It looks like broadcast networks have been given their marching orders from the league – it’s all Taylor Swift, all the time.
At least that’s how it seemed during this weekend’s game between the Chicago Bears and the Houston Texans. During the broadcast, Mike Tirico promoted the following weekend matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Atlanta Falcons.
“That’s Sunday night,” Tirico says. “The question is – Will Taylor Swift be there? Because we have Taylor and Swift here, on the Bears.”
The camera crew then got cute, sharing images of the jerseys of Bears’ punter Tory Taylor and running back D’Andre Swift in a split screen.
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NFL Fans Weren’t Pleased With The Taylor Swift Intrusion
In NBC’s defense, they were forced to air a game involving the Bears and the Texans that saw 515 total yards of offense. The New Orleans Saints almost had that entire amount alone on Sunday.
And one of the players that I’m sure they’d love to talk about is the Bears’ flashy quarterback, Caleb Williams. However, he slogged through another highly forgettable performance with 174 yards and two interceptions.
The matchup ended with just two field goals – one by each team – in the entire second half. So there was some time to play with camera tricks to introduce a semi-witty reference to Taylor Swift for the fans.
But many fans weren’t exactly thrilled with NBC’s actions.
“We can’t escape her bro,” one person wrote, adding a GIF of a person stomping away in disgust.
Another chimed in, “My fav league shamelessly selling out what happened to the game I love.”
I mean, you saw the manufactured nonsense all last season. What were you expecting?
“We can’t escape it the swifties run the league now,” a fan replied.
RELATED: WATCH: Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce Join The Mahomes’ On Double Date At U.S. Open
League Heavily Promoting Taylor
That last individual is correct. The Swifties do run the NFL now.
A league promotion just before week one showed the “Shake It Off” singer five separate times. Meanwhile, the Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes barely got any screen time at all.
Roger Goodell knows where their cash cow is at. And, hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there isn’t a player in the league generating more money to line Goodell’s pockets than Travis Kelce’s girlfriend.
It’s not about the product. The NFL is focused solely on drawing in female viewers through a highly choreographed romance that makes them money.
Goodell admitted as much last season.
Speaking at a press conference before Super Bowl LVIII, Goodell mentioned that having the “Taylor Swift effect” is a good thing for the NFL.
So, you’re gosh danged right Tiricio is going to help out by providing a gratuitous mention of the biggest pop star on the planet.
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