Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has a largely detached attitude when it comes to the fanfare his teammate Travis Kelce and world-renowned pop-star girlfriend Taylor Swift have created with their several-year relationship.
Mahomes enjoys the fanfare to a degree – he joked that the two being a real couple was something “I gotta see it until I believe it” – but he also wants to keep things focused on football. Mahomes always defaults to getting business done on the field when he feels he’s getting too deep into the celebrity gossip.
Sometimes, that gets difficult when an army of Swift’s fans is all of a sudden die-hard Chiefs fans.
Mahomes addressed the “Swifties” invading training camp for the chance of meeting their idol.
“I’m interested to see what camp looks like this year. Obviously, we got a big fan base with the Swifties coming. I’m interested to see if it’s even crazier, if that makes sense,” Mahomes said on the ESPN docuseries, “The Kingdom.”
Mahomes admitted he’s more of a background character in his and wife Brittany’s relationship with Kelce and Swift.
“They didn't call me. They called Brittany. I was in the back of the Facetime,” Mahomes recently told reporters.
Needless to say, Mahomes seeks a much different spotlight than Kelce does. And it’s fair to say that Swift’s arrival has coincided, if not directly caused, the quarterback-tight end duo to grow apart. Kelce’s numbers and general performance have taken a major hit since Swift arrived.
FS1 host Jason McIntyre sees a drop-off from the Chiefs with Swift, and all her Swifties, in tow. McIntyre tabbed Kansas City as a non-playoff team this coming season.
“T-Swift drops new album, as T-Kelce drops out of playoffs,” McIntyre joked on “The Herd.”
“I'm sorry, I got to stick to it guys. I've been on this boat for months. I get it, the wide receiver room should be upgraded...But I got to see it.
“I don't see it from Kelce, I didn't see it in the playoffs. Obviously we're Taylor Swift fans here on the show, but I'm sorry, I see some drop off from the Chiefs.
“It's tough to stay on top forever without reinventing yourself and I didn't see the reinvention this offseason...I know it's crazy, but I don't have the Chiefs in the playoffs and I'm sticking with it.”
Mahomes may never outright admit it, but it’s fair to wonder if he wishes the Swift hysteria had never happened.