Former NFL running back Tiki Barber has claimed the league’s ‘obsession’ with Taylor Swift around Kansas City Chiefs games is ‘getting annoying.’
Swift has attended around a dozen of boyfriend Travis Kelce‘s Chiefs games since the end of September, including Sunday’s huge playoff win over the Buffalo Bills.
The pop sensation’s mainstream popularity makes it hard for the cameras to stay off of her during games, even when the action on the field doesn’t involve Kelce.
Cameras cutting to the hospitality suites to capture Swift’s reactions is starting to annoy some viewers, like former Giants star Barber, who wants the focus to be solely on the field.
‘He scores a touchdown, and they pan immediately to Taylor Swift,’ Barber said on WFAN.
Taylor Swift being at NFL games to support Travis Kelce is still dividing opinions in football
Barber, a former NFL running back, said the league’s obsession with Swift is ‘getting annoying’
‘Again? It’s not even Travis Kelce. Maybe it’s the Taylor Swift influence that has made me — I don’t want to say turn sour — but just be slightly annoyed with the Kansas City Chiefs.’
‘It’s also because they’re always here,’ Barber continued.
‘After you’ve been somewhere for so long and have had the success they’ve had, it becomes inevitable.
‘Why are you guys continuing to show Taylor Swift? The obsession is getting annoying. Why do we need to see her?’
Those wishing for Swift’s airtime to come to an end will be rooting for the Ravens in Sunday’s AFC Championship game against the Chiefs.
Should Kelce eliminate Lamar Jackson’s team, the Super Bowl coverage will feature a heavy dose of Swift, even if she will not play a down.
Her presence at Sunday’s game in Buffalo was evident, although she was overshadowed by Jason Kelce.
The Philadelphia Eagles was at the game with his team already being eliminated and he was seen drinking beers with fans at the Bills tailgate, and jumped out of a luxury box shirtless to drink a beer.
Swift has been publicly dating Kelce since September with massive mainstream attention
Swift has gotten close with Brittany Mahomes and the Kelce family since starting to date Travis
At one point, Jason even picked up a young female fan to say hello to Swift in the distance.
Swift and Jason Kelce were in the same luxury suite with other members of the Kelce family, Brittany Mahomes, and Cara Delevingne.
After Travis Kelce’s first touchdown against Buffalo, he pointed to her and his family in the luxury box and made a heart gesture with his hands.
Swift’s entrance into the NFL community has been met with mixed reviews.
While it has undoubtedly brought an explosion of younger and female fans to the sport, some have criticized the effect its had on the Chiefs and Kelce.
The Chiefs started the season 6-1, but lost five of their next eight games, to lose homefield advantage in the postseason.
Kansas City has won its last four, including two playoff games, both with Swift in attendance.