Former NFL HC Tony Dungy Faces Flak After ‘Disenchanted’ Taylor Swift Comments
Musician Taylor Swift is one of the most popular people in the world. Yet the NFL community stood up for the superstar instead of a horde of “Swifties” when former NFL head coach Tony Dungy’s recent disparaging remarks addressed her.
Once Dungy appeared on Fox News and declared that fans were “disenchanted” by Swift’s relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, many on social media attacked him, with Rich Eisen taking particular offense.
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“Blaming Taylor Swift for anything to do with Travis Kelce or the Chiefs or the state of the NFL or viewing enjoyment of it is the silliest/dumbest take I’ve heard in a long time,” Eisen shared content on X, the platform that was originally called Twitter.
Though it may have surprised some, Eisen wasn’t the only one to take offense at Dungy’s remarks with his direct reply.
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In addition to assaulting Swift outside the lines, Dungy was completely mistaken about how popular the NFL is. Not a single other sport made the list of the top 100 American broadcasts in 2023, with the league holding 93 percent of the total.
If anything, Dungy might have made many who previously thought of Swift as a problem become honorary “Swifties,” as it were.
Wait until someone tells Tony Dungy about sports television game directors, including those that work for his network, capturing images of the owners' suite, cheerleaders, and crowd shots.
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 13, 2024
Seeing a lot of people disenchanted with the NFL right now. Weirdly no mention of T. Swift. Only Peacock.
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) January 14, 2024
I’m sick of folks whining about @taylorswift13 at @NFL games. @TonyDungy is DEAD WRONG. She and other celebrities attend games. The @NBA doesn’t whine about celebs sitting courtside. This complaining is DUMB. https://t.co/HKKv2r8Xx6
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 13, 2024
Celebrities are embraced in every other sport. Swift has performed the National Anthem in the World Series, and the NBA has traditionally featured notable Hollywood stars. The NHL would be thrilled to have the worldwide star attend games on a regular basis.
Dungy is the only one who appears foolish in this case; he concocted a story that can be readily refuted in order to malign a person whose very existence has attracted a lot of casual football fans.
