The only thing that might be eluding Taylor Swift at this point is the Commissioner’s headset. One that Roger Goodell might never hand over. But that’s a conversation for another day. Right now, Tay-Tay is the headline, not for her album or a single. Oh, no! But, it seems like she made it happened. Or so does the fanatics sarcastically think!

The league just set another record for its salary cap, and everyone seems to be pointing to the same unlikely MVP: TS. Yes, the same Taylor who just a year ago had people swiftly arguing over whether her presence at Chiefs games was a distraction. Fast forward, and now some fans are practically nominating her for executive of the year (well, even if it’s humorously).

Why? Because the league just announced a 2025 salary cap of $279.2 million per team, the highest in history, and a whole lot of people are convinced Swift had something to do with it. Maybe they are just taking the piss. But, in doing so, they might actually be hitting the bullseye.

Now, let’s be real. The NFL isn’t exactly hurting for cash. It’s been a money-printing machine for decades. But when you throw in the so-called ‘Taylor Swift effect’—which reportedly brought nearly $1 billion in revenue to the league—things start to make a little more sense.

The combination of Swifties flooding NFL broadcasts, skyrocketing jersey sales, and a massive boost in social media engagement has made the league even richer. And when the league gets richer, so do the players. You think Travis Kelce is complaining?

The connection is so undeniable that even non-Swiftie football fans are starting to come around. Love her or not, it’s hard to ignore the impact. The NFL’s preliminary projections had the 2025 salary cap landing somewhere between $277.5 million and $281.5 million. Now, the final number is set, and it’s another record high. Coincidence? Some say no chance.

The pigskin fanatics might just have given Taylor Swift her flowers

Or have they? The NFL fanbase has made a sport out of slandering Taylor Swift and her Swifties whenever the opportunity presents itself. But let’s be real—she’s not the one putting herself on camera every five minutes. And if Travis Kelce falls head over cleats for her, is she supposed to just ghost him on game days? She didn’t even show up to KC’s away games last season—maybe to avoid all the noise—but now, it looks like some fans are finally giving her credit where it’s due.

One fan wrote: “Thank you, Taylor Swift.” That’s not something you see on NFL Twitter every day. But considering the league’s salary cap just hit a record $279.2 million, some are starting to connect the dots. Swift’s presence in the stands has generated nearly $1 billion for the NFL, boosting everything from TV ratings to jersey sales. Coincidence? Not likely.

Another fan chimed in: “The Taylor Swift effect has been real.” Hard to argue when the league’s revenue has skyrocketed since she started showing up at Arrowhead. The salary cap, which was already projected to increase, got a major boost over the last two seasons. Plus, a whole new fandom that she has brought—many of whom probably didn’t know a tight end wasn’t just a gym goal before Swift came along.

One more fan kept it short and sweet: “Thank you, Taylor!” The cap increase means teams can hold onto key players, making life easier for front offices across the league. Sure, the cap formula is complex, but the timing of these historic jumps? Suspiciously aligned with Swift’s NFL era.

And finally, another fan summed up what many are thinking: “Everyone say: ‘thank you Taylor Swift.’” Whether fans love it or not, Swift’s influence on the NFL is undeniable. The league keeps cashing in, and teams keep benefiting. Maybe it’s time the Brads and Chads (and the football Dads) of the world embrace the Swift effect. After all, all’s well that ends well. Right?!