Charissa Thompson Reveals How She Learned of Swift-Kelce Engagement from Her Ranch

Lead Charissa Thompson disclosed today that she found out about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement while off the grid at her animal rescue ranch, learning the news via text with friend and fellow sideline reporter Erin Andrews on Sept. 11 in California.

Nut Graf In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the NFL host described the serendipitous moment she and Andrews discovered the high-profile couple’s news, underlining Thompson’s unique insider perspective and longstanding friendship with both Swift and Kelce.

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Subhead: Off-Grid Discovery While spending time at her ranch - where she rescues animals - Thompson, 43, typically leaves her phone behind. However, this Thursday she and Andrews happened to be texting in the kitchen when they learned of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s proposal to the pop superstar.

Subhead: Matchmakers Turned Fans Thompson and Andrews previously joked they “are responsible” for bringing Swift and Kelce together, having advocated for their romance on-air and via their “Calm Down” podcast. The pair even vacationed with the couple in Montana during the offseason.

• Thompson first championed Kelce’s quest to meet Swift on-air two years ago.

  • Kelce acknowledged owing Thompson and Andrews “big time” when asked about their matchmaking role.

Subhead: Brand Partnerships and Beyond Beyond her PEOPLE chat, Thompson also highlighted her involvement in State Farm’s “Bold Predictions” campaign and Amazon Prime Thursday Night Football, reaffirming her growing profile both on and off the grid.

Subhead: Industry Reactions

• Fans and colleagues applauded Thompson’s reveal on social media, praising her authenticity.

  • Sports analysts noted her storytelling underscores the blending of sports and entertainment coverage.

Thompson’s friendly relationship with Swift and Kelce, coupled with her candid storytelling, continues to solidify her status as one of the NFL’s most engaging hosts.