While at #4SE, Pro Football Hall of Famer @michaelstrahan said it best: sports have leaked into pop culture—and it’s a win for everyone 🏈🎤
From Hallmark storylines to Swifties tuning into NFL games, the crossover is real. pic.twitter.com/9kXp1g5mUj
— Sports Business Journal (@SBJ) May 20, 2025
The New York Giants will host the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3 on Monday Night Football and that likely means the presence of pop star Taylor Swift.
Taylor regularly attends the games of her boyfriend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, which has caused a divide among NFL fans. On one hand, traditionalists are bothered by the attention she generates, while the newer generation and music-to-football imports fully support her.
Like the fans themselves, current and former NFL players are split.
Retired Giants running back Tiki Barber lamented the Swift obsession last January, but Hall of Famer defensive end Michael Strahan doesn’t see things the same way.
While appearing at the Sports Business Journal’s 4SE conference, Strahan praised Swift’s presence and what it has meant for the league as a whole.
“Sports have leaked into pop culture — and it’s a win for everyone,” he said. “Taylor Swift is one of the best things to happen to the NFL.”
Traditionalists may not like to hear what Strahan had to say, but the numbers seem to bear that out.
Data shows that NFL viewership is up by nearly seven percent since Swift first burst onto the scene, while viewership among girls aged 12-17 has spiked by over 50 percent.
From a business and financial standpoint, there’s no denying it: Swift has been good for the NFL.