Taylor Kinney has played one of television’s most complicated yet beloved romantics as Kelly Severide on Chicago Fire. But behind the smoldering stares and on-screen rescues, the actor has his own personal history with love — and now, for the first time, he’s sharing a surprisingly tender story from his high school years that has left fans absolutely swooning.
In a recent interview, Kinney was asked about his earliest memories of romance, and the actor didn’t hesitate to recall the teenage crush that made him believe in first love. “It wasn’t glamorous, it wasn’t fireworks like you see on TV,” Kinney admitted with a nostalgic laugh. “It was simple — holding hands in the hallway, passing notes in class, waiting by the lockers. But to me, back then, it felt like the biggest thing in the world.”
Fans, who are used to seeing Kinney’s Severide swept up in fiery, high-stakes relationships on Chicago Fire, were struck by the sweetness of his words. On social media, one fan wrote, “Hearing Taylor talk about high school romance is melting my heart. He’s a real-life softie!” Another commented, “Severide could never — but Taylor Kinney? He’s the guy you fall in love with forever.”
Kinney went on to describe how those innocent days shaped the way he approaches relationships even now. “When you’re young, love is raw and pure,” he explained. “You’re not worried about careers, fame, or the world watching you. It’s just about being with someone who makes you laugh, who makes your heart race when you see them walk into the room. I think that stays with you, even as you grow older.”
For fans who have followed his career — from modeling to blockbuster roles and, of course, his long run on Chicago Fire — this glimpse into Kinney’s personal life feels like a rare gift. Known for keeping much of his private world quiet, his willingness to open up about teenage love offers a softer, more vulnerable side of the actor that only makes him more endearing.
Unsurprisingly, the story has reignited conversations among Chicago Fire viewers, who are now comparing Kinney’s real-life tenderness to Severide’s often complicated romantic entanglements on the show. “Taylor Kinney is giving us the romance Severide never could,” one fan joked.
Whether it’s onscreen drama or offscreen honesty, Kinney seems to have mastered the art of keeping fans hooked — and his trip down memory lane has only made audiences fall for him more. After all, who doesn’t love a man who still remembers the butterflies of his first high school crush?
