NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is thrilled that more people are tuning in to the league’s games because of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s budding romance.
The businessman, 64, told “CBS Mornings” Wednesday that it’s “great in an of itself” that the couple “seem to be enjoying their relationship” — but the new viewers are also a bonus.
“It has connected more fans of Taylor’s and more fans of the NFL in some ways,” he said.
“To see that they have a connection, now they have a connection to our game and to Taylor … I think it’s great for the league to have that kind of attention. So we welcome it.”
Goodell also praised Swift and Kelce for the talents they bring to the table, calling her an “unbelievable artist” and him an “unbelievable player.”
Since Swift, 33, made her first NFL game appearance on Sept. 24 when Kelce, 34, played the Chicago Bears at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., viewership for the league has spiked.
When the “Cruel Summer” songstress went to a Jets game the following month with her star-studded crew of friends, including Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, 27 million viewers tuned in to either watch the game or catch of glimpse of the pop superstar from her VIP suite.
Per PvNew, a Storyful newsletter noted that those viewer numbers were a 22 percent increase from last year’s Week 4 matchup.
Kelce’s jerseys also got a boost with a nearly 400 percent spike in sales throughout the Fanatics network of sites after Swift attended that very first game in Kansas City.
Meanwhile, Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce, recently said her son “likes attention” and is embracing his new level of fame “as much” as he can. Travis himself said in October he’s “enjoying the madness.”
However, the Chiefs tight end and his brother, Jason Kelce, previously called out the NFL for “overdoing it” when Swift attended games.
“Right away, it felt like the cameras were more interested in the patrons,” the Philadelphia Eagles center, 36, said on their podcast, “New Heights.”
“There were a lot of stars in attendance. The NFL is not used to celebrities coming to the games.”
Travis agreed at the time, “They are overdoing it a bit for sure, especially my situation. They’re just trying to have fun with it.”
Follow Pvnew’s coverage of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s whirlwind romance
- Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s dating timeline: From flirting fails to Chiefs power couple
- Travis Kelce’s dating history: Meet the Chiefs tight end’s girlfriends and flings
- Taylor Swift’s dating history: From Jake Gyllenhaal to Matty Healy
The media storm has not stopped Traylor, however, from continuing to publicly show each other affection.
Travis recently flew to Argentina, where the pair enjoyed a public and PDA-packed date night.
The NFL pro then went to see Swift perform at her Eras Tour concert in Buenos Aires the following night, where the Grammy winner honored him by changing a lyric in her song “Karma” and then ran to him at the end of her show to give him a sweet kiss.
They planned to spend Thanksgiving together, but those plans were cancelled after Swift had to remain in Brazil following the “traumatic” death of one of her fans before her concert.
