Saquon Barkley defends Taylor Swift after the Super Bowl boos, asserting that “she’s made the game bigger.” Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ impressive victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX, Barkley has been riding a wave of celebration.
As the festivities kicked off on Sunday night, Barkley found himself the center of attention, being celebrated by the NFL on FOX crew, sharing laughs while shotgunning beers with his teammates on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” and making an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show.”
However, one aspect of the Super Bowl experience still lingers in Barkley’s mind: the booing of Taylor Swift by fans in the stands at the game in New Orleans.
“I remember that they showed [Taylor Swift] on the Jumbotron and she got booed,” Barkley shared with Stern. “I don’t get it. I don’t get why she was getting hate there. She’s there supporting her significant other and she’s made the game bigger.” His comments highlight the growing intersection of sports and pop culture, where celebrity influence can enhance the overall experience of the game.
Swift, who has been romantically linked to tight end Travis Kelce since the 2023 season, has become a regular presence at Kansas City Chiefs games. Since their relationship became public, she has cheered on Kelce at 23 games, including all three of the Chiefs’ postseason matchups this season and last year’s Super Bowl LVIII.
A recent poll conducted by The Athletic found that a majority of NFL players view Swift’s involvement as a positive development for the league, a sentiment echoed by Barkley.
The Eagles kicked off their Super Bowl-winning campaign with a victory over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. This game marked Barkley’s debut with the team after spending his first six seasons with the New York Giants. He made an impressive entrance, rushing for 109 yards and scoring two touchdowns. Barkley went on to set a remarkable single-season rushing record, accumulating 2,005 yards throughout the regular season and playoffs combined.
Although Barkley had a quieter performance against the Chiefs, with 25 carries for 57 yards, he played a vital role in securing Philadelphia’s second Super Bowl championship.
After celebrating his first Super Bowl victory, Stern inquired about Barkley’s thoughts on the potential marriage between Swift and Kelce. Barkley humorously sidestepped the question, stating he’s no “Anti-Hero.” This playful remark reflects his desire to maintain a level of privacy regarding the personal lives of his fellow athletes.
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