Travis Kelce Criticizes NFL’s Taylor Swift Coverage

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has criticized the NFL, stating that the league is “going a bit too far” in its focus on his relationship with Taylor Swift.

During an episode of their podcast “New Heights,” Travis Kelce, joined by his brother Eagles center Jason Kelce, discussed Swift’s presence at the Chiefs game against the Jets, which was also attended by Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, and Hugh Jackman.

“They aren’t there to be featured on TV,” Travis Kelce remarked in Wednesday’s episode. “You never know, you might get caught munching on a big cheeseburger and end up looking foolish. There are certain moments you don’t want to be on TV all the time.”

Swift was also spotted in the Kelce family’s suite during the Chiefs’ game against the Chicago Bears on September 24. Her attendance at both games led to an increase in merchandise sales and viewership. Ticket resale platform StubHub reported a 175% surge in Chiefs-Jets ticket sales three days after Swift’s appearance at the September 24 Chiefs game. Nearly 20% of tickets for the October 1 game were sold on the night of Swift’s appearance.

“I think some of them might have been there for Deadpool and Taylor,” Jason Kelce commented, alluding to Ryan Reynolds’ role in the “Deadpool” movies.

Jason Kelce suggested that the NBA has a better approach to covering celebrities at sporting events.

“I just think the NFL isn’t accustomed to having celebrities at their games. Basketball has it figured out. They sit courtside, they’re shown briefly, and then the focus returns to the game,” Jason Kelce remarked. “The NFL is like, ‘Look at all these A-list celebrities at the game!'”

Apart from repeatedly featuring Swift at the games, the NFL also heavily promoted her appearances on social media. The league changed its banner image on its X account, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to Swift’s photos. However, it has since been replaced with a promotion for an upcoming game.

The NFL also shared a video on its Instagram account of Swift chatting with Lively during the game, with the caption: “The @chiefs are 2-0 with @taylorswift in attendance.”

Travis Kelce believes that football and Swift fans are currently overwhelmed.

The Chiefs’ star first spoke about Swift in late September during a previous episode of his “New Heights” podcast, addressing questions about their dating status. He described his life as being on a “rollercoaster” since Swift’s initial appearance at a Chiefs game and praised her for attending the game, calling it “bold.”

“I just thought it was amazing how everyone in the suite had nothing but positive things to say about her,” Travis Kelce said. “Friends and family alike. She looked fantastic, and everyone was speaking highly of her.”