If you tuned into last night’s Super Bowl expecting to see pop star Taylor Swift, you likely left disappointed. This was largely due to her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, having a below-average performance, finishing with just four receptions for 39 yards. Consequently, the entire Chiefs team struggled, and Fox dedicated minimal airtime to Swift, who was spotted only once for seven seconds during the broadcast.
Taylor Swift was shown only one time during Super Bowl LIX. Here are Swift’s total camera shots and duration during every Chiefs playoff game in the last two years. #NFL #TaylorSwift #Swiftie #SuperBowl
— Jaydpauley (@jaydpauley.bsky.social) February 10, 2025 at 9:22 AM
As documented by user Jaydpauley, there appears to be a correlation between Swift’s on-screen presence and Kelce’s performance. She was featured the longest during the Chiefs’ Wild Card victory over the Miami Dolphins last season—where Kelce recorded seven receptions and Swift was shown for 76 seconds. In contrast, during Kelce’s less stellar games, including the Super Bowl and the AFC Championship versus the Buffalo Bills, Swift was only shown for 7 and 15 seconds, respectively. This trend suggests that viewers may want to see Swift more often, even when Kelce isn’t performing well, but networks seem to be exercising restraint.
While it’s enjoyable to witness Swift celebrate a Kelce touchdown, there’s little purpose in showing her when the Chiefs are struggling against teams like the Philadelphia Eagles. After last season’s excessive complaints regarding her airtime, networks appear to have found a balance: showcasing her when Kelce does something noteworthy, while refraining from showing her during his lackluster performances. It’s a simple calculation, but the data certainly supports this observation.
