Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Catholic
Religious Music & Entertainment
Dear NFL Pundits, Taylor Swift Is Just Fine for Football

Dear NFL Pundits, Taylor Swift Is Just Fine for Football

Last updated on: March 25, 2024 at 12:43 pm by Kate O'Hare

0 Comments

Dear NFL Pundits, Taylor Swift Is Just Fine for Football 2024-03-25T12:43:36-08:00 Kate O'Hare

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Canva/Adobe Stock

I’m not going to get into who said exactly what, but there have been those among NFL analysts and reporters who have whined recently about TV showing singer Taylor Swift cheering on tight-end boyfriend Travis Kelce during Kansas City Chiefs football games.

It distracts from the game, they say. It’s injecting celebrity into football. It’s a blatant attempt to appeal to young women.

Uh … so?

And I say that as someone who is neither a fan of Swift nor the Chiefs.

As to the complaints, let’s take these one at a time, shall we?

Taylor Swift Distracts From the Game

Commercials don’t? Promos for TV shows and movie trailers don’t? Endlessly yapping commentators don’t? Cutting to the crowd to show people with painted faces, bare chests, wild costumes, and marriage proposals don’t?

Give me a break.

An NFL game is not ever just a game. It’s an event, a happening, a party. How many people do you think watch the All-22 replays, the ones the teams use to analyze plays? That’s pure football. It’s also boring as heck to the average fan.

The NFL has survived every kind of distraction TV could throw at it, and it’s doing just fine.

Taylor Swift Is Injecting Celebrity Into Football

I give you Super Bowl XXIII, from ESPN.com:

Take the 1989 Super Bowl against the Cincinnati Bengals. The San Francisco 49ers were down by three points with 3:20 left when Montana spotted — no, not an open receiver — but a personality. “There, in the stands, standing near the exit ramp,” Montana said to tackle Harris Barton. “Isn’t that John Candy?” And then he led the 49ers 92 yards, throwing for the winning touchdown with 34 seconds left.

This was one of Montana’s 31 fourth-quarters comeback in the NFL.

Heavens, was there a celebrity at a football game — let alone THE GAME — whose presence was noticed by someone actually on the field? And celebs weren’t utterly banned after that?

Yeah. Not so much.

Speaking of the Super Bowl, is there anything else in the world that’s a bigger draw for celebrities and other well-heeled folks? How many ordinary fans do you think are actually going to wind up in the stands in Las Vegas on Feb. 11?

Football is sport, but it’s also showbiz.

The NFL Is Using Taylor Swift to Attract Young Women

And, what’s wrong with that? As a woman who began watching football as a young girl — despite living with three brothers and a father who couldn’t care less about the game — I’ve never regretted being a football fan.

Not only does the game feature talented, athletic young men in flattering uniforms performing amazing feats of physical prowess, like any other sport, it’s also an endless well of human-interest stories.

Myself and every female fan I know is acquainted with players’ lives, wives, backgrounds, struggles, etc. We don’t just care about the game, we care about the players.

This isn’t to say that women fans don’t care about Xs and Os, we do — and some female fans only care about that, and more power to them — but I’m also here for all the stories. And I don’t think I’m alone in that.

Now, Taylor Swift could date Travis Kelce and never attend a game. She could be disinterested or disdainful, but she’s not.

Instead, she shows up and throws herself into the moment. She yells and screams, jumps up and down, hugs everybody. In short, she acts like both a supportive girlfriend and a real football fan.

Seeing her, maybe a lot of women and girls who have ignored football will become interested. Maybe others who’ve kept their ardent fandom in check will feel free to let their football-freak flag fly.

Swift has also injected a bit of fashion into the game, sporting a custom-made jacket created by Kristin Juszczyk, the wife of a 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk. I want a Seahawks version!

And There Are Those Who Say Trav & Tay Is Just a Stunt

I don’t think so, but I don’t know — and neither does anyone else who doesn’t know the two of them personally.

But, in terms of a reasonable partnership, it makes sense. Swift’s definitely not chasing after Kelce’s fame or money — she has plenty of both of her own. And the reverse is true for him.

Also, they’re hardworking, successful, talented and appear to be close to their families. They could do worse than each other — and probably have.

As public romances go, Taylor Swift/Travis Kelce is one of the more charming and wholesome pairings. In a media world chock full of depravity, abuse and just plain ick, this couple is fun to watch.

So, get over yourselves, haters.

But, Back to Football for a Moment

With the last round of playoffs before the Super Bowl coming up this weekend, you might wonder, what’s my pick for the big game? My pick isn’t in the game, but as long as the 49ers don’t win, it’s all good.

But, if the Chiefs don’t make it, there won’t be any more of Travis’ brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, and that would be a shame.

UPDATE 1/28/2024: With a victory over the upstart Detroit Lions, the Chiefs are off to the Super Bowl in Las Vegas, to face off with the San Francisco 49ers — so we have more Taylor and Jason in store. Cue the haters …

UPDATE 02/12/2024: Sorry, not sorry, Niners.

Image: Canva/Adobe Stock

Don’t miss a thing: Subscribe to all that I write at Authory.com/KateOHare

Sports and Religion

About Kate O'Hare

Based in Los Angeles, Kate O'Hare is a veteran entertainment journalist, Social Media Content Manager for Family Theater Productions and a rookie screenwriter. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

January 20, 2024

'The Mission': Doc About a Missionary Offers No Easy Answers

Next Post

February 3, 2024 'Masters of the Air': 3rd Time's a Charm for WWII Air Drama

Recent Comments

0 | Leave a Comment

"I read somewhere that Jesus claims to be present in the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick……just ..."

RPlavo .

‘Adore Him: He Is Here’: On ..."

"My husband was Key Assistant Locations Manager on this film and it was so gratifying ..."

Mary Ashley Bannister

‘Coyote vs. Acme’: Never, Ever Give ..."

"Kate, Alan owes you big time...I mean like a steak dinner or something! I have ..."

s ci

‘The Odyssey’: What a (Very) Long, ..."

"It's true: the language was prosaic American English. Yes, some of the characters were shallow ..."

Clayton Emmer

‘The Odyssey’: What a (Very) Long, ..."

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category books breaking news digital media Faith practice food interview jane the virgin media movies music NFL Pope Francis Showbiz 101 social media sports technology television Uncategorized video

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz