NFL fans are rooting for Taylor and Travis, but mostly they're rooting for football

Bryan West
USA TODAY NETWORK

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — While everyone agrees it’s great that Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are dating, both Chiefs and Eagles fans had mixed reactions regarding the hype around the relationship as they tailgated ahead of "Monday Night Football."

Jim Wiegand bought a flag to fly above his RV that read “World’s Biggest Fan of Taylor Swift’s Boyfriend’s Team.”

“It was just some schtick,” he said, “I saw it on the internet and thought it would be fun to fly during the tailgate.”

But not all Chiefs fans have embraced the pop star's presence since she attended her first Chiefs game in late September alongside Kelce's mother. London Blandon, a devout Chiefs fan, was at Arrowhead stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, to watch the Super Bowl rematch.

Chiefs fan Jim Wiegand bought this flag as a tailgating joke. It reads: "World's Biggest Fan of Taylor Swift's Boyfriend's Team" and got a good reaction from fellow tailgaters as the Philadelphia Eagles were set to play the Kansas City Chiefs in "Monday Night Football" on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.

“We’re not here for the relationship,” she said. “We don’t care about the drama. She’s doing her thing, good for her. But what does that have to do with football? I don’t see her putting on a helmet.”

Swift was unable to attend the game on Monday because of a makeup show in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, that night. Kelce attended one of Swift's concerts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, this month.

The singer grew up in Pennsylvania and references Philadelphia's team in her song, "Gold Rush": "I see me padding 'cross your wooden floors with my Eagles T-shirt hanging from the door." When the Eras Tour stopped in Philadelphia, she confirmed the lyric was about the football team.

Some Eagles fans have expressed feeling betrayed by Swift's recent embrace of the Chiefs. Others are less invested.

“Who cares?” said lifelong Eagles fan Rose Kaufman. “I was born and raised in Philly. I moved to Kansas City three years ago, but I bleed green until the day I die.”

The Sofie family traveled down from outside of Chicago to watch the Kelce brothers face off and cheer for their guy Jason Kelce.

The Sofie family drove down from Illinois to see the Philadelphia Eagles play the Kansas City Chiefs in "Monday Night Football" on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri. They said Taylor Swift is a bandwagon fan of the Chiefs but love listening to the Kelce brothers' podcast.

“I think it’s hilarious,” said mom Danielle Sofie, “but the boys are like, ‘Oh my gosh!’ What is happening?’ I love Taylor Swift music. I think it’s so cute that all the girls think, ‘Oh she made Travis Kelce so famous!’ When he was already a big deal.”

Kevin Shepherd decked out a bus in Chiefs colors and logos and called it the “War Wagon.” He thinks it’s cool that the star is now a fan of his home team.

“I was able to zoom in once and see a picture of her with my phone across from the stadium,” he said. “I mean a lot of people are going to more games, getting more people interested in it. So I think there’s a plus to it.”

Kevin Shephard is a Chiefs fan and the owner of the "War Wagon." He tailgated ahead of the "Monday Night Football" game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, in Kansas City, Missouri.

More:As Taylor Swift cheers for Travis Kelce and Chiefs, some Eagles fans feel 'betrayed'

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