NFL Teams as Taylor Swift Songs

Taylor Swift Anthems of NFL Teams

Ever since Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce announced their relationship, there has been a clashing of cultures: between the football fans and the Swifties. With the Kansas City Chiefs, for whom Travis Kelce plays, advancing to the Super Bowl, the "big game" has provided an opportunity for both fandoms to learn more about each other. 

With Super Bowl LVIII coming up on Sunday, February 11, it seems only natural that we reflect on the 2023-2024 NFL season in the best pop culture way possible: by assigning each NFL team a Taylor Swift song.

Most of these picks are a direct reflection of each team's 2023-2024 season. Some song selections play on niche references while others are just plain punny and full of cheek. Let us know in the comments what you think your favorite team's Taylor Swift anthem would be. Tune into Super Bowl LVIII at 4:30 pm MST on CBS or Paramount+.

AFC East

Buffalo Bills (11-6) - "Don't Blame Me" from Reputation

Even though the Bills had some of the most turnovers this season from both their offense and defense, it's safe to say that quarterback Josh Allen was still one of the most valuable players and isn't solely to "blame" for the mistakes.

Miami Dolphins (11-6) - "Mastermind" from Midnights

Head coach, Mike McDaniel, was a "mastermind" when he utilized short motion to such an effective level.

New York Jets (7-10) - "All You Had To Do Was Stay" from 1989

The Jets had a hopeful start to the season when they acquired quarterback Aaron Rodgers. But when Rodgers tore his Achilles in the first game of the season, those hopes were quickly dashed. All Rodgers "had to do was stay" and they might have had a chance.

New England Patriots (4-13) - "Bejeweled" from Midnights

This was the worst season the Patriots have had since Y2K. But it doesn't really matter because you "best believe they're still bejeweled when they walk in the room" with their four Super Bowl rings.

ACF North

Baltimore Ravens (13-4) - "You Belong With Me" from Fearless

The Ravens spent a lot of time looking for the right quarterback to lead their team but at the end of the day, "what they're looking for has been here the whole time." They just needed to pay Lamar Jackson what he was worth. Considering he won MVP this season, it was the right call.

Cleveland Browns (11-6) - "Haunted" from Speak Now

The Browns are understandably still "haunted" by their performance in past seasons.

Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) - "Shake It Off" from 1989

Similar to other teams this season, the Steelers lost quarterback Kenny Pickett after he suffered a high ankle sprain. But unlike other teams who suffered the loss of a QB, the Steelers were able to "shake it off" and still have a winning record.

Cincinnati Bengals (9-8) - "Delicate" from Reputation

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has had a rough go of it. With several injuries this season some might say he's a bit "delicate."

ACF South

Houston Texans (10-7) - "I Knew You Were Trouble" from Red

People were expecting great things from rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, but they might not have been expecting him to be so much "trouble" for other NFL teams. Stroud also won Best Offensive Rookie of the Year, just further cementing his mark on the season.

Jacksonville Jaguars (9-8) - "I Forgot That You Existed" from Lover

It's an unspoken rule that the Jaguars tend to do well when they aren't talked about and left to their own devices. So it makes sense that most people "forgot they existed" and then they had a winning record.

Indianapolis Colts (9-8) - "State of Grace" from Red

After their starting rookie quarterback got injured, backup QB Garner Minshew stepped up to the plate and played really well. The Colts were very competitive in a rebuilding year and left a lot of those who doubted them in a "state of grace."

Tennessee Titans (6-11) - "You're Losing Me" from From The Vault (Single)

Unfortunately for the Titans, some of their players are getting older and "they're losing them." The Titans had a long window of being competitive but now most fans are watching the team they once cheered for fade away.

AFC West

Kansas City Chiefs (11-6) - "Karma" from Midnights

This song feels like an obvious choice considering the line "Karma is the guy from the Chiefs coming straight home to me" went viral during Taylor Swift's Eras Tour.

Las Vegas Raiders (8-9) - "Bad Blood" from 1989

The Raiders are notorious for their rivalries, intense fans and rough gameplay. It seems like they have "bad blood" with every team, every game.

Denver Broncos (8-9) - "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" from Reputation

The Broncos have had a rotating carousel of players recently and can't seem to pull it together even when they "have nice things" like All-Star quarterback Russell Wilson.

