Kayla Nicole Reflects on Dating Travis Kelce: 'Right Person, Wrong Time'

The model opens up about her past relationship with the NFL star before a blind dating session.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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Kayla Nicole, the ex-girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs player Travis Kelce, seemingly opened up about their past relationship during a blind dating session on TikTok. Nicole hinted that Kelce was the "right person" but they got together at the "wrong time", without mentioning him by name. The couple dated on and off for five years before breaking up in 2022, shortly before Kelce began dating pop star Taylor Swift.

Why it matters

This provides insight into Kayla Nicole and Travis Kelce's high-profile relationship, which garnered significant media attention over the years. Nicole's comments suggest the two had compatibility but the timing wasn't right, shedding light on the reasons behind their split.

The details

During the TikTok blind dating session, host Ace Greene asked Nicole how long she had been single, to which she responded about three years - the approximate timeframe since her split from Kelce. When asked why her last relationship didn't work, Nicole cryptically replied: "Umm, who knows? Could be compatibility issues. Right person, wrong time." While she didn't name Kelce directly, the timeline aligns with their breakup in 2022, shortly before the NFL star began dating Taylor Swift.

  • Nicole and Kelce dated on and off for five years before breaking up in 2022.
  • Kelce started dating Taylor Swift in the summer of 2023.
  • Kelce and Swift got engaged in August 2025.

The players

Kayla Nicole

A model who dated NFL player Travis Kelce on and off for five years before they broke up in 2022.

Travis Kelce

An NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs who dated Kayla Nicole for several years before they split in 2022. He later began dating pop star Taylor Swift in 2023 and got engaged to her in 2025.

Ace Greene

A TikTok personality with over 2.5 million followers who hosted the blind dating session where Kayla Nicole made her comments about her past relationship.

Taylor Swift

A popular music artist who began dating Travis Kelce in 2023 and got engaged to him in 2025.

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What they’re saying

“Umm, who knows? Could be compatibility issues. Right person, wrong time.”

— Kayla Nicole (TikTok)

The takeaway

Kayla Nicole's comments provide a glimpse into the complexities of high-profile celebrity relationships, suggesting that even when two people may be compatible, the timing of their relationship can ultimately lead to its demise. Her willingness to reflect on her past with Travis Kelce in a public forum also highlights the scrutiny that comes with dating a famous athlete.