Taylor Swift was back in the spotlight on Thursday night, attending the Kansas City Chiefs’ season opener against the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium. The pop superstar, who has been a regular at Chiefs games since she started dating star tight end Travis Kelce during the 2023 season, was once again supporting her boyfriend as the 2024 NFL season kicked off.
While Swift’s presence at the game was already a hot topic, a subtle comment from NBC’s Mike Tirico during the broadcast sent Swift fans into a frenzy. As the game experienced a weather delay, Tirico mentioned the potential for more rain throughout the night, sparking speculation that he had referenced one of Swift’s popular songs, “Out of the Woods,” from her 1989 album—a song rumored to be about her past relationship with singer Harry Styles.
“Game delayed some 20 minutes because of weather… not out of the woods for showers for the rest of the night,” Tirico said. While on the surface this sounded like a simple weather update, fans of Swift, known as “Swifties,” immediately connected the phrase “Out of the Woods” to her hit song.
Social media erupted with fans debating whether Tirico’s comment was a cleverly hidden Taylor Swift reference. One fan tweeted, “Okay, @MikeTirico WE NEED TO KNOW—was that an intentional ‘Out of the Woods’ reference at the #Chiefs game tonight or…?” Another fan questioned, “Okay but did he say ‘out of the woods’ because Swiftism or just because it’s a saying?” The speculation continued with another user posting, “‘Not out of the woods for showers for the rest of the night,’ I’m sorry but I laughed even if it wasn’t intentional.”
Even if Tirico’s remark wasn’t meant to reference Swift, it was enough to send fans into a social media whirlwind. Swifties, known for their attention to detail, are often quick to pick up on even the most subtle nods to their favorite singer, and this moment was no exception.
For Swift and Kelce, their relationship has continued to blossom into 2024, with Swift frequently attending Chiefs games and showing support for her boyfriend. Their high-profile romance has been a favorite storyline for fans, and Swift’s appearance at Arrowhead Stadium only adds to the buzz surrounding both the pop icon and the Chiefs’ season.
Whether or not Tirico’s comment was a deliberate Swift reference, it certainly captured the attention of Swifties everywhere.
As the game progressed, fans could watch the Chiefs and Ravens continue their battle on NBC or stream it on Peacock, all while wondering if there would be more Swift-inspired moments to come throughout the season.
