Erin Andrews wants to give a warm welcome to the influx of new football fans tuning into Kansas City Chiefs games to catch a glimpse of Taylor Swift cheering on rumored boyfriend Travis Kelce.
The veteran NFL sideline reporter says she’s thrilled to see Swift sparking interest in the sport, especially among women. Andrews told PEOPLE she has some advice for Swifties new to football: ask questions, learn the stories behind teams and players, and have fun getting to know the NFL.
“Welcome! Come on in,” Andrews said enthusiastically about new fans drawn by the Swift/Kelce romance. “We’ve actually been the number one rated show for women all over television. I mean, that’s more than The Bachelor, or whatever show you think women are watching.”
Andrews said the NFL audience was already close to 50/50 men and women before Swift started attending Chiefs games this season. But she acknowledges Swift has brought “casual fans” who may not understand all the rules and action yet.
“That’s something that Taylor Swift brought to the NFL during Week 3 of the season, and it has been so great,” Andrews said. “What we need is to reintroduce our teams, our players’ stories, to them.”
For new fans feeling lost, Andrews suggests asking questions without fear. “There’s no such thing as a stupid question,” she said. “Get to know our players, get to know our teams, get to know our traditions. We have so many great stories and so many fun things going on in the league. You’ll love it.”
Andrews believes that just as she fell in love with football as a way to bond with her dad, Swift is helping families connect through the sport.
“I saw a dad who posted on Instagram a picture of his two little girls watching football, and they were looking for Taylor,” she recalled. “And he just wrote, ‘Thanks Taylor Swift.’ And I just think that’s so cool. I have dads ask me all the time, how do I get my daughters to like it?”
Like that father, Andrews started loving football because it was time spent with her dad. She thinks it’s great if Swift can create similar moments for other fathers and daughters.
Swift has sparked a media frenzy since she began attending Chiefs games to support Kelce. She’s created viral moments like wearing custom Chiefs apparel and sharing a box suite with stars like Chiefs owner Clark Hunt.
Kelce and Swift first fueled romance speculation when he attended her concert in Kansas City in June. As the Chiefs pursue another Super Bowl title, Kelce has welcomed Swift’s presence while trying to minimize distraction.
“I’m just trying to be where my feet are,” he told reporters about balancing football and his personal life.
For Andrews, Swift’s sudden embrace of football fashion has also been great for WEAR, her women’s NFL apparel brand. She designed clothes to help female fans express team pride in trendy, flattering styles.
“If somebody like myself, who has been a fan all my life, is finding new interest in the league and in the athletes? I promise you we have so much to offer,” Andrews said. “And we can help you dress. You’ll look super cute for it!”
The longtime reporter is thrilled to see women like Swift participating in NFL traditions like coordinating game day outfits. Andrews takes pride in creating apparel to help female fans feel part of the action.
Just as Andrews has worked to make women feel welcome and represented within football culture, she hopes to make the Swifties’ introduction smooth and fun. The life-long sports junkie enthusiastically invites them into the NFL family.
There may be a learning curve about penalties and possession. But by asking questions and focusing on great player stories, Andrews believes new fans will be hooked in no time. Just like generations of family bonding over football Sundays, Swift can create new shared memories for her fans.
If Swift’s catchy songs inspire her massive following to embrace the gridiron game, Andrews will gladly offer an assist. She’s thrilled to see Swift empowering women to engage with football on their own terms.
There’s no better endorser to convince young female fans to say, “Hey Stephen, I think the NFL is swell.” Andrews is ready to help Swift shake up their perceptions and prove football is never, ever going out of style.