Los Angeles Chargers (5-12) - "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" from Red

The Chargers fired their former Head Coach Brandon Staley midseason so it's safe to say that Staley and the Chargers are "never ever getting back together."

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys (12-5) - "the last great American dynasty" from folklore

This Taylor Swift song is based on Rebekah Harkness, who previously lived in Holiday House, a home now owned by Swift. Rebekah was married to Bill Harkness, the heir to Standard Oil. Given their owner, Jerry Jones' relationship to the oil industry, this would be a natural pick. But considering that the Cowboys are sometimes considered "America's team" adds to the reasoning.

Philadelphia Eagles (11-6) - "gold rush" from evermore

This is a bit of an obvious choice, based on the line in the song "I see me padding 'cross your wooden floors / With my Eagles t-shirt hanging from the door." So naturally, this should be the Eagles' Taylor Swift anthem.

New York Giants (6-11) - "Welcome to New York" from 1989

At least one of the New York teams had to claim this anthem. Since there were better choices for the Jets, the Giants got this one.

Washington Commanders (4-13) - "this is me trying" from folklore

Their losing record this season shows that they were "trying" (or were they? We're still not sure...)

NFC North

Detroit Lions (12-5) - "Mean" from Speak Now

The Lions were definitely feeling the validation of revenge in this song. This season they were able to clap back against all those who were "mean" to them, proving many wrong about their ability to make it to the playoffs. They still have yet to make it to the Super Bowl but baby steps.

Green Bay Packers (9-8) - "Love Story" from Fearless

For the Packers, this season was all about the love for Jordan Love. This rookie quarterback improved significantly throughout the season, alongside his young teammates. It left the fans hopeful that the "love story" will continue in the coming seasons.

Minnesota Vikings (7-10) - "The Story of Us" from Speak Now

The story of the Vikings was really starting "to look like a tragedy now" especially after quarterback Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles and Josh Dobbs came in with such promise, only to end the season with a losing record.

Chicago Bears (7-10) - "Anti-Hero" from Midnights

The Bears "have this thing where they get older but just never wiser" and "should not be left to their own devices" because when they were, they kept saying that their quarterback, Justin Fields would be an MVP candidate. But considering they are looking to draft a quarterback in 2024, they'll have to hope that Caleb Williams won't be a Mitch Trubisky.

NFC South

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) - "You're On Your Own, Kid" from Midnights

When Tom Brady left the Buccaneers, he left Baker Mayfield "on his own, kid" to carry the team. To be fair, he did an okay job considering the Buccaneers won the division.

New Orleans Saints (9-8) - "right where you left me" from evermore

The Saints haven't improved in any notable way in the last six years so they are basically "right where we left them."

Atlanta Falcons (7-10) - "Our Song" from Taylor Swift (Debut)

For the Falcons, it's not so much that their "song is the slamming screen door" but more that their "play is a bad screen pass."

Carolina Panthers (2-15) - "Should've Said No" from Taylor Swift (Debut)

The one benefit to having the worst record of the season is getting the first draft pick for the next season. Instead, the Panthers opted to trade that away to the Chicago Bears along with their best wide receiver. It was a trade they "should've said no" to.

NFC West

San Francisco 49ers (12-5) - "Red" from Red

49ers fans have been through a lot of emotions this season, much like the relationship described in this song. But they are getting their happy ending, by playing in Super Bowl LVIII. Plus their team colors are red and gold, wriso this song was an obvious choice.

Los Angeles Rams (10-7) - "Back to December" from Speak Now

There was a certain level of respect when former Ram, Jared Goff beat them in the playoffs. Considering "Back to December" is one of Taylor Swift's songs expressing regret and respect for an ex, it encompasses the complicated feelings of the Rams and their fans this season.

Seattle Seahawks (9-8) - "Better Than Revenge" from Speak Now

Quarterback Geno Smith continued his "revenge" tour this season after being written off as a backup on the Jets. Don't worry, he didn't write back though.

Arizona Cardinals (4-13) - "Is It Over Now?" from 1989

Many Cardinals fans were asking "is it over now" after this losing season.

Let us know what other Taylor Swift songs you think apply to this NFL season and the teams. Remember that you can check out Taylor Swift's music from the library. Don't forget to tune in to Super Bowl LVIII, San Francisco 49ers vs Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 11 at 4:30 pm MST on CBS and Paramount+.