Patrick Mahomes has rebuffed reports labelling Taylor Swift as a ‘distraction’ for the Chiefs and teammate Travis Kelce ahead of the team’s 2024-25 NFL season opener.
The superstar quarterback, 28, was asked about Swift’s impact on the Chiefs’ run to their second consecutive Super Bowl win last season on ‘America’s Game,’ which will be released on Sept. 8th at 8 pm (ET) on NFL Network. Narrated by actor Paul Rudd, the documentary was produced by NFL Films.
‘People act like it was a distraction… I was like no this is just Travis man,’ Mahomes said about Kelce’s high-profile relationship with Swift.
Mahomes also opened up on how the team embraces distractions.
‘When you have a guy like Trav’ dating one of the most famous people in the world, I think it’s just because he’s such a good dude,’ he said. ‘It’s true, it’s real, he’s outside the building doing his stuff, but when he’s in the building he’s working his tail off to be the best of the best.
‘When your Hall of Fame tight end is your hardest worker, it leads everybody else. It’s not even like it’s a distraction. Why not embrace it? Embrace being that show that comes to town that gets to play against the best of the best and get the best from every single team.
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‘It’s been a heck of a ride and I’m enjoying every single bit of it.’
Swift and Kelce’s romance has very much been in the public eye since the popstar attended her first Chiefs game on September 24, 2023 — against the Chicago Bears.
She went onto to show face at 12 more Chiefs games, including Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Swift’s presence has been somewhat of a good luck charm for the Chiefs: they’ve won 10 of the 13 games at which she’s been to.
Business has also been good for Kansas City since Swift went to her first game last year. Chiefs owner Clark Hunter revealed that the singer helped the franchise grow its fanbase (30 percent) over the last year.
Earlier this week, ESPN reporter Holly Rowe condemned critics negatively covering Swift’s impact on the NFL, instead pointing out the positives.
‘She brought a lot of friends and family to those football that maybe wouldn’t have before,’ Rowe told US Weekly, referring to Swift.
‘As a football person, I’m like, ”The more, the merrier.” Keep bringing ’em because we want to get as many women loving and involved in football as possible.’
The Chiefs’ first game of the 2024-25 season will be against the Baltimore Ravens – a rematch of the AFC Championship game from earlier this year.
