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Shannon Sharpe Has Strong Opinion on Nearly Unprecedented Influence of Taylor Swift on NFL

The retired NFL player said there‘s no other celebrity who could have the same impact on a sport and its viewership.

Ananya Panchal

Shannon Sharpe and Taylor Swift

Shannon Sharpe and Taylor Swift.

Podcast cohosts Shannon Sharpe and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson discussed the hottest topic in the NFL on their latest episode of Nightcap. The retired NFL players dissected how impactful Taylor Swift and her attendance at games has been for the league and its viewership

“It’s crazy, what she’s been able to do for the NFL from a different perspective of those that don’t even watch [the game],” Johnson said. “The attention that she brings, the eyes that she brings, it’s [incredible].”

Sharpe chimed in with some statistics from Apex Marketing Group, revealing that the 12-time Grammy Award-winning artist has generated an equivalent brand value of $331.5 million for the Kansas City Chiefs—the team for which boyfriend Travis Kelce plays tight end—and the NFL.

“That figure includes print, digital radio, TV, highlights, social media, going back to Taylor Swift’s first game in September,” he continued. “Tell me [any] other person that’s [capable of doing] that.”

Johnson suggested Beyoncé as a comparable celebrity, who could have a similar effect on the sport.

“Not like this ... these 8- to 15-year-old eyeballs,” Sharpe noted of the 34-year-old singer’s audience. “ Ocho, I love Beyoncé, [but] Beyoncé ain’t moving the needle like this chick. She’s the closest thing to moving the needle like Michael Jackson that we’ve seen.”

“Beyoncé moves the needle just like Taylor, if not more” Johnson rebutted. “Beyonce has those same set of eyes young, middle aged and old.”

Fans were able to see both sides of the argument, but a majority agreed with Sharpe.

“​If Bey was dating a football player she would most definitely bring the numbers,” one person commented.

“anybody disagreeing doesn’t realize how famous Taylor really is lol,” another wrote.

“Taylor beat Beyoncé in theaters this year. Box offices revenue for Taylor was unmatched!!! Taylor is in another stratosphere,” someone else chimed.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift.

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Ananya Panchal
ANANYA PANCHAL

Ananya Panchal is a writer on the Lifestyle and Trending News team for SI Swimsuit, where she covers fashion, beauty, pop culture and the internet’s favorite personalities and trends. She joined the brand in 2022 after roles at Bustle, the San Francisco Chronicle and the TODAY Show. Panchal loves to write about fashion in all its forms—from standout runway moments and evolving street style to the best accessories to elevate each season’s wardrobe (she rarely goes anywhere without a stack of jewelry and a coffee in hand). A self-proclaimed beauty fanatic, she’s always on the hunt for must-have products and loves breaking down viral trends. Her favorite series at the moment is spotlighting female founders and the stories behind the brands they’ve built—especially those shaping the future of fashion, wellness and tech. She is based between New York City and San Francisco and, when she’s not writing, can be found rewatching One Tree Hill, playing sudoku, trying new restaurants or ranking her favorite Disney Channel Original Movies. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communications and journalism with a minor in criminal justice from Boston University.

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