NFL viewers are divided after Nikki Glaser’s Taylor Swift-themed Chiefs promo on NBC, with some fans calling the segment unnecessary and over-the-top.
NFL viewers were quick to react after comedian Nikki Glaser appeared in a Taylor Swift-themed promotional segment for NBC’s Sunday Night Football ahead of the Kansas City Chiefs’ matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.
Glaser, a longtime football fan and self-described Swiftie, appeared in the pregame segment that heavily focused on Swift, her relationship with Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and the ongoing attention surrounding Kansas City.
While the video was presented as a hype piece for the Chiefs, some NFL viewers questioned why the segment centered so prominently on the pop superstar.
The comedian, 42, opened the video by discussing the pressure that comes with being a successful sports team and the way fans often celebrate a team’s downfall after years of dominance.
“When you’re on top of your game, everybody roots for your downfall,” Glaser said during the segment.
She went on to reference the Chiefs’ run of success and the criticism that has followed the team in recent seasons.
“People love a winner — until they win too much,” Glaser said, before comparing an unexpected setback to the NFL’s controversial Tush Push play. Taylor Swift’s song “Ready For It” played in the background as the segment continued.
Glaser then shifted the focus toward the idea of a Chiefs comeback.
“But without the downfall, you don’t get the thing that people love most of all: The comeback,” she said.
She told Chiefs fans that the team’s return to the top could begin with the Colts game and questioned whether fantasy football players would really leave quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kelce out of their lineups.
“Are you seriously not starting Patrick Mahomes and Kelce in your fantasy leagues this year?” Glaser asked during the promotional video.
The comedian also joked about Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s appearances in commercials and NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth’s frequent praise of Mahomes during broadcasts.
“I mean, boy crushes like that are forever,” Glaser joked.
The visual presentation of the segment also leaned heavily into Swift and Kelce’s relationship.
Glaser removed a jacket during the video to reveal a red sequined dress resembling one of Swift’s stage outfits.
The outfit was styled like a Chiefs jersey, but instead of Kelce’s usual name on the back, it read “Taylor’s Husband.”
Glaser then referred to Swift as “the world’s greatest singer-songwriter” and joked about her becoming a permanent presence at Arrowhead Stadium.
She also embraced the criticism surrounding NBC’s frequent camera shots of Swift during Chiefs games, saying Swifties wanted to see even more cutaways to the singer during broadcasts.
The segment ended with Glaser predicting that Kansas City would eventually return to the top of the NFL and suggesting that the team’s critics would then resume complaining about the Chiefs.
“Before you know it, we’ll be back on top,” she said.
The segment, however, did not receive universal praise from NFL viewers.
Some fans took to social media to criticize NBC for what they viewed as an unusually promotional treatment of the Chiefs and Swift.
One Buffalo Bills supporter described the segment as “nauseating” and argued that NFL broadcasts should maintain a neutral tone.
Another viewer questioned why the Chiefs received such a lengthy promotional segment when the Colts were also playing in the nationally televised game.
“Why do the Chiefs get a free publicity commercial from NBC SNF in that Nikki Glaser piece,” the viewer wrote, adding that the Colts did not receive similar treatment.
Other social media users mocked the segment, with some suggesting that NBC was deliberately playing up the Swift-Kelce storyline because of the enormous attention it generates.
One commenter went as far as claiming that Swift and Kelce’s relationship was a public-relations stunt, although that assertion was not supported by evidence presented in the broadcast.
The speculation reflects the continuing online debate surrounding the couple, whose relationship has become a major part of NFL pop culture coverage.
Barstool Sports hockey personality Rear Admiral also reacted to the segment, joking that NBC was “trolling” viewers with the Nikki Glaser appearance.
Despite the backlash, Swift herself was at Arrowhead Stadium for the game.
The singer was shown by NBC cameras during the contest and was seen celebrating when Kelce caught a touchdown pass.
The score was particularly notable because it marked Kelce’s first touchdown of the season.
NBC’s decision to show Swift celebrating immediately echoed Glaser’s earlier comments about viewers wanting more shots of the pop star during Chiefs games.
Swift and Kelce’s relationship has continued to generate significant attention across both the entertainment and sports worlds.
Swift’s appearances at Chiefs games have regularly become major talking points, while Kelce has also appeared at events connected to Swift’s career.
For NBC, the Glaser segment represented another example of the crossover between the NFL, celebrity culture and Swift’s enormous fan base. However, the reaction demonstrated that not every football viewer welcomes that combination.
Some fans appeared to enjoy the playful approach, while others argued that the Colts-Chiefs matchup should have been the primary focus of the pregame coverage.
The contrasting reactions highlight the unusual position Swift now occupies within NFL broadcasts.
Her presence can create substantial entertainment value and social-media attention, but it can also prompt criticism from viewers who prefer traditional football coverage.
In this case, Glaser openly embraced the Swift connection rather than avoiding it, turning the singer’s relationship with Kelce into the central joke and theme of her Chiefs-focused promotional appearance.
And after Kelce found the end zone, NBC’s cameras once again turned toward Swift — providing a real-life follow-up to one of the biggest jokes in Glaser’s pregame segment.