not convinced. He revealed that he ultimately shut down the idea of reaching out to the superstar. When pressed about the potential setup, the athlete reportedly felt that Swift was simply not his type, leading him to pass on the opportunity entirely. While his mother envisioned a headline-grabbing crossover between sports and pop music royalty, Kaepernick stayed true to his own preferences. He refrained from making any romantic overtures toward the hitmaker, leaving the matchmaker's dream unfulfilled and keeping his personal life focused elsewhere.

Colin Kaepernick in a black embroidered suit and Teresa Kaepernick in a light pantsuit pose in front of a wall of pink and white roses.
Colin Kaepernick (pictured above in May 2018) wrote in his new memoir that his mom encouraged him to ask out Taylor Swift.

Colin Kaepernick mother Taylor Swift comment Years after Kaepernick opted out of asking Swift for a date, the music world and the sports world collided anyway. Swift's high-profile relationship with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce went on to capture global attention, creating a pop-culture phenomenon that blurred the lines between the music industry and professional football. Kaepernick's memory of his mother's matchmaking attempt offers fans an intriguing look at what might have been. Had he heeded her push years prior, the current landscape of pop-culture sports crossovers might have looked wildly different. But as Kaepernick confirmed in his book, he listened to his heart rather than his mom's romantic suggestions. Ultimately, the athlete’s candid story proves that even sports stars cannot escape parental romantic advice. While his mother saw the ultimate celebrity power couple in the making, Kaepernick preferred to keep things simple, leaving the pop superstar to find her football romance down the road.

The photos · 6

Colin Kaepernick and Taylor Swift portrait composite
Colin Kaepernick (pictured above in May 2018) wrote in his new memoir that his mom encouraged him to ask out Taylor Swift.
This was “before Travis Kelce made his move,” the athlete clarified. (Pictured above: Swift and Kelce in September 2024.)
The ex-NFL player noted that the pop star (pictured above on May 14) is “not [his] type.”
He did not mean any “slight” to the singer (pictured above in December 2025.)
The former quarterback claimed this proved his mom (pictured above in May 2018) is not “capable of seeing who [he] really was.”

The backstory

Verified moments, in order.

Colin Kaepernick: Family, Football and a Career Flashpoint

An NFL breakthrough puts Kaepernick in the spotlight. His national anthem protest takes him beyond football. Here are the family ties and public turning points behind his story.

  1. Rick and Teresa become his parents

    Colin Kaepernick — Rick and Teresa become his parents

    Born on November 3 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Kaepernick is adopted as an infant by Rick and Teresa Kaepernick. He grows up with two older siblings, Kyle and Devon, and the family later moves to California.

  2. San Francisco makes the call

    Colin Kaepernick — San Francisco makes the call

    After playing college football at the University of Nevada, Reno, Kaepernick joins the San Francisco 49ers as the 36th overall pick in the NFL draft. The second-round selection begins his professional career.

  3. 2013-02-03

    The Super Bowl puts him center stage

    Colin Kaepernick — The Super Bowl puts him center stage

    Having taken over as the 49ers’ starting quarterback during the 2012 season, Kaepernick starts Super Bowl XLVII against the Baltimore Ravens. San Francisco loses 34–31 despite a second-half comeback.

  4. Flashpoint

    His anthem protest divides football

    Colin Kaepernick — His anthem protest divides football

    Kaepernick sits during the national anthem in the preseason to protest racial injustice and police brutality. After speaking with former Army Green Beret and NFL player Nate Boyer, he switches to kneeling on September 1. The protest draws support, condemnation and a national debate over athletes speaking out.

  5. Flashpoint

    Free agency becomes a legal fight

    Colin Kaepernick — Free agency becomes a legal fight

    Kaepernick opts out of his 49ers contract in March and goes unsigned for the 2017 season. In October, he files a grievance alleging that NFL owners collude to keep him out of the league because of his activism. The allegation is not an established finding.

  6. 2019-02-15Flashpoint

    The collusion grievances end in a settlement

    Colin Kaepernick — The collusion grievances end in a settlement

    Kaepernick and former 49ers teammate Eric Reid reach a confidential settlement with the NFL over their collusion grievances. The agreement ends the disputes without a public ruling establishing that the league or its teams colluded.

  7. 2022-08

    He and Nessa announce their first child

    Colin Kaepernick — He and Nessa announce their first child

    Kaepernick and his longtime partner, radio and television host Nessa Diab, announce the birth of their first child. Diab shares that the baby arrived a few weeks before the announcement, making his own growing family part of his public story.

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People also ask

Did Colin Kaepernick ever date Taylor Swift?
No, Colin Kaepernick never dated Taylor Swift. Although his mother urged him to ask her out, Kaepernick decided not to pursue the pop star.
What did Colin Kaepernick write about Taylor Swift in his book?
In his memoir 'Perilous Fight,' Kaepernick recalled his mother pushing him to ask Taylor Swift on a date, though he declined because she was not his type.