LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: A recent injury to NFL star Travis Kelce has sparked a wave of humor and speculation on the internet, as fans jokingly ponder whether the league might consider banning artificial turf if it means his rumored girlfriend and pop sensation Taylor Swift won't attend games because of Kelce's injury.
Yes, you read that right—Travis, Taylor, and the NFL turf are all intertwined in a tale that has taken the internet by storm.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce vs NFL
Travis, the standout tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs, suffered a minor ankle injury during a recent game. While such injuries are not uncommon in the rough and tumble world of football, it is the presence of Taylor that has raised eyebrows and caused more concerns among NFL and Taylor Swift fans alike.
Taylor's recent attendance at a Kansas City Chiefs game to support her rumored partner, NFL star Travis, generated a wave of excitement among fans. In the wake of the pop singers' attendance, Travis' jersey sales skyrocketed by nearly 400 percent within just two days.
Taylor Swift's star-studded presence boosts game-day excitement
Taylor's presence at Chiefs' games has also seemingly contributed to increased viewership, as fans eagerly await glimpses of the singer cheering on her new beau from a VIP box.
Recent sightings of Taylor attending games alongside celebrity friends like Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, and Sophie Turner have only added to the spectacle.
Swifties, as Taylor's fans are affectionately known, took to social media platforms with a flurry of humorous posts, memes, GIFs, and tweets suggesting that if Travis were sidelined due to the turf-related injury, and Taylor decided not to attend games, the NFL might contemplate banning artificial turf.
Through all the humor, people may have some real home on the ban of artificial turfs, a fight that has been going on for a while now.
Aaron Rodgers suffered an injury on September 11, tearing his Achilles tendon, following which the NFL Players Association called for a switch to natural turfs, pointing to a decade-old study regarding injuries on artificial turfs, per NBC.
Travis Kelce's injury, Taylor Swift, and NFL turf creates internet sensation
The playful notion about the NFL's artificial turfs quickly gained momentum, turning the injury into an opportunity for light-hearted banter.
A user highlighted, "If Travis Kelce is out for the year because of a turf injury, and Taylor Swift stops coming to games, the NFL will ban turf within seconds."
Another added, "They'll delay the season until he recovers. They can't lose that new batch of fans that have a history of paying crazy ticket prices." A third questioned, "Is my fantasy team a joke to you?"
A fourth joked, "Just Shake it off Kelce." Another user remarked, "And that is how we got grass stadiums back kids," as another chimed, "Now that's how you get things done Swift!"
A user pointed out, "Taylor making the game safer for everyone would be an unexpected outcome from all of this." "Her movie comes out on Oct 13. This will probably end in the next couple of weeks, followed by a soulful ballad about their relationship," read an eighth tweet.