The numbers don’t support any notion of Kansas City Chiefs “fatigue,” yet sports media continues to weave this narrative as the team approaches their third consecutive Super Bowl. FS1 commentator Chris Broussard recently pointed out a polarizing aspect of the Chiefs that has largely gone unnoticed, which could have stirred animosity.
During a discussion on First Things First, Broussard highlighted whether perceptions of referee bias towards Kansas City have painted them as “villains” in their pursuit of a three-peat. He reminded listeners how quickly people forget the political controversies surrounding the Chiefs, particularly last September when Brittany Mahomes, wife of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, liked a post by Donald Trump on Instagram. Following that, the former president thanked her in a subsequent post.
Chris Broussard: “When Mahomes’ family, his wife, supported Trump, that was a reason half the country could have really jumped on Mahomes and Kansas City … and gone at them. … I think you didn’t get it because Mahomes is so great that people let him go.” pic.twitter.com/2dfU2dnpMT
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 29, 2025
The tension did not end there; Trump later mentioned Mahomes while mocking Taylor Swift after she endorsed Kamala Harris. In response, Brittany Mahomes shared a post advocating for kindness and positivity, which many interpreted as a comment on Trump’s remarks. Regardless of the messy political drama, Broussard is correct that the Chiefs were positioned to be unpopular. For football fans weary of Kansas City’s success, the interactions between Mahomes’ family, Trump, and Swift presented the perfect opening for criticism. However, the continued interest and popularity of the Chiefs argue that they are not widely disliked.
Moreover, Travis Kelce’s high-profile relationship with Swift and kicker Harrison Butker’s controversial conservative speech at Benedictine College, where he was ridiculed, portray Kansas City as anything but a quiet, neutral team. They feature numerous outspoken personalities. As Broussard points out, despite these myriad news cycles, the Chiefs entered February with record AFC Championship ratings and positive momentum towards achieving a three-peat.
