“If you send a message with Taylor Swift's audience in mind, that message will now be read by a large number of Chiefs fans,” said William Brady, a psychology professor at Northwestern University who studies social networks and collective behavior. ''
But darker, more existential possibilities can arise when a couple declares divorce. Plenty of celebrity romances have come and gone in the NFL, but few have been as vibrant a force as Swift. Ms. Swift's disciples have historically fought back against her former lovers. It's even harder to do that when Mr. Kelce and his chiefs define your Sunday.
Jennifer Barber, a longtime Chiefs fan, wouldn't choose either team if that happened. “They're not my friends. They don't need to be,” she said. But if they do break up, she added, “I'd be interested in hearing a love story or a breakup album about him.”
Professor Clavio says that if Taylor and Travis' romance were to end, perhaps the best that crossover fans can hope for is that the two would be secretly and suddenly in the same league as the most serious football decouplings. , and have the decency to do it during the offseason.
But primarily, Swiftie football enthusiasts are enjoying an influx of new fans. Calhoun saw that change in real time in a women-only fantasy league. She said the group has been around for 12 years and includes a group of token friends who know nothing about soccer, draft players based on looks, and just play for fun. It is said that there were also
Until this season, the woman in question would surprise everyone by casually dropping player stats and trade news into conversations.
“Oh my god,” Calhoun remembers saying excitedly. “Now you’re a football fan too!”
