Eagles star sends clear message to Taylor Swift

Eagles Star Saquon Barkley Defends Taylor Swift After Super Bowl Boo

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley has come to the defense of Taylor Swift after the pop superstar was met with boos from the crowd during Super Bowl LIX. Appearing on The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday, Barkley expressed his confusion and disappointment over the negative reception Swift received when she appeared on the Jumbotron.

“I have no idea,” Barkley said(NBC News) when asked if he thought Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce would get married. However, he quickly pivoted to the topic of Swift’s treatment at the game. “I will say this though: They showed her on the Jumbotron. She got booed. I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there.”

Host Howard Stern agreed with Barkley, adding, “I didn’t like that either.”

Barkley then highlighted Swift’s significant role in boosting the sport’s profile, crediting her with expanding the game’s reach and popularity. “Yeah, she’s just there supporting her significant other, and she’s made the game bigger,” Barkley pointed out.

The Eagles star emphasized that the NFL has been working to broaden its international appeal, and Swift’s presence is a major asset in achieving that goal. “We’re all about, ‘How can we expand the game and make it more international?’ And we’re traveling to Brazil. We’re traveling to Mexico. Her being a part of this is only helping us. So I don’t get the dislike that she’s given.”

Barkley also noted how Swift’s influence has had a direct impact on the league’s financial growth. She is widely credited as a factor in driving increased viewership and engagement, which helped the NFL significantly raise its salary cap during the offseason. As a result, players have benefited from more lucrative contracts, a fact that Barkley acknowledged.

“Fans may not like it,” he admitted, “but the reality is that Swift has been good for the NFL.”