Chiefs coach explains why Taylor Swift’s influence was beneficial to the team
Any Chiefs player or coach who has been interviewed over the past five months inevitably has been asked a variant of the same question.
Has superstar singer Taylor Swift’s romance with tight end Travis Kelce been a distraction?
I’ve yet to hear anyone say Swift has been anything but a positive influence, whether it’s her baked goods for the offensive linemen or the huge hug she gave punter Tommy Townsend after Super Bowl LVIII.
Chiefs defensive backs coach Dave Merritt was on “The Sports Shop With Reese and K-Mac” podcast recently and explained why Swift’s presence was beneficial to the team this season.
“When she started to come around, it was privately,” Merritt told the hosts Erroll Reese, Kevin “K-Mac” McClendon and Pam Thompson Smith. “She was coming into the stadiums without people really knowing until the camera put a big spotlight on it. But upon meeting her, I felt like she actually added to what it was that we were trying to do. Because there were so many people that were hating the fact that she was being shown on TV, that you know what, you’re part of our family because you’re now with Travis, so therefore you’re our little sister or you’re whatever it may be, you’re part of family.
“So what happened what she actually affected the team in a positive way. It wasn’t a negative way. It was everybody was excited that Travis was happy. So when my player, my brother, is happy beside me, that helps me and that encourages me. And so, Travis came in there a different man, so she helped us.”
Merritt then used Swift to dunk on Thompson Smith.
“I hate to say this in front of Pam. Pam is a Cowboys fan,” Merritt said. “She (Swift) actually in her first year won a Super Bowl and Dak (Prescott) has been with the Cowboys how many years? She won her Super Bowl in her first year in the NFL. How about that?”
Here is the interview with Merritt.
