Pop megastar Taylor Swift appears to have skipped her first NFL game of the 2024 season, missing out on the Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Swift, who attended the Chiefs’ opening two games of the season in Kansas City, was notably absent from Atlanta despite having a break in her Eras Tour schedule.
Fans and media outlets were quick to notice that Swift, who supported her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, at several games last season, was not spotted arriving in Atlanta ahead of the Sunday night kickoff.
Last season, Swift racked up thousands of air miles following the team, even flying over 5,000 miles from Tokyo to Las Vegas for the Super Bowl. However, this week, the singer chose to enjoy a low-key night out in New York City with her best friend, model Gigi Hadid, instead of traveling to Georgia.
On Saturday night, Swift and Hadid were seen having dinner at the Corner Store restaurant in Soho, with Swift rocking a plaid miniskirt and boots for the casual evening. Her absence from the Chiefs game came despite a clever nod from Kansas City’s social media team, which posted a photo of Kelce arriving at the stadium alongside the caption, “Happiness. Fun. Magic.” The caption was a reference to Swift’s recent VMA Awards speech in which she praised Kelce for bringing “fun and magic” into her life. Fans loved the subtle tribute, flooding the replies with praise for the social media team’s creativity.
Kelce made a fashion statement of his own when he arrived at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, sporting an oversized black jacket, tie, and bright red sneakers. The bold ensemble turned heads and immediately sparked excitement among Swift’s fan base, many of whom speculated that Kelce’s outfit was inspired by Swift’s 2017 Reputation album, known for its edgy, all-black aesthetic. Kelce had also worn a similar all-black look when he stepped off the plane in Atlanta the day before, donning a black T-shirt, blazer, pants, and a cap reading “He Got Game.”
Fans on social media couldn’t help but make connections between Kelce’s outfit and Swift’s Reputation era, pointing out the symbolic nod to his girlfriend’s iconic album. Swift’s fan base, known as “Swifties,” were quick to share their thoughts on social media, with many excited about the potential fashion references to their favorite artist.
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes also arrived in style, wearing a navy pinstriped suit paired with a baby blue tie. Both Mahomes and Kelce appeared ready to lead the Chiefs as they aimed to secure a 3-0 start to the season, following earlier victories against the Ravens and Bengals.
Although Swift wasn’t in attendance, her presence was felt through the clever social media references and Kelce’s bold fashion choices, proving once again that the NFL’s biggest games are increasingly crossing paths with pop culture’s brightest stars.