The Taylor Swift effect continues to seep into the NFL’s on-field product. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes acknowledged in August that the pop star is “already drawing up plays,” but it appears the Washington Commanders are also beneficiaries of Swift-related calls.
Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury revealed Thursday that rookie tight end Ben Sinnott, who recorded a touchdown on his first NFL catch in Sunday’s 40-7 victory, scored on a play named for the star.
“His first catch was a touchdown and the play was called ‘Taylor Swift,’ so you can’t really beat that to start your NFL scoring career,” Kingsbury said. “He was stoked about it. He’s been getting better and better. I think the game’s slowing down for him. He’s a tremendous talent.”
Created by the Commanders tight end group, Kingsbury said the Swift playbook addition was new for 2024.
“We probably carried it three weeks and just finally got to calling it.”
Ben Sinnott’s first catch is a TD for the @Commanders!
📺: #CARvsWAS on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/C1FxbBp23D— NFL (@NFL) October 20, 2024
Despite losing quarterback Jayden Daniels to a first-quarter rib injury in Sunday’s Week 7 win, Washington’s offense recorded its fourth 400-yard showing of the season. Entering Week 8, Kingsbury’s unit ranks fourth in the NFL in total yards per game (384.1) and has even more pop star play calls ready to go.
“There’s a bunch of them. But that’s a good one,” he said of the Swift call. “We’ll use that again.”
It’s not just limited to pop stars, either. Swift’s boyfriend, Travis Kelce, may have also made a mark in the Commanders’ playbook, but Kingsbury wouldn’t quite go that far.
“It’s not Travis Kelce. Just Kelce. And they’re not married together.”
(Photo: Lauren Leigh Bacho / Getty Images)
