Ever since pop sensation Taylor Swift began her headline-grabbing relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, she’s been a constant presence in the Arrowhead Stadium press box. The NFL has eagerly embraced the superstar’s involvement, pushing her upcoming film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour, throughout the 2023 season. But behind the scenes, players are fuming as Swift steals the spotlight from the sport itself.
In an anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic, over 100 NFL players weighed in on Swift’s sudden invasion of their turf. While 72.5% admitted that her presence is beneficial for the league—bringing in new fans and potentially boosting revenue—a vocal minority isn’t buying it. A disgruntled 22.5% shrugged off her impact as negligible, but a fiery 4.9% slammed it as downright negative.
“I think she’s getting unnecessary coverage,” one player seethed. “There was the whole NFL opening season video on Twitter, and she was featured five times while our quarterback was featured none. That’s not even right. She is not the NFL.”
Another player didn’t mince words: “A lot of people are talking more about that than the football game going on.” The frustration is palpable as athletes see their hard work eclipsed by camera shots of Swift cheering from her luxury box.
Even those who see some upside are growing weary. “It’s a positive and negative,” one player conceded. “It’s great the impact she’s making on the younger female generation… but true football fans are tired of seeing it. If I’m a Chiefs fan, I’m not trying to see Taylor Swift every commercial break or every timeout. We know she’s there.”
The NFL’s relentless promotion of Swift has fans and players alike questioning where the league’s priorities lie. Is the game taking a backseat to celebrity spectacle? With Swift likely to remain a fixture as long as her romance with Kelce continues, tensions are mounting.
As the NFL walks a tightrope between expanding its audience and alienating its core fans, one thing is certain: Taylor Swift’s takeover isn’t sitting well with everyone on the field. And the players aren’t staying silent any longer.
