It keeps playing out like a movie — almost.
Down to the wire in overtime against the San Francisco 49ers, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw the game-winning pass to … well, not to tight end Travis Kelce. Receiver Mecole Hardman caught the ball and ran it in the end zone. Final score: 25-22, Chiefs — who won the Super Bowl for the second year in a row.
There was a fleeting moment, on the previous play, when Mahomes threw the ball to Kelce and it briefly looked like he might have a shot to run it in and win the game, but he fell short. If that had happened, it would have been almost too absurd to be real. Seriously? The most talked-about player of the season, who became an international celebrity after dating the most famous pop star in the world, also wins the Super Bowl for his team? No way. Even the NFL knew that would have been too much for the viewing audience to handle. As did President Biden’s team, who joked on social media that the game ended “just like we drew it up.”
And so, even after all the hype over the past two weeks about Taylor Swift attending the Super Bowl, and the mathematical equations that assured us she could get from her concert in Tokyo to Las Vegas in time, and all the chatter about private jets and conspiracy theories and who she might bring to the VIP suite … mostly the Taylor Bowl (as some might have dubbed it) was still just the biggest football game of the year, and Swift’s presence at it seemed, for once, to fall into proper relief. Despite the wildly expensive suite and enormous carbon footprint, she’s just a girl, rooting for a guy, kissing him in a rain of confetti at the satisfying end of a long season of love.
Of course, that didn’t mean the NFL didn’t take plenty of opportunities to remind the viewing audience that Swift was there. The videos started as the pop megastar entered Allegiant Stadium (nearly a year since she played two sold-out shows there during the Eras Tour last March), ponytail swinging against a red jacket slung casually on her shoulder over her all-black ensemble. She wore a sparkly “87” necklace and carried a bedazzled “87” football-shaped purse (Kelce’s number), walking with her entourage that included actress Blake Lively, rapper Ice Spice, stylist and longtime friend Ashley Avignone, along with her parents and brother.
Cameras captured Swift entering the suite (one that, according to TMZ, cost Kelce a reported $1 million to secure for his and Swift’s friends and families) as she hugged Travis’s brother, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, who boasted a “Big Yeti” shirt and Chiefs overalls for the occasion. She chatted with Jason’s wife, Kylie Kelce, and sat in front of his parents, Donna and Ed Kelce. Swift was seen introducing Jason to Ice Spice, a combination of celebrities that the internet simply could not handle as the two politely shook hands. Later, actor Miles Teller and his wife, Keleigh, were spotted in the suite, along with music producer Riot, as well as Lana Del Rey. Oh, and Paul McCartney.
Even though you could write a book about the dynamics of the Kelce-Swift VIP suite, CBS producers tried to control themselves. As Post Malone sang “America the Beautiful,” the cameras panned to Swift and Lively hugging, and then cracking up as they apparently realized they were on the telecast. The game’s first half was both dull and dispiriting for the Chiefs, and Swift was barely shown at all. The Nickelodeon simulcast tried to liven things up with a chyron under Kelce’s face that read, “Taylor Swift’s boyfriend” and “Good At Football.” Nickelodeon also had “DoodleBob” (a doodle of SpongeBob) write “Hi Taylor!” on the screen.
🎥| Taylor Swift & Blake Lively ❤️pic.twitter.com/o7SgMqEs2I
Ice Spice, Taylor Swift, & Doodlebob… what a trio 🔥
📺: #SBLVIII on Nickelodeon pic.twitter.com/jRGqjEpNW1
After the dismal first half (with the 49ers leading 10-3), it looked like the most viral videos of the night would be Kelce yelling in frustration at his coach, Andy Reid, as well as a clip of Swift chugging a beer and slamming it down after she was featured on the Jumbotron in the stadium.
Icon. @TaylorSwift13#SBLVIII pic.twitter.com/G0FzHIyiLB
The Chiefs came alive in the third quarter, and after Marquez Valdes-Scantling scored a touchdown, the cameras immediately zoomed to Swift, who gathered Ice Spice and Lively and Avignone together for a group hug. Kelce caught a couple of passes, and the Kelce-Swift suite erupted. As it became clear that the Chiefs could make a comeback victory, producers checked in with Swift a few more times; at one point, she was anxiously biting her fingernail.
Then, the overtime, and then the win, and then the chaos. Lana Del Rey toppled over in the commotion, and Swift was nearly taken down, too, as she grabbed Ice Spice’s hand and Lively clutched her arm, everyone jumping up and down.
Taylor Swift, Ice Spice, and Blake Lively celebrating The Chiefs’ #Superbowl win. pic.twitter.com/7qBbH8DVtj
At last, time for the storybook ending — Swift beamed as she was escorted to the field with Kelce’s mother and stood grinning as Kelce took the stage to scream his famous “YOU GOTTA FIGHT, FOR YOUR RIGHT, TO PARTAYYYYY” rallying cry. He shot down those retirement rumors (“I’ll see y’all next year!”) and then went to find his parents. He gave them hugs, and then found Swift, and swept her up as they started kissing in front of all the cameras.
The CBS producers stayed on the two of them as they hugged and kissed and cuddled together for a solid minute. “Oh my God!” Swift yelled, holding his face in her hands. They walked away, his arm gripped firmly around her waist, and she cupped her hand around his ear as she whispered something that no pesky professional lip-readers could later interpret for the rapt masses.
“I know we want to talk about football right now, but as I look at Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift — we’ve been talking about their relationship all year long, that right there is special,” CBS commentator Nate Burleson said during the scene. “That woman is damn near in tears. Travis is emotional. That’s real love. That’s what you can get when you have the good support of a woman behind you. He has had one hell of a season.”
As the cameras reluctantly panned away, the questions, as always, bounced around the pop-cultural imagination: Where were they going to celebrate? Did she have to fly right back to Los Angeles, and then on to Australia, where she has more concerts this week? Did he have to stay with the team? Where will the entourage go? Will we wake up in the morning to discover that Travis and Taylor made a quick stop at an Elvis chapel? After an NFL season that didn’t quite feel real at times, anything seemed possible, and still does. The movie’s not over.
The Chiefs won the Super Bowl, 25-22, over the 49ers as time expired in overtime. Get the details by signing up for our newsletter.
The win: Patrick Mahomes led the Chiefs to their fourth Super Bowl in his six seasons as a starter. While tight end Travis Kelce has commanded much of the spotlight dating Taylor Swift, it was a three-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman in overtime that delivered the Chiefs their third championship in five seasons.
Usher’s halftime show: Usher worked hard at the halftime show to cram more than a dozen songs into just as many minutes. If you were keeping a tally, the message was clear: Usher has hits. Also: Usher has friends.
Super Bowl commercials: Here are the best, worst and strangest commercials that played during Sunday night’s big game.
Taylor Swift: Taylor Swift made it to the Super Bowl to support Travis Kelce and the Chiefs from the VIP suite. From conspiracy theories to her jet, Swift seemingly couldn’t avoid the spotlight.
Beyoncé: Beyoncé’s ad got the BeyHive buzzing as she released two new songs and announced a new album.
