Jennings remains WR1 in SF despite injury setback
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New York Times
a few seconds ago
- New York Times
Taylor Swift joins Travis and Jason Kelce on ‘New Heights' podcast: What we learned
In one of the most highly anticipated sports and pop culture crossovers of the year, Kansas City Chiefs star tight end Travis Kelce hosted his girlfriend, pop megastar Taylor Swift, on a new episode of his podcast 'New Heights,' with his brother, Jason. With more than 1 million people on the podcast's YouTube channel, the conversation veered between Swift's discussion of her new album, 'The Life of a Showgirl.' It has been a big week for both Swift and Travis Kelce: On Tuesday morning at 12:12 a.m. ET, Swift announced the upcoming release of her new album. Later that morning, GQ dropped its September cover, featuring Travis Kelce, along with a long profile and a dozen highly stylized photos. Advertisement The Athletic counts dozens of Swifties among its staff. To make sense of the episode and increase your 'sports x culture' social currency throughout the discourse following the episode's release, Jayna Bardahl, Charlotte Carroll and Hannah Vanbiber provided these key takeaways: Taylor knows ball Finding out that Swift is the one who told Kelce the Chiefs drafted Xavier Worthy in the first round of the 2024 draft is exactly the football info I needed from this episode! That she became 'obsessed' with the sport is even more exciting for all of the football loving Swifties and those who embraced the sport as a result of her – which we know there were quite a few fans who became Kansas City and NFL followers because of her. It's quite wild hearing her journey to finding the sport when I reported a piece on the crossover after she attended her first appearance at a Chiefs game back in September 2023. This quote from Ian Trombetta, NFL SVP of social and influencer marketing, still feels so relevant: 'We knew it was going to be a culture moment like we haven't seen (in some time).' Two years later, that moment is still in progress. – Charlotte Carroll Swift's football fandom (with an Easter Egg?) We got a good laugh out of Swift admitting her lack of football knowledge when she first met Travis. 'I thought it was like Jared Goff is here and Josh Allen is here, and they blow a whistle and they go at each other,' Swift said. But I also think we can take a lot from Travis' reaction. He didn't belittle her. He smiled with her and said he understood why she wouldn't know the rules if she didn't follow the sport before. That's a great way to welcome new fans to sports, or any of our interests, for that matter. And then of course, Swift had to flex the football IQ she's gained since then: 'We're talking about Cover 2, Cover 4, Cover 0, man coverage,' she said. 'I'm not ready to be an analyst right now, but give me 16 months.' Was that an Easter Egg? Swift is rarely random in her comments, especially with numbers. Mark Dec. 2026 on the calendar, the month of her 37th birthday. — Jayna Bardahl Taylor Swift says she "became obsessed" with the NFL since she started dating Travis Kelce. Exhibit A: — The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 13, 2025 Sports documentary? I feel kind of how I felt when I watched 'The Last Dance': A unique, new look behind the scenes of an all-time great. Taylor Swift has written about love for her entire career. This is the first time we're seeing her actually in love in real time. It's quite a moment for a lifelong Swiftie. But then, too, there's something here for everyone, where they smartly frame their connection around their competitive natures. Advertisement 'Who would be that stubborn?' Taylor asks about her re-recording project, to knowing laughter from both Kelces. 'I knew she had that bad kid in her,' Travis says, with Jason correcting him: 'Savvy kid.' — Hannah Vanbiber Pop star = Athlete, competitor, elite performer A lot of the pod was about the connective tissue between being a star athlete and being a pop star. You can almost hear them correcting the idea that being a pop star isn't one of the most physically and mentally grueling jobs in the world: Being an elite athlete and an elite performer is hard, it takes grit, it takes perfectionism, it takes defiance and a crazy competitive drive. Travis emphasized the dedication, intelligence and grit he sees in Taylor's approach to her work — like any athlete who wants to be the GOAT in their sport. 'I've seen how you make music. The effort, the strategy behind even one album. And you've been doing this your whole life.' 'We compare physical therapy stories,' Taylor said, comparing the conditioning and physical demands of being on tour to Travis being in season with the NFL. When she insisted she was not an athlete, both Kelces immediately cut her off: 'Don't say that.' 'Field, stage, they're the same thing, we just call them different things,' Swift said. 'In the Eras tour and seeing the power skip, I knew you were an athlete,' Travis said. 'Not everybody can power-skip in heels.' I'd like to see an NFL player perform for three hours in heels. And then do it again the following night. – Vanbiber Super Bowl Halftime Show mentioned Swift is talking about her introduction to sports, which was mostly hearing her dad yell about the Eagles (she's from Pennsylvania) while she was upstairs writing music and learning guitar. She said she would go to sporting events as a kid to sing the national anthem. And that she watched every Super Bowl HALFTIME, but not the game. I'd like to see her do either on the NFL field. — Bardahl Advertisement Travis Kelce: A man of the people Travis was playing video games when Taylor walked in to tell him she'd bought back her masters. He put his headset down and said, 'Guys, I gotta go.' I love how the brothers so deeply understood her quest to get back her masters; from one competitor to another: 'It's how your legacy is shaped.' They love seeing her win. She got that dog in her. — Vanbiber 'Swiftie Semiotics' 🤝 Sports Analytics The only thing in the world that compares to the intensity of Swiftie Easter-egg hunting, numerology, signs and symbols? (I call it 'Swiftie Semiotics.') People in their fantasy football league. — Vanbiber Travis — who has played in stadiums around the world — says it was nothing like being on stage during the Eras Tour. Taylor brought him out on stage at Wembley in London. He said he felt as small as an ant and basically blacked out. 