Breaking News: Taylor Swift Did Not Impact NFL Schedule, Says VP of Broadcast Planning

The 2024 NFL Schedule was officially released on May 15, and the entirety of the football-loving world was able to see when their favorite teams would play from September to January. Funny enough, the schedule also invited rumors involving Taylor Swift.

It is no secret that Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was one of the biggest headlines of the 2023 season. Non-football fans waited patiently through Chiefs games to see snippets of the global pop star appearing to root for her boyfriend.

When Swift attended any games, the cameras often cut to her celebrating with Donna Kelce, and other celebrities attending games in her suite. It is to be expected that her stardom will be a visible part of NFL broadcasts this season, but to what degree is the league incorporating Swift into its plans for the upcoming season?

People began to put together comparisons of Swift’s scheduled tour dates with the dates on which the Chiefs would roll into town. Rumors swirled so much around the conspiracy that Mike North, the NFL’s vice president of broadcast planning, had to comment on the situation.

He initially told ESPN’s Brooke Pryer, “We certainly considered the tour dates that hit NFL stadiums. I think she’s in Miami, maybe New Orleans, Indy. We certainly considered those. One thing we didn’t consider, I saw a lot of conspiracy theorists talking about Kansas City at Buffalo in the middle of the season, right when Taylor’s playing Toronto. That one definitely did not hit our radar screen.”

North commented on the fact that teams like the Dolphins, Saints, Colts, and Bills are on the road when Swift is using those stadiums for her upcoming tour. Though North stated that the tour dates were considered, he has fully cleared up the idea that the NFL had to work its schedule around the pop star.

NFL VP of Broadcast Planning Mike North said Taylor Swift did not influence the league’s 2024 regular-season schedule.

🎧 https://t.co/mIBxyagJwm pic.twitter.com/7e8gT4sr6y

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 21, 2024

North spoke to longtime NFL analyst Adam Schefter, who asked point-blank if Swift was responsible for some dates being what they are for the 2024 NFL season. Schefter initially asks, “You mentioned the Chiefs being a bellcow for the league. Did the significant other of a certain Super Bowl-winning tight end play any factor, or have any influence on which games are shown in prime time and when? Did her name come up in scheduling meetings at all, Mike?