Sports commentator Skip Bayless had a rare moment of praise during the Kansas City Chiefs’ latest primetime matchup — not for the team or a player, but for the broadcast itself.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Bayless wrote,
“Amazing (and refreshing) that NBC is choosing not to show Taylor Swift (and Caitlin Clark) up in the box every time Kelce makes a play.” The post instantly gained traction among NFL and Caitlin Clark fans who’ve grown tired of constant celebrity cutaways dominating football coverage.
Taylor Swift, Caitlin Clark, & the Kelce family are ALL IN on Sunday Night. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/loQ5E1TuJu
— NBC Sports (@NBCSports) October 13, 2025
Clark and Swift have become frequent mentions during Chiefs games this season, with the broadcast often highlighting their reactions more than the plays on the field. While Swift’s connection is obvious due to her relationship with Travis Kelce, Clark’s presence in the sports spotlight — though unrelated — has been lumped into the same conversation about media overexposure.
Skip Bayless, known for his blunt takes, echoed the frustration of many who believe sports coverage should focus on the athletes and not celebrity cameos. For Caitlin Clark, who’s currently focused on her WNBA journey, her name being brought up in NFL commentary has felt increasingly misplaced.
Bayless’ comment tapped into a growing sentiment among fans who feel that TV networks lean too heavily on big names to boost ratings. This time, however, NBC’s restraint earned them applause from unexpected corners.
It’s not often Bayless and the fans see eye to eye, but on this occasion, the sports world collectively agreed — keeping the focus on the game and not on Taylor Swift or Caitlin Clark was, as Bayless put it, “amazing.”
Fans Cheer As NBC Keeps Caitlin Clark And Taylor Swift Off Screen During Chiefs Game
While Skip Bayless praised NBC for avoiding celebrity camera shots, Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift also became the unlikely subjects of a fan celebration online. The general tone? Relief.
NFL fans filled social media with comments appreciating the network’s decision to stay focused on football instead of panning to famous faces in the stands. One user posted,
“Let’s talk football, we really don’t care about her.” Another echoed, “Who freaking cares! Clark and Swift aren’t players and Kelce plays a TEAM sport. It’s the CHIEFS versus the LIONS!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k22HASBOdgY
The frustration stems from previous broadcasts where Taylor Swift’s appearances during Chiefs games became headline material. Even when Caitlin Clark wasn’t at the stadium, her name would still get dragged into conversations about celebrity attention in sports.
Fans voiced that it’s taking away from the experience of watching actual competition. Comments like “Starting this nonsense again” and “Why’s Taylor Swift shown more than the games?” summed up the exhaustion.
To most, it’s not about disliking either woman — both are cultural icons with massive fanbases — but about timing and relevance. The NFL audience wants football to be about the players on the field, not a celebrity highlight reel.
By keeping Caitlin Clark and Taylor Swift off screen, NBC may have quietly reset the tone for how games should be shown: less spectacle, more sport. It might seem small, but in today’s broadcast culture, even a simple choice like that can feel like a win for fans who just want to watch football.
For more basketball content, click on Hardwood Heroics. Sabel Reyes can be reached through sabelreyes22@gmail.com. Other websites under the Sports Heroics umbrella are Gridiron Heroics and Wisconsin Heroics.
Sabel has been working as a field reporter for People’s Television Network (PTV), mainly about the Philippine Basketball Association since 2016 and has been elevated to Executive Producer for sports in 2022. Aside from being on top of the Philippine sports scene, she is also a running enthusiast. You can also follow her on X at @SabelReyes2 and Instagram at @msabelreyes.
