Travis Kelce becomes the third most-searched public figure in the US, Internet calls it 'the Taylor Swift effect'

2023-10-08 14:58

Taylor Swift's televised appearances had a more significant impact on Travis Kelce's Instagram following than all three Super Bowls he played in combined

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI: It's a 'Love Story' of the new age! Back in 2016, 259,000 viewers eagerly watched as NFL player Travis Kelce embarked on a dating adventure with 50 women in the premiere of his E! reality dating show 'Catching Kelce'.

Interestingly, it turns out that Kelce only had to connect with one person to captivate a staggering audience of 27 million -- none other than Taylor Swift.

Parrot Analytics, utilizing data from sources like Wikipedia, Google, and social media, reports a surge in searches for Travis Kelce since September 25, the day after Taylor Swift attended the Chiefs-Bears game.

Kelce has now secured the third spot as the most-searched public figure in the US, trailing only behind Beyoncé and, unsurprisingly, Swift herself.

How many people watched Chiefs vs Jets?

The Kansas City Chiefs-New York Jets game drew an impressive average of nearly 27 million viewers.

The matchup against the New York Jets emerged as the highest-rated Sunday program since the Super Bowl, witnessing a notable surge of over 35% in female viewership.

According to Nielsen, Sunday Night Football saw a remarkable 53% increase in teenage girl viewers compared to the previous season, credited to the pop star's presence.

Remarkably, Swift achieved this feat simply by attending an NFL game, particularly one featuring the Kansas City Chiefs tight end, who is rumored to be her new beau.

On October 1, during her second appearance in the stands, this time accompanied by friends Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Hugh Jackman, and Sophie Turner, Swift drew an average of 27 million viewers to NBC and Peacock, breaking national television ratings records.

'They are a thing'

As of today, Travis Kelce holds the esteemed title of the most popular athlete in America.

New data from Variety reveals that he is not only dominating the sports scene but has also become one of the most sought-after celebrities across the nation, solidifying his status as a cultural icon in high demand.

Fans have taken to Twitter with one saying, "They are a thing." Another user said, "Taylor is taking his career to the next level."

One quipped, "Taylor Swift made him famous," while another penned, "Lmao that Taylor Swift magic ain't no joke."

One even attributed Travis' fame directly to Taylor, saying, "To non NFL fans, I’m guessing no one knew who he was in August."