Home Certifiedscandal50

The Ultimate Catch: What Happened To The Winner, Finalists, And Travis Kelce's 'Worst Mistake' Reality Show?

• minute read
Contents

The 2016 reality dating show Catching Kelce is a piece of pop culture history that has taken on a surreal new life in the current celebrity landscape. What was once a niche E! Network experiment featuring a promising but not yet superstar NFL tight end is now viewed through the lens of one of the world's most high-profile relationships: that of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. As of December 2025, the show offers a fascinating, and often awkward, look back at a pre-megastardom Travis Kelce searching for love with 50 women—one from every U.S. state.

The series, which aired just before Kelce's ascent to global fame with the Kansas City Chiefs, saw him navigate a field of contestants in a format similar to The Bachelor, but with a unique geographic twist. The winner, Maya Benberry, secured the final "pass" from Kelce, but their relationship was short-lived. This deep-dive explores the show's premise, why Kelce now regrets it, and the surprising current lives of the winner and the other finalists who tried to "catch" the now-iconic football star.

Travis Kelce: From E! Reality Star to Global Icon

Travis Kelce's biographical profile has exploded since Catching Kelce aired, shifting from an NFL star to a global cultural phenomenon. His early life and career set the stage for the show, but his post-show success is what makes the series so compelling today.

  • Full Name: Travis Michael Kelce
  • Born: October 5, 1989 (Age 36 as of 2025)
  • Hometown: Westlake, Ohio
  • College: University of Cincinnati
  • NFL Draft: 2013, 3rd Round (63rd overall) by the Kansas City Chiefs
  • Current Team: Kansas City Chiefs (Tight End)
  • Career Highlights (Post-Show): Multiple Super Bowl championships (LIV, LVII, LVIII), numerous Pro Bowl selections, multiple First-team All-Pro honors, and breaking numerous NFL records for a tight end.
  • Media Ventures: Co-host of the highly successful New Heights podcast with his brother, Jason Kelce.
  • Current Relationship Status: High-profile relationship with global pop star Taylor Swift, which began in mid-2023.

The show was filmed early in Kelce's career, and he has since become one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, with his fame transcending the football field. This massive shift in status is the primary reason why Catching Kelce is now a viral curiosity.

The Format and Why Kelce Called It His 'Worst Mistake'

Catching Kelce premiered on the E! Network in October 2016 and ran for eight episodes. The show's premise was straightforward but logistically complex: 50 women, each representing a different U.S. state, competed for the affection of the Kansas City Chiefs tight end.

The Unique 'State' Gimmick

Unlike other dating shows, the contestants were often referred to by their state, which created a sense of regional competition. The women, including "Kentucky," "New Jersey," and "Missouri," were housed together in a luxurious Los Angeles mansion. The dates and eliminations focused on finding a connection with Kelce, who was advised by his manager, Aaron Eanes, and his friend, CeeCee.

The 'Extremely Awkward' Regret

Years after the show aired, and amidst his soaring popularity, Travis Kelce has been vocal about his negative experience filming the series. He publicly stated that the reality series was the "worst thing I ever did" and described the filming process as "extremely awkward."

Kelce explained that the competitive environment and the artificial nature of reality television didn't set him up for a genuine relationship, which was the ultimate goal. The show was a one-season experiment that Kelce has clearly put behind him, preferring his current, more organic relationship path.

Where Are They Now? The Final Four Contestants Today

The show concluded with Kelce choosing one woman to be his girlfriend. While the relationship with the winner was brief, the final four women have all moved on with their lives, careers, and in some cases, new relationships.

1. Maya Benberry (Winner - Kentucky)

Maya Benberry, representing Kentucky, was the ultimate winner of Catching Kelce. She and Travis Kelce dated for a few months after the finale aired in 2016 before splitting in early 2017.

  • Post-Show Career: Benberry has successfully pivoted her public profile into a career as a life coach, motivational speaker, and brand consultant, with her own brand, "Moments with Maya Benberry."
  • Recent Headlines: Benberry made headlines in late 2023 and 2024 when she publicly commented on Kelce's relationship with Taylor Swift, offering a highly-publicized "warning" to the pop star and suggesting Kelce was a "red flag."

2. Veronica Harwood (Runner-Up - New Jersey)

Veronica Harwood, an Eagles fan from New Jersey, finished as the runner-up on the show.

  • Post-Show Life: Harwood has largely stepped away from the reality TV spotlight. She has focused on her personal life and career, keeping a relatively low profile compared to the winner.

3. Lauren Schwab (Finalist - Missouri)

Lauren Schwab, representing Kelce's home state of Missouri, had a strong connection with the football star throughout the series.

  • Post-Show Life: Schwab is now married and has a family. She is active on social media, sharing her life as a mother and wife. Her connection to the show is a footnote in her current life, which is focused on her family.

4. Avery Schlereth (Finalist - Colorado)

Avery Schlereth, representing Colorado, was also one of the final four women vying for Kelce's heart.

  • Post-Show Life: Schlereth's life has also moved on, with her social media presence reflecting a focus on fitness, travel, and lifestyle content, though she is not as frequently mentioned in current retrospectives of the show.

The story of Catching Kelce is a perfect example of how celebrity status can drastically change the context of past media projects. While the show was a minor blip for Travis Kelce, it provided a moment of fame for the contestants, whose lives are now viewed through the unexpected lens of Kelce's global phenomenon status.

catching kelce
catching kelce

Detail Author:

  • Name : Brandt Bartoletti
  • Username : yyost
  • Email : jonatan.leuschke@hauck.com
  • Birthdate : 1970-07-02
  • Address : 192 Jeanette Prairie Suite 541 Rennerburgh, ND 04018-0414
  • Phone : +1.908.276.8500
  • Company : Bashirian, Bednar and Deckow
  • Job : Inspector
  • Bio : Qui et velit aut quis voluptas nisi qui ducimus. Velit omnis deserunt odit sed. Veritatis quia odio qui voluptas quasi similique.

Socials

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/chaz_xx
  • username : chaz_xx
  • bio : Id molestias vitae ut explicabo. Velit officiis aperiam aut.
  • followers : 3358
  • following : 513

twitter:

  • url : https://twitter.com/hudson2009
  • username : hudson2009
  • bio : Et ipsam et soluta dolorem. Et repudiandae maiores perspiciatis fugiat laboriosam maxime. Nihil earum harum sint dolore totam vero eaque.
  • followers : 5780
  • following : 2388

linkedin:

Random Posts