Angry Swifties have hit back against NFL analyst Rodney Harrison after he blamed Travis Kelce’s latest lackluster performance for the Kansas City Chiefs on his other commitments.
The reigning Super Bowl champions extended their perfect start to the season to 3-0 on Sunday night as they beat the Atlanta Falcons 22-17.
But it was another quiet night for Kelce, whose girlfriend Taylor Swift skipped the game, as cameras caught him looking particularly miserable on the sideline in a clip which went viral.
Kelce only had four catches for 30 yards in Atlanta and continued what’s been an unusually sluggish start to the season for the 34-year-old as he looks to add a fourth Super Bowl ring – and third in a row – to his collection in 2024.
Working for NBC, Harrison was scathing in his criticism of Kelce after the game and said: ‘He’s busy. He’s got a lot on his plate.
You think about it. He’s doing a lot of different things. Media-wise, he’s playing football, he’s got other things going on.
‘When you’re in that situation you’ve got to forget about everything else and focus 100 per cent on football. That’s the main responsibility.
Guys are making plays on him. Jesse Bates did a heck of a job on him tonight.
‘He (Kelce) just doesn’t have the same speed. He’s a good player still but I don’t believe he’s a great, great player.’
Those comments drew a furious reaction from some of Swift’s loyal fans and they took to social media to defend the Chiefs tight end.
One posted: ‘This is such a bs talking point. Because if you actually paid attention to Trav, he’s 150% locked in on football.
‘Outside of the podcast (that he films on his off day), we do not see him. All of the “stuff” you see him involved with was done during the off season. I’m tired.’
Another tagged Harrison into their post and wrote: ‘@Rodney_Harrison I see you have a family, but what I don’t see if you saying that your wife is distracting you from your job. Keep Travis’s personal life away from the game, or put yours into it.’
‘There’s no way. Travis stays late at the facility getting more reps in and they decide to say that’, added a third Swiftie.
Other fans blamed Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid for not getting the ball to Kelce.
A fan said: ‘And they start blaming his offseason stuff again, no one talks about how Mahomes doesn’t give him the ball when he’s open.’
Another added: ‘”He doesn’t have the same speed” and yet he’s getting open every play and successfully blocking. I’m done’.
Kelce’s return against the Falcons means he now has just 69 yards across three games, although he did manage to double his reception tally to eight.
Mahomes claimed afterwards that Kelce’s coverage by opponents is making it hard to get the ball to him.
The quarterback said: ‘I mean the respect factor they have for Travis is still unreal and it’s well deserved.
‘We’re calling a lot of plays for Travis and it’s like two or three people are going to him.
‘He understands. That’s the great thing about him. He wants to make an impact on the game but he wants to win at the end of the day.
‘I’m going to try and do my best to keep feeding him the ball whenever he’s there, whenever he’s open.
‘I think the more Rashee (Rice) makes plays, the more we’re able to run the football, the more we can get (Xavier) Worthy involved, I think that’s going to open up Travis more.
‘People are really emphasizing trying to take him away and it’s getting other guys open.’
Kelce’s latest off-night came after girlfriend Swift failed to make an appearance at a Chiefs game for the first time this season.
The pop megastar was nowhere to be seen in Atlanta despite her free schedule as she enjoys a break from her international Eras Tour.
On Saturday Swift was spotted on a lowkey night out with BFF Gigi Hadid in New York City, where she rocked a plaid miniskirt as they grabbed a bite to eat at The Corner Store restaurant in SoHo.
But despite many expecting her to appear in Atlanta, she instead turned down the chance to follow Kelce and Kansas City on the road.
Swift attended the Chiefs’ opening two games of the 2024 campaign, both of which were played in Kansas City.
