Taylor Swift’s influence on the

NFL

has become impossible to ignore. Ever since she started dating Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, the media has been obsessed with her every move. The so-called “Swift Effect” is allegedly boosting NFL ratings, with every Swift sighting at a game becoming headline news.
This Sunday, Kelce will lead the Chiefs as they face off against Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles in

Super Bowl LIX

. Swift is expected to be in the stands supporting Kelce, but some fans are hoping for more. Kendrick Lamar is headlining the halftime show, and Swifties can’t help but speculate about a surprise onstage reunion. Lamar and Swift last performed together on the Bad Blood (Remix) in 2015. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) are making noise: “We NEED a Taylor and Kendrick reunion at halftime. Make it happen.”
Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes shut down any wild rumors. “As long as Trav’s playing and we’re in the Super Bowl, it’s going to be hard for her to do the halftime show,” Mahomes said to reporters. NFL officials have also confirmed there’s no surprise Swift performance planned. SZA is Lamar’s only announced guest, while Jon Batiste will sing the national anthem, and Post Malone will headline the pregame tailgate show.

Taylor Swift went viral last month when she raised a glass to Kendrick Lamar at the Grammys. Lamar’s diss track “Not Like Us” had just won Record of the Year, and Swift was caught on camera dancing and singing along. Social media exploded with speculation that she was taking a public stand in Lamar’s ongoing feud with Drake.
Drake’s response? Petty. In his Taylor Made Freestyle, Drake called out Lamar and accused Swift of being the reason for Lamar’s delayed clapback. The track contains lines like:
“We gotta wait a f**ing week 'cause Taylor Swift is your new Top/And if you 'bout to drop, she gotta approve...”*
Lamar fired back with 6:16 in LA, enlisting Swift’s collaborator Jack Antonoff to produce the track. Meanwhile, Swift has stayed completely silent, letting the internet have its theories.
Swift and Lamar’s friendship runs deep. In 2015, Lamar featured on the Bad Blood (Remix), and Swift repeatedly praised his work. When she released 1989 (Taylor’s Version) in 2023, Lamar returned to the studio to re-record his verse. Swift wrote on Instagram:
“The reality that Kendrick would go back in and re-record ‘Bad Blood’ so that I could reclaim and own this work I’m so proud of is surreal and bewildering to me.”
But now Swift’s neutral stance between the two rappers is being questioned. Dancing to “Not Like Us” at the Grammys wasn’t subtle. Swift knows how the internet works. If that wasn’t a message, what was it? Fans are split—some believe it was a subtle dig at Drake, while others think Swift is just vibing with good music. Whatever the case, Swift seems to be caught right in the middle of this rivalry.

Kendrick Lamar will headline the Super Bowl LIX halftime show with SZA by his side. He’s promised to deliver a set that honors rap’s cultural impact. Other performers include Jon Batiste (national anthem), Trombone Shorty, Lauren Daigle, and Ledisi performing America the Beautiful and Lift Every Voice and Sing.
High-profile attendees are already in New Orleans. Taylor Swift was seen on Friday night having dinner with Travis Kelce, Patrick Mahomes, and Brittany Mahomes. Bradley Cooper, Cardi B, and Lady Gaga are also expected to make appearances. Former President Donald Trump is set to attend, marking the first time a sitting president has attended the Super Bowl.
As for Swift, her relationship with Kelce has reached iconic status. The couple was first spotted together in 2023 when Swift attended a Chiefs game. Since then, she’s formed a tight bond with Brittany Mahomes and Kelce’s mom, Donna Kelce. They’ve been seen celebrating wins on the field and relaxing in luxury stadium suites. Last year, Swift shared a kiss with Kelce on the field after the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win. It seems like history might repeat itself this Sunday.
Meanwhile, fans have placed wild prop bets on Swift’s Super Bowl appearance. Odds are currently against Kelce proposing on the field, but bets are still being taken on how many times she’ll be shown on the broadcast and whether she’ll post on Instagram during the game.
One thing’s for sure: whether it’s Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show or Taylor Swift’s presence in the stands, Super Bowl LIX has all the makings of a pop culture spectacle.
Read More: Which NFL WAGs will attend Super Bowl LIX? A look at the glamorous partners of Chiefs & Eagles stars