English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran claimed that Taylor Swift made him an NFL fan years before her romance with Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

Sheeran, 34, claimed that "mov[ing] to Nashville for Taylor Swift's 'Red' tour in 2013" sparked his interest in American football while appearing on the Not Gonna Lie podcast hosted by Travis' sister-in-law, Kylie Kelce, released this week.

“I got a place there. I went to Walmart to buy bits to move in and I just bought some pajamas. And then when I got home, I was wearing the pajamas. And when someone was around, they were like, ‘Oh, you’re a [Tennessee] Titans fan?’ I was like, ‘Guess I am.’”

Sheeran said he's followed the Titans ever since, comparing the franchise to Ipswich Town Football Club, his favorite English Premier League team based in his hometown of Suffolk.

“It’s very similar to my soccer club back home. They’re always the bridesmaid — actually, I wouldn’t even say that they’re a bridesmaid. They’re invited to the wedding. They’re there.”

Sheeran has partnered with the NFL in recent years, which included performing at the 2021 Kickoff Experience and releasing special partnered merchandise

Kelce famously revealed that he attempted to give Swift a friendship bracelet with his phone number when he attended her concert at Arrowhead Stadium prior to their relationship in 2023. Swift later said that the three-time Super Bowl champion "very adorably put me on blast" when he acknowledged the situation on his podcast, which she said "was metal as hell" while being featured as Time Magazine's 'Person of the Year' in December 2023.

Dave Allen