This weekend, two teams will face off in New Orleans in the season finale of NFL. The cliffhanger: Will Travis Kelce propose to Taylor Swift on the field if the Chiefs clinch an unprecedented three-peat?
Okay, that’s probably not how ESPN would blurb Super Bowl LIX, but you’re not on ESPN. And I don’t want to talk about the spread, moneyline, or the over/under.
I want to talk about Taylor Swift.
Because yes, I care about the Super Bowl. And yes, part of it is because Taylor Swift will be there.
I’ll also be watching to see if Kendrick Lamar hauls out an effigy of Drake at the halftime show.
And to see just how awkwardly Bradley Cooper and Gigi Hadid interact in their box while cheering on his beloved Eagles (you can’t make me believe that relationship is real, you just can’t!).
My point is, my interest in the league the past two years has exploded, and it’s not because of a newfound passion for the tush push.
And I bet you know more than a few women who feel similarly.
Why? Easy.
Women love a storyline.
It’s the reason more of us prefer erotica to porn. A pizza guy getting invited to an orgy? Where’s his back story? What motivates him?!
But Onyx Storm heroine Violet having to journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands while finding herself in a classic enemies-to-lovers arc with Xaden, a rebellion leader with a predilection for secrets? There’s a plot to get the blood flowing.
All that to say, an international pop superstar falling in love with a handsome and talented athlete? It’s giving big budget 2000’s rom com blockbuster. And they don’t make those anymore. Hell, Kate Hudson is doing Netflix now!
So please, let us have this.
And not just as a treat. Don’t go, “Aw how cute” to the woman or women in your life who now have a take on Patrick Mahomes’ passing style.
Embrace it!
If you’ve got a wonderful lady sitting on the couch next to you this Sunday who is primarily there to see what T.Swift is wearing, but also has an opinion on Saquon Barkley’s rushing yards in the regular season? Be grateful.
And maybe consider taking an interest in whatever she’s into with similar enthusiasm after the season’s over. I promise you there’s plenty of game tape to break down in the ongoing Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni lawsuit.
Because it’s not cool to gatekeep who gets to be a fan. There’s no medals given, no trophies won for being the most serious supporter.
What’s cool is to be welcoming. What’s cool is to invite more people to the party.
It’s why this year, so much great media and commentary has popped up focusing on the culture of sports, and yes, the gossip surrounding it.
Because it’s fun to like stuff!
Bottom line? It’s worth getting on the right side of history of this cultural convergence, this vibe shift.
The Super Bowl is already a behemoth. It’s the pinnacle of American sports, a cultural touchstone, a reason to gather with friends, consume a questionable amounts of nachos, and debate celebrity cameos in commercials.
But its cultural significance is evolving. It’s not just for the die-hards anymore, if it ever was. It’s an event, a spectacle, a moment. And in 2025, the appearance of one of the most influential artists of our time making moon eyes at her boyfriend is going to make for a very cool moment.
Because in the grand theater of American culture, sometimes the biggest plays happen off the field. Sometimes, it’s Taylor Swift just… being there. And frankly, that’s reason enough to tune in.