'Don't drop her, just don't drop her,' he said. — Vanbiber Taylor watched Jason meet the Royal Family Oh, to be a fly on that wall! She says she just looked on as he tried to decide whether or not to put a beer down; the beer is more authentic, but could be disrespectful?? Lmao — Vanbiber One benefit of Swift being on-screen during NFL games? Travis finally got to see his family in the suite! — Vanbiber Both emphasize family It hits me yet again that Taylor, like me, is a Millennial, entering into the stage of life where it becomes necessary to care for parents. Even the most famous woman in the world gets those scary calls in the middle of the night. Loved her saying her dad, after surviving a huge heart surgery, joked: 'I come from a competitive family.' — Vanbiber 'Are you bready for it?' Swift revealed in her free time from the Eras tour – somehow in the middle of releasing her 12th album in the same 24 hours that we all have — that she's gotten into sourdough. She's just like us, wonderful bread puns included. Except she's sending her loaves to Travis at training camp. Swift is even workshopping funfetti sourdough for Jason's daughters who love the rainbow colors. As Swift said herself, 'It's a loaf story, baby just say yeast.' – Carroll Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
Newsweek
a few seconds ago
- Newsweek
NFL Coach Reveals Teams Still Doubt Eagles' Jalen Hurts
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Despite being the latest Super Bowl MVP, Jalen Hurts still isn't viewed as a top-tier quarterback in the NFL. Top 10? He's got that for the most part, but barely. A recent panel of anonymous coaches and GMs ranked quarterbacks, and The Athletic placed Hurts in the Tier 2 category, tied for ninth with Houston Texans quarterback CJ Stroud. The standout quote regarding Hurts considered him a "really good player on a team of really good players." Oftentimes, the fact that the Eagles have a strong roster is used against Hurts in quarterback debates. The questions about Hurts' value as a passer remain. One anonymous head coach claimed that Hurts improved in that category, but not enough to change the typical defensive game plan going against Hurts. "He has improved from the pocket, but when you play him, you still want him to beat you from there — that is the whole plan," a head coach said. "If he can get out of the pocket in two-minute, he is effective as hell, and he has done it. But he has to do it with his legs in crunch time. The guys you want can do it with the arm and legs in crunch time." Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles puts on his helmet during Training Camp at NovaCare Complex on August 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jalen Hurts #1 of the Philadelphia Eagles puts on his helmet during Training Camp at NovaCare Complex on August 4, 2025 in Philadelphia, Eagles didn't throw nearly as much in 2024 as they did in 2023. Two seasons ago, Hurts attempted a career-high 538 passes. While he threw for 23 touchdowns, he also turned the ball over with 15 interceptions, which certainly helps the anonymous coach's case. Last year, the Eagles picked up the game's top running back in Saquon Barkley. Clearly, there was a plan to run the ball more often than not. As a result, Hurts threw for just 361 attempts. It was just the second time in his five-year career that he threw under 400 passes in a season. The run-heavy offense didn't help Hurts' case in the debate. However, his playoff performance as a whole did. The Eagles played in every round and saw Hurts throw for a career-high 726 yards and five touchdowns in the postseason. His previous career-high came during the 2022 Super Bowl run, which included 579 yards and three touchdowns. Heading into Super Bowl LIX against the Kansas City Chiefs, it was clear the plan was to shut down Saquon Barkley and force Hurts to take matters into his own hands. The Chiefs held Barkley to 57 yards on 25 carries. Hurts stepped up to the plate and tossed for 221 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for 72 yards and one touchdown. It was a statement playoff run put together by Hurts, but opinions haven't changed much. Heading into his sixth NFL season, Hurts still has plenty of doubters about his value as a pocket passer. For more Philadelphia Eagles and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
Associated Press
a few seconds ago
- Associated Press
Lionel Taylor, record-setting Broncos receiver and coaching pioneer, dies at 89
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Lionel Taylor, who starred for the Denver Broncos in the 1960s and became the first wide receiver in pro football history to record a 100-catch season, has died. He was 89. His grandson, also named Lionel Taylor, told the team that Taylor died at his home near Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Aug. 6. The Broncos plan to honor Taylor during their preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night. Taylor was the first player in either the AFL or NFL to record 100 catches in a season and he's also believed to have been the first Black coordinator in NFL history. He served as the Los Angeles Rams' offensive coordinator from 1980-81. Taylor wasn't drafted in 1958 after starring in both basketball and football at New Mexico Highlands. After playing semipro football for a year, he joined the Chicago Bears as a linebacker in 1959 before becoming a member of the Broncos' inaugural team in 1960. He led the new American Football League in receiving in five of the league's first six seasons, including in 1961, when he had 100 catches for 1,176 yards. He spent seven seasons in Denver, becoming the franchise's career receiving leader with 543 catches for 6,872 yards and 44 touchdowns. He finished his career by playing two seasons for the Houston Oilers in 1967-68. Taylor, who was among the first players inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1984, had an extensive coaching career after retiring as a player. He won two Super Bowl rings with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1970s during his seven-year stint as the team's wide receivers coach. He also served as receivers coach for the Rams from 1977-79 and as their offensive coordinator from 1980-81. According to NFL Films, he was the first Black coordinator in the league. Taylor also served as receivers coach at Oregon State from 1982-83 and as Texas Southern's head coach from 1984-88. He later worked as the Cleveland Browns' tight ends coach and as head coach of NFL Europe's London/England Monarchs. ___ AP NFL:
