Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III might be planning to bring some Taylor Swift-themed trash talk to the field when he faces off against Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. With Kelce’s highly publicized relationship with Swift making headlines since last year, Bates hinted that he could use the pop star’s name as part of his strategy to get under Kelce’s skin during their Sunday night matchup.
During an appearance on The Pacman Jones Show hosted by former NFL defensive back Adam “Pacman” Jones, Bates opened up about his potential game plan when it comes to guarding Kelce.
While Bates admitted he’s not a huge fan of Swift’s music, he made it clear he respects both her career and Kelce’s abilities on the field. However, he left the door open for some playful trash talk involving the singer.
“I don’t listen to much Taylor Swift, but obviously you got to have respect for what she’s done in her career,” Bates explained. “And then with Travis, you got to have some type of respect for him too. But once that clock ticks and we’re in between those lines, I see red sometimes and might say some crazy stuff to him—it may involve Taylor, it may not. It’s just part of the game, talking your little smack.”
The Chiefs are off to a strong start this season, remaining undefeated after wins against the Ravens and Bengals. However, Kelce has been relatively quiet on the stat sheet, with just four catches for 39 yards through the first two games. Rookie receiver Rashee Rice has been leading Kansas City in receiving yards, with 178 so far, taking some of the spotlight away from the All-Pro tight end.
Kelce’s slow start hasn’t gone unnoticed. After the Chiefs’ latest victory, in which Kelce had just one catch for five yards, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith voiced some criticism. On First Take, Smith noted that while Kelce has been making headlines for his relationship with Swift, his on-field production has been lacking.
“I love my brother from another mother, Travis Kelce. [But] we saw more Taylor Swift than we saw Travis Kelce yesterday on a Sunday afternoon, and any other time that’s applicable. That ain’t supposed to happen yesterday,” Smith said. “We’re supposed to see more Travis Kelce yesterday than we saw her. That’s not happening. You got to get it going, bro. You got 39 receiving yards in the first two games. Come on now, it’s time. Football season is here. Honeymoon’s over. Let’s handle our business.”
As the Chiefs prepare to face the Falcons, Kelce will be looking to turn things around and make a bigger impact on the field. Bates, however, will be doing everything he can to slow him down, perhaps with a little verbal jabbing along the way.
Whether or not he brings up Swift during the game, Bates will have his hands full trying to contain one of the NFL’s best tight ends.
With both teams vying for a victory, it remains to be seen if Kelce’s performance can quiet the critics—and any Swift-themed trash talk from Bates—as the Chiefs aim for a 3-0 start to their season.
