With the Kansas City Chiefs now Super Bowl LVIII bound, the Baltimore Ravens’ loss after securing a spot in the second round of the NFL playoffs is not the only thing people are talking about.
It is no secret that Travis Kelce, the Chiefs’ record-breaking tight end, is now dating the singer-songwriter Taylor Swift. Their relationship is a trending topic, especially because Swift has been showing up to Kelce’s games since September.
Some veteran football fans are opposed to Swift being at Kelce’s football games, but Swift has proven to be a valuable component to the NFL. Since Swift started attending games, there has been a noticeable increase in viewers. At the Chiefs-Jets game during the regular season, the amount of viewers were 27 million viewers, making it the most watched game since Super Bowl LVII, via CNN. Not only is Swift good for NFL profits, but she has brought so many people, including me, into something new to watch.
Even if Swift was shown more often, that wouldn’t be an issue. When teams score or make big plays in any sport, fans are usually shown celebrating. What makes this any different?
— Zoey Srote
Since Swift and Kelce’s relationship was publicized, I have learned more about the sport, and I find myself watching NFL games even if the Chiefs are not playing. I am only one example of the many Taylor Swift fans who are now invested in the number one American sport.
One major complaint about Swift has been that she gets too much screen time during the games. Not only is this coming from football fans, but comedian Jo Koy also made a comment while he was hosting the 2024 Golden Globes saying that the difference between the Golden Globes and the NFL is the Golden Globes would show Swift less.
Data from The New York Times shuts down this idea, showing that Swift actually gets less than 25 seconds of screen time during a game that lasts about three hours. It is also important to recognize that Swift does not get to decide where the cameras go and when.
Even if Swift was shown more often, that wouldn’t be an issue. When teams score or make big plays in any sport, fans are usually shown celebrating. What makes this any different?
When Kelce went to Swift’s The Eras Tour in Argentina, fans were excited to see that Swift’s boyfriend was there to support her. When Swift does this, she doesn’t get nearly as friendly of a reaction.
Whether you are a Taylor Swift fan or not, there is no doubt she has been an asset to the NFL. It is time to accept that Swift will be showing up to support Kelce no matter if she’s making “a few dads, Brads and Chads,” upset, as Swift said.
