Fans Unhappy With Taylor Swift Coverage In New NFL Clip
We’re almost back into the groove of pro football, with the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night to kick off the NFL season. The Green Bay Packers follow up on Friday against the Philadelphia Eagles. As Kansas City takes the spotlight, many fans are already bracing themselves for the inevitable Taylor Swift coverage, often referred to as “Swelcie coverage.”
Recently, the NFL released a hype video on social media to drum up excitement for the upcoming season. But instead of the anticipated enthusiasm, fans noticed something surprising. The 30-second clip featured Lamar Jackson just once, while Taylor Swift appeared five times. If you remember last season, many fans were vocal about wanting to “stick to the game” rather than spotlighting the singer.
Fans were quick to express their opinions in the comments. “Can’t wait for another Swift season,” one person wrote. Another added, “Showing Taylor Swift 5+ times in an NFL hype video is nasty work; you guys should be ashamed.”
It’s clear that some fans aren’t thrilled about the prospect of another season filled with cutaways to the pop star during NFL games. But perhaps the harshest comment came in reference to Aaron Rodgers, who tore his Achilles just four plays into his New York Jets debut last year. “They managed to clip Aaron Rodgers’ entire season in this clip. Amazing work,” someone pointed out.
Personally, I’m not bothered by the Swelcie coverage. In fact, I think it’s brought more attention to the NFL, even if the league doesn’t necessarily need it. My nine-year-old niece, who’s a huge Swiftie, has become more interested in football because of the Swelcie craze, even buying some merch and watching more games with her dad.
According to Sporting News, Swift attended her first Chiefs game of 2023 on September 24 and has since attended 13 games, including the Super Bowl.
By late January, Apex Marketing Group estimated that Swift had generated $331.5 million in brand value for the NFL and the Kansas City franchise across print, digital, radio, TV, highlights, and social media, according to Front Office Sports.
Swift’s influence didn’t stop there. After her first game appearance, Kelce’s jersey sales surged by 400%.
Swifties remained engaged throughout the season. A November Adtaxi survey revealed that 45% of respondents said Swift increased their interest in football. Among “dedicated fans,” that number rose to 70%, and they were three times more likely to purchase NFL merchandise.
Last season, the NFL saw its highest regular-season viewership among women since it began tracking those numbers in 2000. While a direct correlation can’t be proven, it’s likely that Swift played a significant role.
