Swifties Spark NFL Popularity
Picture of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Photo by jv394587 via Flickr
The unexpected romance between Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and pop sensation Taylor Swift is a story making headlines worldwide.
This pairing of an NFL star and a global music icon left fans of both worlds pondering what was next for their fanbase.
It all started with Kelce shooting his shot with Swift on his Podcast “New Heights” by saying, “If you’re up on Taylor Swift concerts, there are friendship bracelets, and I received a bunch of them being there, but I wanted to give Taylor Swift one with my number on it.”
Kelce was seen attending her Arrowhead Stadium show in July during her “Eras Tour.” Once the couple started to receive more attention, the NFL began to utilize their connection.
From the beginning, the internet buzzed with mixed reactions to this unexpected romance. Swifties, the devoted fanbase of Taylor Swift, and NFL enthusiasts were divided in their opinions about this high-profile relationship. Some loved the unlikely crossover, while others were more cautious about it. Some tuned into Chief games to watch touchdowns and tackles; others watched in the hope of catching a glimpse of the 33-year-old superstar in the stands.
During Week 3 of the NFL season, Swift made a surprise appearance at Arrowhead Stadium to support her new beau. The impact was immediate and caused commotion throughout the internet, as well as among NFL viewers and sales.
NPR reported that “On [Sept. 24], Travis Kelce was one of the top 5 selling NFL players and saw a nearly 400% spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites, including NFLShop.com."
This boost in jersey sales could be attributed to Swift's considerable star power and the attention she brought to the NFL through her presence at the game.
"I think it's cute. I just like that Taylor Swift is bigger than the NFL," said Elizabeth Kershaw ‘26, a self-proclaimed "Swiftie.”
"I don't have any problem with the relationship,” said NFL fan James Panznhagen ‘26. “Social media pushed the relationship so hard that it took away from the game."
Swift's presence at the Week 4 game against the New York Jets had a noticeable impact. The game became the most-watched NFL game of the weekend, drawing in a staggering 24.3 million viewers, according to ESPN.
Kelce himself addressed the relationship in various media outlets.
In an interview with Cosmopolitan, he mentioned his desire to respect both of their lives, highlighting the challenges of dating a global superstar while navigating the demands of an NFL career.
"I wanted to respect both of our lives; she wasn't in the media as much as I was doing this show every single week and, you know, having fun during the NFL season and on other guys' shows like the McAfee Show and any other show that I went on from there on out,” said Kelce.
The NFL is loving the attention and excitement surrounding the Kelce-Swift romance.
Since both Swifties and NFL fans are fiercely loyal, the public's response to their pairing has been largely positive. It is a unique and unexpected love story that breathes new life into both the NFL and the music industry.
Regardless of whether you like Taylor or Travis, their relationship is likely to continue and act as a source of fascination and speculation for fans and media alike.