There were times last season when some very grumpy NFL fans called for Taylor Swift to be banned from all league events.
They argued that the pop icon was ruining the game with her presence, as she created a distraction that took focus away from the events on the field.
As you probably know, Taylor attended several Kansas City Chiefs games with the purpose of cheering on her boyfriend, tight end Travis Kelce.
The complaints were ridiculous, of course, but the NFL is the most dominant force on American television, and when enough fans complain, the powers that be tend to pay attention.
Was Taylor Swift banned by the NFL?
But despite some surprises widespread rumors on the contrary, Taylor has no was banned by the league.
And it’s safe to say the NFL never even seriously considered such a move.
There are many reasons for this, the first and most obvious is that Taylor doesn’t have did something to deserve such punishment.
If you’ve ever been to a professional football game in the United States, you know that drunkenness and bad behavior are quite common among fans.
Despite these circumstances, lifetime bans are extremely rare.
So if the league is hesitant to eject fans who are in truth creating problems, why would they remove Taylor simply because the broadcast producers can’t stop pointing their cameras at her booth?
Besides the fact that she’s never made a fool of herself at a Chiefs game, Taylor is actually good for NFL business. Very good, in fact.
Taylor Swift Helps NFL Hit Record Viewership
Super Bowl LVIIIin which Kelce’s Chiefs claimed an overtime victory over the San Francisco 49ers, it was the most-watched game in NFL history.
And industry analysts believe this is partly due to the taylor swift effect.
Swift fans who had never watched a football game began tuning in throughout the season in hopes of catching a glimpse of their queen.
Needless to say, the league is probably in no rush to ban a woman who ended up drawing more viewership than Patrick Mahomes.
It’s too early to tell whether Taylor’s impact will last into next season or if the novelty will have worn off by then.
Sure, if Eras Tour Ticket prices are an indication: Swift fans will do anything to see Taylor in an outdoor stadium.
And speaking of the Chiefs quarterback…
In a recent interview with NFL on NBC, Mahomes said Taylor has become a true student of the game.
“She’s really interested in football. She asks a lot of great questions,” Mahomes said, according to OK! magazine.
Mahomes joked that Taylor is “already drawing up plays” for the Chiefs, adding, “So we might have to put one in.”
Mahomes also spoke about “how genuine and cool she is” and praised the way she has managed to make football more interesting and accessible to a wider audience.
“It was cool to see the girls and women who really embraced football,” Mahomes said.
“I know that being a father of a girl, it’s really cool for me to see these girls and daughters and how much they’re loving spending time with their dad watching football,”
A new NFL season is upon us, and we’re guessing fans will be tuning in during Week 1 to see if the Chiefs’ number one fan will be sitting in her usual luxury box.
And who knows? Until then, it might be Travis’ bride cheering for him in the stands!
Okay, that probably won’t happen next week. But we can dream!