The complex relationship with new wave of media and Travis Kelce

One of the world’s biggest sporting events is just days away. Super Bowl LIX will kick-off Sunday night from Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles facing off against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. Ahead of the Super Bowl, players are made available to the media, though some embrace the spotlight more than others. However, for one of the NFL’s top tight ends, this experience isn't exactly his favorite. If you were living under a rock,

Travis Kelce is dating Taylor Swift, who is, one of America’s most popular singers around the globe. Kelce’s brother, Jason Kelce, has also made waves across the country, enjoying his life after football through comedy skits and broadcasts on ESPN. Instead of focusing on the Super Bowl, the media is heavily fixating on Travis Kelce’s personal life. As the media, it’s your job to tell a story. The story of Kelce’s love life has already been told. What has yet to be told is Kelce’s journey to his fifth-career Super Bowl, and what awaits Sunday night in an effort to touch the Lombardi Trophy after the game. It seems like reporters don’t care about how Kelce will perform on Sunday. Instead, they are fixated on what is done off the football field.

A reporter asked Kelce on Super Bowl Opening Night, otherwise known as media day, the following question: “When it’s all set and done, do you see a possible sportscasting career in your future?” Kelce is solely focused on winning Sunday, and worrying about what he will do after the season, let alone after retirement, is the least of his worries. Another reporter asked Kelce: “Who is your biggest supporter: Olivia, Meredith or Benjamin?”

Those are the names of Taylor Swift’s cats. Kelce definitely wanted to stick to football questions, but responded by saying “Benjamin, because he’s the one I see the most.” It doesn’t end here. A reporter asked Kelce: “What do you love more? Taylor Swift or Phantom 15-yard roughing the passer penalties.” He responded with a straight face, “That’s a cool question… anyone else (have a question)?” Kelce clearly did not enjoy the question or find it funny. This reporter didn’t just bring Swift into the conversation, but mentioned referee calls that Kelce doesn’t want to have to talk about. Kelce kept his cool, though, which is honestly impressive. This brings up an issue with the media nowadays, specifically regarding asking questions solely for clicks. Media today often prioritize sensational, clickbait questions over those that genuinely seek to inform or address important news, like a literal Super Bowl game. Kelce was asked a pretty interesting question towards the end of his media session.

The 35-year-old was asked what he would say if he was able to ask the media one question. He responded with, “Why are you guys leaning into this whole ref thing?" This was in relation to a questionable and controversial fourth down call during the NFC Championship game between the Chiefs and Buffalo Bills. It seemed that Bills quarterback Josh Allen reached the line to gain on a crucial fourth-and-inches play

However, the call went in favor of Kansas City, and the Chiefs capitalized on the fourth-quarter stop, scoring their final touchdown in a 32-29 win. Simply put, Kelce has shown remarkable professionalism in handling intrusive media questions with grace and composure. It’s also safe to say that Kelce has been one of the biggest media draws in Super Bowl history. If Kelce wants to keep a clean mind heading into Sunday’s big game, he will have to ignore the media, especially when it comes to press conference questions that involve Taylor Swift