Monday, April 20, 2026

NFL, Kelce At Odds On Taylor Swift Coverage

  • Travis Kelce says the NFL is overdoing the hype around his relationship with Taylor Swift.
  • Chiefs-Jets drew 27 million viewers on NBC with Swift in attendance.
Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Is there no such thing as too much publicity?

The relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift has turned the NFL into a pop culture media circus since the pop superstar first attended the Kansas City Chiefs-Chicago Bears game at Arrowhead Stadium two weeks ago.

But after NBC cut away to Taylor Swift 17 times during the Chiefs-Jets “Sunday Night Football” broadcast and showed two commercials for her new movie, the man at the center of it all believes the hype may be getting too big.

“They’re overdoing it a little bit for sure, especially my situation,” Kelce said on “New Heights,” the podcast he co-hosts with his brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce. 

The Chiefs-Jets game drew 27 million viewers, making it the most-watched Sunday broadcast since Super Bowl LVII in February. NBC drew about 2 million more female viewers than its season average so far for “SNF.”

The Chiefs play at Minnesota on Sunday, then two more home games, and finally a matchup at Denver before Swift begins the international leg of The Eras Tour on Nov. 9. It remains to be seen whether she will attend any more of Kelce’s games this season.

Musical Chairs

The Swift-Kelce hype has already gotten so big that the NFL has had to defend its promotion of the relationship.

“The Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce news has been a pop cultural moment we’ve leaned into in real time, as it’s an intersection of sport and entertainment, and we’ve seen an incredible amount of positivity around the sport,” the league said in a statement.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Draft Shake-Up: 6 Teams Now With Multiple First-Round Picks

The Giants acquired the 10th pick from the Bengals over the weekend.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) heads for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Bills overcame a halftime deficit to win 39-34.

Joe Flacco Sounds Alarm on 18-Game Schedule

The veteran QB warns such expansion could hurt the playoffs.

Ex-Alabama Player Used NFL Disguises in $20M Fraud, Feds Say

Prosecutors say Luther Davis posed as three NFL players.

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.

Featured Today

blake griffin

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
Brandon Marshall Portfolio Players

Brandon Marshall Nearly Quit FS1 Over Nick Wright Argument

Marshall tells FOS he took issue with Wright’s lack of “take integrity.”
Apr 13, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Azzi Fudd poses for a photo on the orange carpet before the 2026 WNBA Draft at The Shed at Hudson Yards. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
April 16, 2026

Wings Shut Down Question to Azzi Fudd About Paige Bueckers Relationship

The Wings selected Fudd first overall earlier this week.
A smartphone showing the Netflix logo is held in front of a television displaying the Netflix home screen with Top 10 content rows in Paris, Ile de France, France, February 28, 2026. The scene illustrates video on demand streaming and second screen viewing on connected devices.
April 16, 2026

Netflix: There’s ‘Opportunity to Expand the Relationship’ With NFL

The streaming giant touts big results from its live sports content.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
LIV Golf livestream
April 16, 2026

LIV Golf Loses Mexico Livestream for Nearly Three Hours

The league’s broadcast feeds were down for more than an hour.
Apr 25, 2024; Avondale, Louisiana, USA; Kevin Kisner reacts to his shot from the 14th tee during the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
April 16, 2026

NBC’s Kevin Kisner Apologizes for Torching CBS Masters Coverage

Kisner admitted he “crossed the line” with his now-viral rant.
The Miz Stephen A. Smith WWE
April 16, 2026

ESPN Going All Out for WWE WrestleMania in Las Vegas

There has been plenty of crossover between ESPN and WWE this week.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Sep 5, 2025; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen (13) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie (22) in the second half during a NFL game at Corinthians Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jean Carniel/Reuters via Imagn Images
exclusive
April 16, 2026

NFL, YouTube in Advanced Talks for 5-Game Package

The deal has yet to be finalized.