Taylor Swift’s archer pose explained: Singer uses Travis Kelce cheer on stage at Eras tour show in London

An athlete’s special celebrations often trigger tributes from fans off the field.

Iconic choreographies from the NFL end zone find their way onto social media and take on a life of their own. Justin Jefferson’s Griddy is a perfect example, as is CJ Stroud’s Squabble dance.

Travis Kelce doesn’t have a standout touchdown celebration, although he has tried several dances, including the Dougie and the Stanky Leg. But he does have a signature move.

Whenever Kelce runs onto the field, the three-time Super Bowl champion stops, puts his hands together as if he were swinging a bow, and shoots an imaginary arrow into the sky.

But he’s not the only one who made the archer pose famous. Kelce’s girlfriend, international music sensation Taylor Swift, added it to her stage performance at her concert on Friday.

Swift’s imitation of the bow and arrow was a clear tribute to Kelce, who was at the show, but it was also a throwback to the singer, who had previously used the move on her song “The Archer.”

Here’s what you need to know about the archer pose, why Kelce does it, and when Swift used it in her shows.

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Taylor Swift Archer Pose

Swift kicked off a three-show run at London’s Wembley Stadium on Friday night. Kelce, who has been dating Swift since last summer, attended the show with his brother Jason and sister-in-law Kylie.

As Swift moved into her performance of “So High School,” a song that strongly suggests it’s about Kelce, she struck an archer pose and shot an imaginary arrow into the sky.

This action was a subtle homage to Kelce and his celebration on the field.

📲| Taylor Swift plays the archer during “So High School” in London 🏹 #LondonTSTheErastour

pic.twitter.com/hqyAlkpRu9

— The Swift Society (@TheSwiftSociety) 21 June 2024

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As Swifties know, she also used the pose as part of her choreography long before she met Kelce — she performed it during “The Archer” before removing the song from the setlist in May to make room for songs from her new album, “The Tortured Poets Department.”

So her using the archer pose on Friday could be a coincidence. But let’s be honest – would it surprise anyone if the mastermind himself had done it as an ode to Kelce at this point in their relationship?

Why does Travis Kelce do the archer pose?

For Kelce, the archer’s stance isn’t just a random arm movement. It actually has meaning.

In an episode of “New Heights,” Kelce’s podcast with his brother Jason, the Chiefs tight end explained the reason for the pose.

@chiefs, 12th grade, LET’S GO!!! 🏹 #traviskelce #chiefs #mediaday ♬ Confidence (sped up version) – Ocean Alley

“I do the archer pose when I enter the stadium because I wanted to do something when I ran out of the tunnel,” Kelce said on an October 2023 episode of “New Heights.” “You know, what really motivated me is dreaming big. Always reaching for the stars. So I’m always out there reaching for the stars.

“One of my favorite quotes from my friend Deion Sanders from Prime Time is, ‘If your dreams are not bigger than you are, then there is a problem with your dreams.’ So don’t forget to shoot for the stars, ladies and gentlemen.”