It may seem like the Kansas City Chiefs and Taylor Swift are two different planets, rotating around each other and admiring from a distance. But Swift will have a stunning correlational impact on the Chiefs’ hope of a three-peat.
First, the Chiefs have been pretty good with Swift in attendance. According to published reports, Swift has been physically present for 17 games and the Chiefs have an outstanding record of 14-3. To put that in perspective, that’s a winning percentage of .824. The all-time best winning percentage in NFL history belongs to the Dallas Cowboys at .576. So it’s easy to see the incredible boost Swift has given her beloved Chiefs.
Plus, the Chiefs are undefeated with Swift attending postseason games. She bundled up in the frigid temps for a 26-7 win over the Miami Dolphins in last season’s first round of the playoffs. And she attended Chiefs wins over Buffalo and Baltimore. Of course, she made her way to the Super Bowl — how did she get a ticket? yeah, just kidding — for the thrilling 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
NFL hardliners will downplay the impact Swift has on the outcome of games. But that is off-base because the fans have an effect. That’s why NFL teams enjoy strong home-field advantages. And Swift is a fan. But she’s a unique fan because she brings a different buzz to the stadium. Yes, that buzz is from the world of entertainment. But it increases the overall excitement at Chiefs’ games.
And even when the Chiefs are on the road, Swift can positively impact her favorite team by drawing attention away from other teams’ fans.
Part of the Swiftian impact
It’s almost like Swift is a part of the Chiefs organization. She draws attention during broadcasts unlike any other celebrity before her. Maybe actor Jack Nicholson at the Los Angeles Lakers basketball games back in the 1980s is a comparison.
It’s undeniable Swift has caused a boost for the NFL. Even the league’s commissioner admitted it at last year’s Super Bowl, which drew a record 123.7 million viewers thanks in part to a 24% jump in 18-24 year-old women.
“We hear the stories, we see the data, people are talking about the game that weren’t talking about the game yesterday,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. “And whatever that reason is, I’m good with it, as long as they get exposure to our game. Taylor is obviously a dynamo. Everything she touches, obviously, there are people following. And so we count ourselves fortunate and we welcome it.”
The league is selling more merchandise strictly because Swift immersed herself into the game.
Taylor Swift is more than a fan
When the Chiefs make their postseason run toward NFL history, Swift will — like it or not — be part of the story.
And here’s the stunning reason she will impact the Chiefs hopes of making NFL history. It is so difficult to win three straight Super Bowl titles because of the endless buzz of the media. It’s like that horsefly that gets into your house while you’re trying to work on the computer. It buzzes your head often enough to aggravate and distract.
But in this case, the buzz created by Swift could actually take enough pressure off of the Chiefs for them to win a third straight Super Bowl.
It’s not like quarterback Patrick Mahomes is thinking Swift will help the Chiefs win. She won’t be a part of head coach Andy Reid’s game plan. But in general, there’s a little less media energy being applied to the Chiefs than other teams who have won back-to-back Super Bowls. If you don’t believe it, consider how many times Swift is shown during broadcasts and how many times her name is mentioned.
All eyes won’t be on the Kansas City Chiefs as they begin their quest for history. Many eyes will be on Swift and how she reacts to those moments. And believe it or not, this creates a small pressure-release valve for the players. The weight of the world is easier to hold when you have a helping hand.
And speaking of a helping hand …
A new era: The big Hollywood finish
Here’s how it could go. Are you ready for this? Kelce catches a touchdown pass with three seconds remaining for the winning score and the Chiefs finish off the three-peat with a hard-fought win over the Detroit Lions in the Super Bowl.
With confetti flying, Kelce stands on the podium with his arm around Swift. He grabs the microphone and yells, “Three-peat, baby!” Then he gets down on one knee and, in front of like billions of people, he proposes to Swift.
Now that’s a stunning impact.
