Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift is the biggest name in entertainment worldwide. She has transitioned from country to pop and has managed to maintain a fanbase. Her star appeal is undeniable, and she is the highest-paid entertainer in the world by a wide margin. With that comes massive camera time and media attention. This attention has bled into the NFL season, and as the Super Bowl approaches, there is as much attention on Travis Kelce’s girlfriend as there is on the game.
Swift is dating the Chief’s star tight end, Travis Kelce and her schedule is near the top of the media list of stories. Swift is performing in Tokyo, and thanks to the Japanese government and the international date line is just going to make it back via private jet. Vegas and numerous betting apps have gone as far as to post prop bets and odds on Swift-related items.
While most people recognize the NFL is desperate for female viewers, some still aren’t buying into the hype, including many ex-NFL stars. Recently, a former league MVP and media standard spoke up about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl. Norman “Boomer” Esiason led the Cincinnati Bengals to Super Bowl XIII, was All-Pro and an MVP, and has been a staple on network television on Sunday for decades.
During the show, ‘CBS Sports’ “Boomer and Gio,” Esiason joked with co-host Greg Gianotti about Taylor Swift and the Super Bowl. He said: “Maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a K (kiss) at the end of the game in the Super Bowl and a ring. I’m so psyched about it.” After discussing engagement ring prices, the duo dished on the net worth of the couple.
Gio wondered: “Do you think that Travis Kelce and his $100 million would go to Kay Jewelers?” Gio was referring to Kelce using chain-store Kay Jewelry for an engagement ring for Swift. Boomer replied: “Hey, Kay Jewelers is going to pay these guys, yeah. You don’t think that Kay Jewelers wouldn’t pay them for the post-game ceremony?”
After asking about their net worth, Boomer correctly pointed out: “She’s two billion. She’s made over $2 billion on the Eras Tour alone. Now, if she ended up taking an endorsement from Kay Jewelers for her engagement, that is the most low-class thing I’ve ever heard in my life.” Swift is far and away the richest musician, and the cash she made from the Eras Tour is enough to support her family for numerous lifetimes.
However, after laughing and joking about the absurdity of the situation, Esiason got serious when he said: “The other thing, too, I was thinking that because of all these stories coming out, that she has ‘raised the level of the NFL,’ the NFL is going to be here after she’s done. It was here before she got started.” Boomer pointed out that while Swift has been a storyline this season, the game is bigger than Swift or Kelce.
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The Bengal legend also went on to say: “I have a feeling that she is so powerful, so consuming and the metrics show you how successful the NFL has been with her being a part of it, and they can break down what they believe is her financial impact on the NFL. And that number is close to $350 million in the short time she’s been around. Impressions, followers, social media. It’s everything; she is beloved by her fans.”
Is this a sad commentary on America, sports, and pop culture in 2024? Perhaps, but it can’t be denied that Taylor Swift has brought fresh eyeballs to the league and, in a down season for the NFL, has distracted folks from the declining action on the field. While it might be annoying to some, Taylor Swift is bound to get considerable screen time Sunday, but if the rest of the league does its job, maybe another team will keep us from another Super Bowl of Taylor Swift.