NFL
- Popstar watched a Kansas City player’s last two games
- The NFL has heavily represented Swift during its broadcasts
Travis Kelce has admitted that the NFL may be putting too much focus on the relationship between him and Taylor Swift.
Swift attended two of Kelce’s games for the Kansas City Chiefs this season, although they have not confirmed that they are romantically involved. Everyone seems to be benefiting from the attention: Sales of Kelce’s jerseys have skyrocketed, NFL viewership among younger people has increased, and commercials for Swift’s new movie have aired during games.
Taylor Swift is boosting Travis Kelce’s fame – and the NFL loves it
But on the latest episode of the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, the Chiefs star said he believes the NFL needs to “calm down.”
When asked about the league’s attention, Kelce said, “I think it’s funny when they show who was at the game. I think it brings a little bit more to the atmosphere, brings a little bit more to what you see. But at the same time, I think… you’re certainly exaggerating a little, especially in my situation. [But] I think they just want to have fun with it.”
Portions of NFL shows have become little more than broadcasters trying to incorporate as many of Swift’s lyrics as possible into their analysis, often leaving no empty space for football. The NFL’s bio on X after Sunday’s Chiefs game read: “NFL (Taylor’s Version).”
Jason Kelce told his brother that cameras panned to Swift’s luxury suite at MetLife Stadium 17 times during Sunday’s game against the Jets.
“Damn, that’s crazy,” Travis Kelce said. “It’s like taking a trip once.”
Some cynics have suggested that the relationship between a pop star with a movie and a tour to promote and one of the richest players in a league known for its unbridled commercialism may not be entirely genuine. The backlash was so great that the NFL tried to defend itself on Wednesday.
“We frequently change our bios and profile pictures based on what’s happening in and around our games and culturally,” the NFL, which has annual revenue of $12 billion, said in a statement. “The news about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce was a pop culture moment that we witnessed in real time because it is at the intersection of sports and entertainment, and we saw an incredible amount of positivity surrounding sports.”
The league’s X-Biography now reads “Showing up in Tottenham,” a reference to Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars-Buffalo Bills game, which will take place in London.
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