Taylor Swift ‘brought great deal of attention’ to NFL, says league commissioner

Taylor Swift has brought “a great deal of attention” to the NFL American football league, according to its commissioner Roger Goodell.

The 35-year-old music star, who became engaged to one of the league’s best-known players Travis Kelce earlier this year, was credited with bringing a younger audience to the game.

Speaking at Leaders Week London, Mr Goodell said: “It’s great. She’s brought a great deal of attention obviously to the league and with her fanbase, which is a slightly different fanbase than the NFL, but it’s brought them into the game.

“As Taylor has said many times, ‘I came in not understanding the game as well as I should have, and I love it’.

“And to see her convert to a fan who really loves the game, yeah, I think it’s a great thing for us, and so all those young fans that are coming in it’s a plus for the NFL.”

There were reports that the NFL had discussed the possibility of Swift being the musical act for the half-time show at next year’s Super Bowl but terms could not be agreed, with Bad Bunny announced instead.

The Shake It Off singer has been spotted at a number of her fiance’s matches for the Kansas City Chiefs, including the last two Super Bowls.

When the Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl, Swift and Kelce were seen embracing at full time on the pitch in Las Vegas.

It comes as Swift will be in the UK on Friday to promote her 12th studio album The Life Of A Showgirl on the day of its release.

She announced the album on the New Heights podcast, which is hosted by Kelce and his brother Jason, who formerly played for the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Life Of A Showgirl features 12 songs, with Sabrina Carpenter joining Swift on the title song as the only collaboration.