Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce stars in GQ’s September 2025 cover story, featuring a bold Florida photoshoot where he models luxury fashion pieces including fur coats and an oversized Hermès Birkin bag in swampy environments. The shoot, styled by celebrity fashion architect Law Roach and photographed by Ryan McGinley, juxtaposes high fashion with Florida’s rugged landscapes while showcasing Kelce’s physicality and defying recent criticism about his physique.
Travis Kelce collaborated with renowned stylist Law Roach for his first major fashion editorial since becoming a global pop culture icon. The NFL star, typically known for self-styling his game-day looks, embraced unconventional high-fashion pieces including a faux fur Dolce & Gabbana coat, thigh-high rubber waders, and a rare Hermès HAC 60 Birkin bag during the multi-location shoot across Florida’s wilderness.
The photoshoot occurred primarily at Mack’s Fish Camp in the Everglades and oceanfront locations near Miami during Kelce’s offseason training period. The team worked in challenging conditions – including alligator-infested swamps and open ocean – to capture images that blend luxury fashion with raw natural environments. One standout image features Kelce holding the oversized Birkin bag while standing in swamp water near actual alligators.
Stylist Law Roach conceived the shoot as a deliberate contrast between elite fashion and rugged Floridian aesthetics, telling GQ the imagery served as “a fuck-you to the critics” who recently commented on Kelce’s physique. The creative direction intentionally highlighted Kelce’s athletic build through partially unbuttoned shirts, construction vests, and wet-look photography that emphasized his physical presence.
The Hermès Birkin bag featured prominently in the swamp scene was personally sourced by Roach, who flew his own rare HAC 60 model from Los Angeles specifically for the shoot. This deliberate juxtaposition of a French luxury icon against Florida’s wilderness created what Roach described as “magical” visuals that symbolized the collision of Kelce’s athletic background with his new fashion-forward persona.
Initial reactions to the cover images have gone viral across social media platforms, with particular attention on shots of Kelce emerging shirtless from the ocean in a construction vest. The timing follows recent public scrutiny of Kelce’s physique after offseason photos sparked commentary about his conditioning, making the bold imagery a defiant statement.
Kelce’s participation signals his expanding cultural influence beyond sports, coinciding with his high-profile relationship with Taylor Swift. The full GQ cover story explores Kelce’s NFL future, life in the spotlight, and post-football ambitions alongside the striking visuals. As the September 2025 issue releases, the images are expected to further cement Kelce’s status as a crossover cultural icon.
