This is the crazy amount of money the NFL is making in publicity thanks to Taylor Swift, according to a study

Pop star Taylor Swift started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce right around the start of the 2023 NFL season. All of a sudden, her face became a mainstay at the Chiefs' football games. If she wasn’t on tour, she was pretty much at the games to support Kelce.

And considering her enormous following and global popularity, fans hilariously began saying that she put Travis Kelce, one of the league’s best tight ends, on the map (to the chagrin of many a male football fan). Although Kelce may have already been a star in the NFL world, that world got a whole lot bigger when Swift stepped in it, and that’s undeniable when you look at the numbers after two seasons of her presence.

Numbers don’t lie - Swift brings billions to NFL

Swift and Kelce are still dating, and she attended every game she could in the 2024 season as well, including Super Bowl LIX, where the Chiefs lost to the Philadelphia Eagles. Her constant presence was a talking point for media and fans alike as she showed up in fashionable attire each week.

And that’s all she did - show up - to earn the NFL billions of dollars in publicity. According to Apex Marketing, Swift brought exactly $992,361,912 in publicity to the National Football League. The firm tracked the number of times Swift was mentioned alongside the NFL, whether in newspapers, television, radio, or social media.

“This is just media buzz,” said Apex president Eric Smallwood. “If you were a brand and you wanted to go and buy media for your product or service, you would have to spend this amount to garner this level of media exposure.”

And while Swift is well-loved by many, she’s got her fair share of haters as well. Several Eagles fans booed the singer when she was shown on the jumbotron at the Super Bowl game earlier this month. Regardless of whether she’s liked or not, though, people are talking about her, and with that attention comes income for the league.

Related stories

NFL

From NFL to Hollywood: Travis Kelce’s life after retirement

NFL

Cutting Kelce would be a smart move for Chiefs

“The booing became a discussion that kept the conversation going,” Smallwood said. “We’ve been following the media every day and not just domestically, but internationally. With her, we’re seeing a lot of international interest.”

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.